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Succeeding articles ap

their tests. The act of security gave little satisfaction; but the clergy were content to temporise, as they might forfeit the support of the court party, and had no protection to expect if the Jacobites should prevail. On the departure of the country clergy, the commission relapsed into its former moderation. The violence of the presbyteries was restrained, or their petitions were intercepted by circular letters from Carstairs, artfully calcu lated to represent the commission as indifferent, or not indisposed to an union; but the English ministers in vain solicited the approbation of the church, which that subtle politician was unable to procure.

The succeeding articles, respecting trade, taxaproved. tion, jurisdiction and laws, received little alteration. Bounties on the exportation of grain were extended to bear and oatmeal, the chief produce as yet of the country. Drawbacks were allowed on the exportation of beef, pork, and herrings preserved with foreign salt. The taxes on salt and malt, and the excise on ale, the most oppressive to the nation, excited the loudest discontent. The excise on ale was reduced to a medium between strong and small beer, as the Scots drank French wines instead of the former, and their twopenny ale scarcely exceeded the latter in strength. A perpetual exemption from the duties on salt and malt

66 Carstairs, 1754-8. Lockhart. Clerk's MS. De Foe. Boyer.

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was demanded; but the court party were suspi- BOOK cious of whatever might tend, in the English parliament, to frustrate the union, or to obstruct its success. The heaviest of the duties on salt were removed from the nation. The malt-tax was suspended during the war; nor was it then imagined, that a recent duty, to which the English reluctantly submitted from year to year, would be prolonged on a peace. An argument equally fallacious was employed to reconcile the parliament to the English customs; that the greater part expired in four years, when the customs of Scotland would be reduced to a lower rate than at the present period 7; nor was it considered that a tax, even of the shortest duration, to which the nation has once submitted, seldom fails to become perpetual.

While each article was successively disputed and Tumults. confirmed in parliament, the increasing ferment of the nation threatened to convert the union into an internal war. Notwithstanding the presence of the military, the commissioner was frequently insulted, and his life endangered by the enraged multitude. At Glasgow, the imprudent opposition of the magistrates to an address against the union incensed the populace, who seized, and, for some days, retained the town in their possession. In the western counties, the Cameronians and pea- Insurrecsants, whose aversion to an union was inflamed by jec.ed

67 Clerk's Hist. MS. De Foe, 410.

tions pro

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BOOK fanaticism, held frequent nocturnal meetings; and a numerous body appearing in arms at Dumfries, burnt the articles, and affixed a declaration against . the union to the market cross. At length they assembled openly, under the act of security, to embody themselves into regiments, to appoint their officers, to provide horses and arms, and to consult on measures for dissolving the parliament; which nothing but the incessant rains, and the inclemency of the winter season, had hitherto preserved 68. Cunningham, an old and experienced officer in whom they confided, was sent to inform the popular leaders that when matters were properly concerted, they were ready to march to Edinburgh, to disperse a wretched parliament, whose members had sold the honour and interest of their country, and forfeited all right to determine either for their constituents or for themselves. The same offers were made from the counties of Perth and Angus. The duke of Athol, whose influence in the highlands was extensive, undertook to secure Stirling, and to preserve the communication between the west and the north. The presbyterians were about to take arms with the Jacobites, and, if we may believe their authors, to declare for their king. Nothing less than a civil war could be expected from an union to which two thirds of the nation were confessedly adverse, or rather, which was promoted by the court and its adherents alone. 68 Lockhart, 218, with Clerk's Notes.

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But, at this critical and decisive moment, Cun- BOOK ningham, terrified at the danger, and allured by a reward for the discovery of the enterprize, betrayed their designs to Queensberry, by whom he was instructed to return to the west, and to sooth his confederates, or to dissuade them from arms. He assured them, in his progress through the western counties, that there was neither fidelity nor resolution among their associates in Edinburgh, who had promised but who refused to furnish assistance or supplies; and that they should consider well before they engaged, without aid, in such a desperate attempt. Whether apprized of his treachery, or unwilling to have recourse to arms, Hamilton, and prewho held nightly consultations with Queensberry Hamilton. in the palace, where they both resided, dispatched private expresses through the country, requiring the people to desist for a time; and, instead of seven thousand engaged in the enterprise, not above five hundred assembled, whom Cunningham easily persuaded to disperse 69. The act of security was immediately suspended, so far as it authorised the people to muster and appear in

arms.

vented by

When each measure to disperse the parliament National was thus disconcerted, a more moderate and un

69 Lockhart, 278. Hook's Negociations, 10. 12. Ker of Kersland, in his Memoirs, claims and was suspected (Macpherson's Orig. Pap. ii. 548-53.) of the same meritorious infamy.

address.

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BOOK exceptionable plan was proposed by Fletcher; that the freeholders of every description should be invited to town, to attend, and, in a body, to con. jure the commissioner to relinquish the union, or at least to consent to a short recess, till the sentiments of the nation were represented to the queen. A national address was prepared; to be circulated on his refusal, universally subscribed, and transmitted to the queen, requesting a new parliament and assembly, as the only means to avert the miseries of a compulsive union. Five hundred gentlemen, mostly Jacobites, repaired to town: the carl of Panmure's brother was appointed their prolocutor; but the measure was again disappointed by Hamilton. On the day preceding the national address, he required a clause to be inserted, ex, pressive of their desire to entail the crown upon the House of Hanover, without which he asserted that the tories in the English parliament could have no pretext to oppose an union. A demand to which the bulk of the Jacobites could never assent, produced an unexpected delay. A proclamation was issued against illegal convocations, and the country gentlemen, wearied with attendance, and disgusted at their leaders, returned to their homes. Hamilton's opponents were persuaded that he had received secret instructions from the court of St. Germains, rather to promote the protestant succession, which might be retrieved in time, than submit to an union, which would unite

Dec. 27.

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