The Scotch, though not averse from a federal union, were, throughout all ranks, averse from an incorpora tion. When, on the opening of their parliament by the queen's commissioner the duke of Queensberry, the terms of the treaty were revealed, the nation passed from a deep and anxious suspence to an universal burst of indignation at the surrender of the independence and sovereignty of the ancient kingdom. Multitudes re sorted from the country to the capital ; the rage and numbers of the tumultuous people increased as they ranged the streets in quest of the commissioners, whom they accused of betraying their country ; and nothing but concert and a leader were wanting to overturn the parliament, together with the union. In vain the privy council of Edinburgh issued a proclamation against riots, commanding all persons to retire at beat of drum. The duke of Queensberry, through double lines of horse and foot, was obliged to pass along the streets at full gallop, amidst the curses and reproaches of the people, who pelted his guards, even wounded some of his friends who attended him in his coach. Insurrections, in arms, were even projected in many parts of Scotland, which were only disappointed by the treachery of the leaders. So outrageous was the capital, so numerous the peti tions from all parts, and so alarming the appearance of Scotland, that the commissioner and the chancellor wish ed to adjourn the parliament, till the ferment should subside ; but Stair, Godolphin, and the other \Vhigs, who saw that delay would ruin the business, urged them to perseverance, and were determined to maintain it by force of arms, promising supplies of troops from Eng land, Ireland, or even Flanders, if they should be re quired. The secret history of the intrigues and corrup tion that produced the union, has been lost, or indus triously suppressed ; but, it is certain, that above four score members were dependents on the court, or influ enced by honourable and lucrative places, or by the contingent payment of arrears and public debts. The Country Party was equally numerous ; but the distribu tion of twenty thousand pounds, from the English t•ea sury, among nineteen peers and eight commoners. chiefly of the party called the Sy uadrone Volante,* from their fluctuation between the Court and Country Party, de termined a majority in favour of the union.
When the Scottish parliament proceeded to debate, every article of the treaty was made the subject of a protest. The Country Party maintained that the sup posed benefits of commercial intercourse were a mock ery, in return for the rights of independent legislation ; and conjured their countrymen never to accept of a poor equivalent, and the right of trading to the English plan tations, as a compensation for the free trade which they had hitherto enjoyed to the Levant. the Baltic, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, and the Dutch plantations, a commerce w hich would now be fettered with restrictions, duties and customs. "Methinks I see a free and inde pendent kingdom," said the patriotic lord Belhaven, " delivering up the great object of dispute among na tions, for what the world has been ever fighting, and all Europe is new engaged in war,—the power to ma nage their own affairs, without assistance or controul. I see the present peers of Scotland, whose ancestors have exacted tribute through England, walking like English attornics in the court of requests ; while, at home, a petty English exciseman shall receive more homage and respect, than were ever paid to the greatest of their progenitors. I see the estate of barons, the
bold assertors of our liberties, in the worst of times, setting a watch upon their lips, and a guard upon their tongues, to avoid the penalties of unknown laws ; and the burrows walking through their desolate streets, drooping under disappoititments, and wormed out of the branches of their former trade. I see the honest and industrious tradesman, loaded with new taxes and im positions, disappointed of the equivalent, eating his salt less pottage, and drinking water instead of ale. I see the incurable difficulties of the landed gentry, fettered with the golden chain of equivalents, their daughters petitioning for want of husbands, and their sons for want of employment ; but, above all, I see our ancient mother Caledonia, like Cxsar, sitting in the midst of our senate., looking mournfully around, covering herself with her royal garment, and breathing out her last words, ' ?Ind thou, too, my son,' while she attends the fatal blow from our hands. Patricide is worse than parricide ; to offer violence to our country is worse than to our parents ; but shall we, whose predecessors have founded and trans mitted our monarchy entire, shall we be silent when our country is in danger, or betray what our progenitors have so dearly purchased. The English are a great and glorious nation. Their armies are every where victorious ; their navy is the terror of Europe ; their commerce encircles the globe, and their capital has be come the emporium of the whole earth. But we arc obscure, poor, and despised, though once a nation of better account, situate in a remote corner of the world, without alliances, and without a name. What then can prevent ns from burying our animosities, and uniting cordially together, since our very existence as a nation is at stake ? The enemy is already at our gates ; Han nibal is within our gates. Ilannibal is at the foot of the throne, which he will soon demolish ; seize upon these regalia, and dismiss us never to return to this house again ! Where arc the Douglasses, the Grahames, and the Campbells, our peers and chieftains, who vindicated, by their swords, from the usurpations of the English Edwards, the independence of their country ; which their sons are about to forfeit by a single vote. I see the English constitution remaining firm ; the same houses of parliament, the same taxes, customs and ex cise, the same trading companies, laws, and judicatures ; whilst ours are either subjected to new regulations, or annihilated for ever. And for what ? that we may be admitted to the honour of paying their old and present ing a few witnesses to the new debts which they are pleased to contract. Good God, is this an entire sur render ! Jly heart bursts with indignation and grief, at the triumph which the English will obtain to-day over a fierce and warlike nation, that has struggled to maintain its independence so long ; but if England should offer us our conditions, never will I consent to the surrender of our sovereignty, without which, unless the contracting parties remain independent, there is no security differ ent front his who stipulates for the preservation of his property when he becomes a slave." The eloquence of Belhaven and Fletcher were exerted in vain ; the union was determined in the Scottish parliament, by a majori ty of SS votes.