Convention of the Eftates, who appointed Commif- A. C. fioners to treat upon that Matter with England; his 1706, Majefty, in his Speech to both Houfes of Parliament, on the 21st. of March 16. recommended to 'their Confideration a Union with Scotland, tho' he he did not mean it fhould be then enter'd upon, but they (the Scorch) having propos'd this to him 'fome time fince, and the Parliament there having nominated Commiffioners for that Purpofe, he fhould be glad that Commiflioners fhould be nominated here, to treat with them, and to fee if fuch Terms could be agreed on, as might be for 'the Benefit of both Nations, fo as to be ready to 'be prefented to him in fome future Seffion. The Parliament took little notice of this faint Recommendation from the Throne; fo that no Answer was return'd to the Scotch Parliament; and that Bufinefs refted till the Year 1700 † when the Court, † See my being at a Lofs how to recover a falfe ftep they had Hiftory of made in relation to Scotland, the King, in his An- King Wil fwer to the Lords Addrefs, against the Scotch Settlement at Darien, took that opportunity of Putting the Houfe of Peers in Mind of what he re'commended to his Parliament, foon after his Acceffion to the Throne, That they would confider of an Union between the Two Kingdoms; That his Majefty was of Opinion, that nothing would contribute more to the Security and Happinefs of Both; and was enclin'd to hope that after they had lived near a hundred Years under the fame Head, fome happy Expedient might be found for making them one People, in cafe a Treaty were fet on Foot for that Purpose: And therefore he very earnestly re'commended that matter to the Confideration of the Houfe. Hereupon the Lords fram'd and pafs'd a Bill for Authorizing certain Commiffioners of the Realm of England, to treat with Commiffioners of Scotland for the Weal of both Kingdoms: But the Commons, refufing their Concurrence to this Bill, the Bufinefs And Lefly of the Union went no farther.

liam, vol.

III. p.445

446.

in Her Ma

Reign.

Heaven, it feems, referv'd for the Triumphant Reignjefty's of Her prefent Majefty, the Additional Honour and Seethe first Blefling of Accomplishing fo great a Work: For Vol.of these tho' that important Negotiation, † which was fet on Annals, Foot foon after her Majesty's happy Advancement p. 159.

to &c.

See the

3d Vol of

thefe Annals, P. 223. and

the 4th

Vol. P. 184. † Pafs'd March

A. C. to the Throne, did unfortunately miscarry, thro' the 1706 Prevalency of a Party then in Power; yet fome fubfequent Tranfactions in Scotland (particularly the paffing the Act of Security for that Kingdom) which rais'd no fmall Clamour in England, and the Neceflity of fecuring the Succeffion in the Proteftant Line, which could not well be done, but by engaging the Scots to acknowledge the fame Succeffor with England: Thefe Confiderations, I fay, ftill reviving and redoubling the Zeal and Application of her MaJefty's Minifters, a Claufe was inferted* in An Act t for the Effectual Securing the Kingdom of England from the Apparent Dangers that may arise from feveral Acts lately past in Scotland: Empowering her Majefty to appoint Commiffioners for this Kingdom, to Treat with Commiffioners to be impower'd by Authority of Parliament in Scotland, concerning a nearer and more compleat Union between the Two Kingdoms, as foon as an Act should be made there for that Purpofe. Such an Act having, after great tftruggle, been pafs'd in Scotland, on the 21ft of thefe du- September, 1705. Her Majefty on the 27th of the nals, P following Month, acquainted her English Parlia33. and p.ment with her Intention, in a fhort time, to caufe 77. Commiffions to be made out, to put the Treaty on Apr. 10. Foot. Accordingly her Majefty did, foon after The Queen name the following Perfons to be Commiflioners on appoints the part of England, viz. Thomas Archbishop of CanEnglish terbury William Cowper, Efq; Keeper of the Great Commiffio- Seal of England; John Archbishop of York; Sidney treat of an: Lord Godolphin, High Treasurer of England; Thomas Union with Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Prefident of the Scotland, Council; John Duke of Newcastle, Keeper of the PriSee the vy-Seal; William Duke of Devonshire, Steward of the Appen- Houfhold; Charles Duke of Somerfet, Mafter of the dix, Num. Horfe; Charles Duke of Bolton, Charles Earl of Sun

14. 1705 + See the 4th Vol: of

ners to

1.

derland, Evelin Earl of Kingston, Charles Earl of Carlife, Edward Earl of Orford, Charles Viscount Tounfend, Thomas Ld Wharton, Ralph Ld Grey, John Ld Powlet, John Ld Somers, Charles Ld Hallifax, John Smith, Efq; William Cavendish Marquis of Hartington, John Manners Marquis of Granby, Sir Charles Hedges Knight, and Robert Harley Efq; Principal Secretaries of State; Henry Boyle Efq; Chancellor, and under Treafurer of the Exchequer; Sir John Holt Knight, Chief Justice

of the Court of Queen's-Bench; Sir Thomas Trevor A. C. Knight, Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas; 1706 Sir Edward Northey Knight, Attorney-General; Sir Simon Harcourt Knight, Sollicitor General; Sir John Cook Knight, Doctor of Laws, Advocate-General; and Stephen Waller Doctor of Laws.

n

Scotland.

The Commiffioners on the part of Scotland were t Feb. 27. nam'd fome time t before, viz. James Earl of Seafield, Commiffio Lord Chancellor of Scotland; Fames Duke of Queens-ners on berry, Lord Privy Seal; John Earl of Marr, and Hugh the part of Earl of Loudoun, Principal Secretaries of State; John See the Earl of Sutherland, John Earl of Morton, David Earl of Wemys, David Earl of Leven, John Earl of Stair, dix, Num. AppenArchibald Earl of Rofeberry, David Earl of Glasgow, 11. Deputies of the Treafury; the Lord Archibald Campbell, Brother to the Duke of Argyle, Thomas Viscount Duplin, the Lord William Roß, one of the Commiffioners of the Treafury, Sir Hugh Dalrymple, Prefident of the Seffion; Adam Cockburn of Ormeftoun, Lord Juftice Clerk; Sir Robert Dundaß of Arnistoun, and Mr. Robert Stewart of Tillicultrie, Lords of the Seffion Mr. Francis Montgomery, one of the Commiffioners of the Treafury; Sir David Dalrymple,one of her Majefty's Sollicitors; Sir Alexander Ogilvie, Receiver General; Sir Patrick Johnstoun, Provost of Edinburgh; Sir James Smollet of Bonbill, George Lockhart of Carnwath, William Morifon of Preftongrange, Alexander Grant, Will. Seton of Pitmedden, Jun. John Clark of Pennycook, Jun, Hugh Montgomery, late Provoft of Glasgow, Daniel Stewart, and Daniel Campbell of Arutennet. The Englis Commiflioners named Mr. George Doddington, and the Scotch Sir David Nairne, to be their Secretaries.

On Tuesday the 16th of April, the Lords Commif- The Treaty fioners of both Kingdoms, met at the Council-Cham- of Union ber in the Cock-pit near Whitehall, (the Place appoin-opens, ted for their Conferences) and their Commiflions be- Apr. 16. ing open'd and read by the refpective Secretaries, the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, ad drefs'd himself to the Lords Commiflioners for Scorland, in thefe Words,

My Lords,

WE the Commiffioners appointed by Her Ma-The Lord 'jefty, and Authoriz'd by the Parliament Keeper's of England, to Confult and Treat with your Lord. Speech.

A. C.fhips, as Impowred in like manner, by Her Ma 1706. jefty and the Parliament of Scotland, concerning

an Union of the two Kingdoms, and fuch other things as We, the Commillioners on both Parts, 'fhall think convenient and neceffary for the Honour of Her Majefty, and the Common Good of both Kingdoms, do apprehend there never was (in any Affembly of this nature) fo little Occafion as at prefent, for the Commitlioners, of. England, to give any verbal Affurances of their Zeal to Promote and Compleat (fo far as in their Power) the great and good Defign we are met about, fince it cannot be doubted, but that we bring along with us the fame Sentiments, which fo lately appeared in the Parliament of England, when they took Care to manifeft, by a folemn Act, that they did poltpone all other Confiderations to their evidencing a good and friendly Difpofition towards the King dom of Scotland.

"The Parliament of England, in making that uniexpected Advance, feem'd Refolv'd, if poffible, to attain that Union, which hath been fo long thought neceffary, by all that wish well to the Profperity of both Nations.

And we moft fincerely affure your Lordships, That we accordingly meet your Lordships, with Hearts fully Refolv'd to ufe our utmoft Endeavours to remove all Difficulties in this Treaty, to prevent all Mifunderstandings, to cherish and improve the good Difpofitions to one another we meet with, to have the general and joint Good of both Kingdoms, folely in our View, and not the Separate of either, but to Act, as if we were alrea dy United in Intereft, and had nothing left to con fider but what Settlements and Provifions are most likely to conduce to the common Safety and Hap pinels of this whole Ifland of Great-Britain.

Which Measures, if pursued on both Parts, we hope may enable us to prepare fuch Terms of Union as may prove Satisfactory to Her Majefty, and the Parliaments of both Kingdoms.

The

A. C.

The Earl of Seafield, Lord High Chancellor of 1706. Scotland, on the part of the Lords Commitlio-n ners for Scotland, fpoke as followeth.

My Lords,

THE Lords Commiffioners for Scotland have de- The Chanfired me to affure your Lordships that they cellor of meet you on this Occafion, with great Willingness Scotland's and Satisfaction, to treat of an Union between the Speech two Kingdoms, and of fuch other Matters and Concerns as may be for Her Majefty's Honour, and the maintaining a good Understanding bo tween the two Nations.

"We are convinced that an Union will be of great Advantage to both; the Proteftant Religion will be thereby the more firmly fecur'd; the Defigns of our Enemies effectually Difappointed, and the Riches and Trade of the whole liland Advanced.

"This Union has been often Endeavour'd, both before, and fince the Kingdoms were United in Al'legiance under one Sovereign; and feveral Treaties "have been fet on foot for that End, tho' without 'the defired Succefs; but now we are hopeful that 'this fhall be the happy Opportunity of Accomplishing it: Her Majefty hath frequently fignified Her "Good Inclinations towards it; and we are the moré Encouraged to expect Succefs in this Treaty, by the good Difpofition appeared in the Parliament of Scotland for it, and by the Friendly Proccedings in the laft Seffion of the Parliament of England, which gave general Satisfaction.

"We have great Confidence in your Lordships good Intentions, and we fhall be ready on our parts to enter into fuch Meafures with you, as may bring the Treaty to fuch a Conclution, as may be acceptable to Her Majesty, and to the "Parliaments of both Kingdoms.

Thefe Speeches being over, it was agreed and order'd, That Copics of the Two Commiflions fhould be prepar'd and fign'd by the refpective Se cretaries, and interchang'd against the next Meeting, which was put off till the Monday following. Accordingly