The leaders of the Tories were Harley, afterwards Earl of Oxford, and St John, afterwards Lord Boling broke. Barley insinuated himself, by his address, into the queen's favour, and ultimately succeeded in under mining the Whigs. St John, for a while, acted subor dinate to Harley, although his lofty enterprise, ambition, and genius, made him at last the rival of his patron. When Marlborough and Godolphin perceived the in creasing influence of Harley, they wrote to the queen, that they could serve her no longer should Harley con tinue secretary; and they even expostulated with their sovereign in a personal interview. The immediate con sequence was, that the queen dismissed Harley, dread ing to be abandoned by her other ministers; but the boldness of the Whig leaders secretly offended her, and promoted their own downfall.
The most important event of this reign, was the union that took place in 1706 between the two kingdoms of England and Scotland. This measure had been strong ly recommended by king William, almost with his dy ing breath ; and, as early as 1702, commissioners from both kingdoms had met at Westminster, hut such diffi culties occurred, that the treaty was then adjourned. It was resumed, however, within a few years ; for, although j the mutual jealousies of the two nations interposed many obstacles, it was of vital importance to both. To the present Whig ministers of England, it was desirable, as a matter of party, for the easier management of Scot land. It was recommended, however, by nobler pros pects of advantage, in securing the Protestant succes sion ; which, although settled by the English parliament, was still endangered in Scotland by various causes. The Jacobites of Scotland were numerous : they spoke in Parliament in open opposition to government ; and they derived strength by their pretences to patriotism, as well as by acting in connection with a really patriotic body in Scotland, those Whigs who had promoted the revolu tion, but who saw with indignation the interests of their country made subservient to those of England. Among these, the most distinguished was Fletcher of Salton, a man of high, untainted principles, the sworn enemy of arbitrary power, attached to the Protestant succession, but disdaining to call even that succession a blessing ; while the trade of Scotland was shackled, her states men the venal tools of an English cabinet, and her whole existence made dependent on England. By the Coun try Party in the Scottish parliament, an act was passed, which menaced the English with a separate succession, by declaring that the same king should not succeed to the throne of Scotland after her present majesty, unless such conditions of government were previously framed as should secure from English influence the honour and independence, the religion, liberty, and trade of Scot land. Godolphin and the Whigs are said to have advis
ed the queen to confirm this high-spirited act of the Scottish parliament, in order to alarm the English with the boldness of their designs, and thereby prepare them for an union which should give England an equivalent for their concession. When the threat of admitting a separate crown was once uttered by Scotland, an union was evidently necessary to quiet the mutual alarms of the two nations. The first important advantage which England gained in the previous treaty, was by the con cession of the Scottish parliament, that the queen, or, in other words, the English ministry, should nominate the commissioners. These were chosen with an artful admixture of each party, that their concurrence in the union which was previously secured might abate the op position of their friends in parliament. On the 16th of April 1706, the commissioners for both kingdoms met in the Cockpit, near Whitehall. The Scotch nation were not averse from a federal union, and their com missioners proposed it in place of an incorporating union, rather to gain credit with their countrymen than from any hopes that the proposal would succeed. On the 22d of July, however, the terms of an entire union were mutually signed, and next day presented to her majesty at St James's. By these it was agreed that the two kingdoms should for ever be subject to one crown and parliament ; should enjoy the same privileges, and be subject to the same regulations in trade ; and (with a few exceptions in favour of Scotland) to the same taxes, customs, and excise. An equivalent of 393,0001. was to be paid to Scotland, by England, for her customs and excise, so far as these were appropriated to the discharge of her national debt ; but the loan was to be restored, with interest, in 15 years. Forty-five commoners and sixteen peers were to form the representation of Scot land in parliament. The same weights and measures were appointed, and the same seal for public transac tions ; the laws of Scotland, respecting public and pri vate rights, were preserved, with this difference, that the former might be reduced to an uniformity through the united kingdom ; but the latter were to receive no alteration, unless for the evident benefit of the subject. These terms were digested in 29 articles, for the consi deration of each parliament ; and the first of May 170T was fixed for the commencement of the union.