We have to enter on the hatreds and attachments that after many oscillations of hopes and anxieties culminated in the union of England and Scotland. While here one event follows another with a close sequence of cause and effect, another long historical drama, acted abroad, has to be brought before the reader in its successive steps of scarcely interrupted victory.

CHAPTER IV.

Enternational Difficulties.

CAUSES OF DISSENSION BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SCOTLANDSCOTLAND INCLUDED IN THE NAVIGATION ACT OF THE PROTECTORATE EXCLUDED IN THAT OF THE RESTORATION DEMANDS BY SCOTLAND FOR THE OPENING OF FREE TRADE WITH ENGLAND AND THE ENGLISH COLONIES REJECTED THE PRIVILEGES ENJOYED BY IRELAND AS A DEPENDENCY— EFFECT OF THE REVOLUTION AND THE INTERCOURSE WITH THE DUTCH-SUPREMACY OF TRADE QUESTIONS—RIVALRY OF ENGLAND AND HOLLAND FOR SUPREMACY AT SEA-THE NAVIGATION ACT DESIGNED TO CRUSH THE RIVAL-INVENTION OF BANKING ITS STIMULUS TO SPECULATIVE COMPANIES-SCOTLAND STARTS THE INDIAN AND AFRICAN COMPANY, OFTEN CALLED THE DARIEN COMPANY WILLIAM PATERSON THE COMPANY STARTED IN LONDON AND EDINBURGH-DRIVEN OUT OF LONDON THE DARIEN COLONY ITS CALAMITIES AND FAILURE THE UNION COMMISSION OF 1702-CLAIM OF FREE TRADE REPEATED BY SCOTLAND-THE QUESTION DROPS-TURBULENT SCOTS PARLIAMENT OF 1703-QUARRELS - -THE ACT OF SECURITY—THE LIMITATIONS—THE QUEEN ON THE AFFAIRS OF SCOTLAND.

SINCE the union of the crowns, an incorporating union of Scotland with England had become a traditional policy in both countries, and especially became ripened into form and substance by debates and resolutions of the Parliament of England. It was bequeathed to both countries by King William under

conditions conferring on the bequest a mournful solemnity. On the 23d February in the year 1702, in a message to the Commons, he announced himself as "fully satisfied that nothing can more contribute to the present and future security and happiness of England and Scotland than a firm and entire union between them." Further, that he "would esteem it a peculiar felicity if during his reign some happy expedient for making both kingdoms one might take place." The message incidentally noted that he was "hindered by an unhappy accident from coming in person to his Parliament, and so could only signify to the Commons by message what he desired to have spoken to both Houses from the throne."1 The "unhappy accident" occurring two days earlier was in fact his death-blow.

Whatever forces were at work for or against the Union, in the government and constitution of the two kingdoms, and the tempers and national prejudices of the people, had become familiar to both in a century of discussion. But ere the question came to a final and practical issue, new forces, arising with the growth of each nation during that century, were destined for predominance in the struggle. Before the civil war there had been disputes and difficulties between Englishmen and Scotsmen on questions of trade, especially wherever the Scots endeavoured to deal with the English colonies. These affairs arose rather out of frailties and imperfections in the law than from exclusive privileges and absolute prohibitions. Such as they were, all these difficulties were swept away for a time by the Protectorate Govern

1 Parl. Hist., v. 1341.

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without this invidious exclusion. But what we have here to note is, that Scotland was not excluded by the Act of the Protectorate. There was a complete union of the British Islands under one Government, and whatever advantages Englishmen believed themselves to derive from the exclusion, Scotsmen were entitled to arrogate to themselves. It was among the Englishman's denunciations of the Protectorate Government that it admitted the impoverished and sordid Scots to a participation in the sources of England's wealth.

Interpreted by the commercial creed of the age, the Navigation Act was a brilliant achievement, and though the work of the usurper it was speedily reenacted by the Restoration Government. In its restoration it was shaken free of the defect that gave a share in its beneficence to Scotland. England and Scotland again stood separate and apart, and in the protective code of England, Scotland was as thoroughly a foreign country as France or Russia. In a remonstrance on the part of Scotland in the beginning of the year 1668, a claim of participation was stated in a shape to bring out distinctly the character of the exclusion, by pleading that "the same freedom may be allowed to such ships and vessels as do truly and without fraud belong only to the people of Scotland -whereof the master and three-fourth parts are Scotsmen or other his Majesty's subjects, and freighted only by his Majesty's subjects-as are allowed to his Majesty's subjects of Ireland, dominion of Wales, and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed." And further, "that it be declared that his Majesty's subjects of Scotland are not meant to be debarred by the clause debarring aliens or persons not born within the alle