to argue merely on the concluding and ratifying clause, they were thrown out of their concerted plan of action, and of arguing on each point in detail, and lost their presence of mind. The whigs, on the other hand, pressed the voting on the clause of ratification with such vehemence, that it was carried by a majority of one hundred and fourteen before the opposition could recover from their surprise, occasioned by the novel structure of the bill. Being then hurried up to the lords, the fact that it had passed the commons seemed to abate much the chances of opposition. The duke of Buckingham, indeed, expressed his apprehensions—very different to those of lord Haversham—that sixteen Scottish peers, thrown into a house where there were rarely a hundred peers in attendance, might have occasionally a very mischievous effect on English interests. Lord North also proposed a rider, purporting that nothing in the ratification of the union should be construed to extend to an approbation or acknowledgment of presbyterianism as the true protestant religion; but this was rejected by a majority of fifty-five. The bill passed, but under protests from Nottingham, Buckingham, and seventeen other lords.
On the 4th of March Anne gave the royal assent to the bill, and expressed, as well she might, her satisfaction at the completion of this great measure, the greatest of her reign or of many reigns. She said, "I consider this union as a matter of the greatest importance to the wealth, strength, and safety of the whole island, and at the same time as a work of so much difficulty and nicety in its own nature, that, till now, all attempts which have been made towards it in the course of above a hundred years, have proved ineffectual; and, therefore, I make no doubt but that it will be remembered and spoken of hereafter to the honour of those who have been instrumental in bringing it to such a happy conclusion. I desire and expect from all subjects of both nations that, from henceforth, they will act with all respect and kindness to one another, that so it may appear to all the world they have hearts disposed to become one people. This will be a great pleasure to me, and will make us all quickly sensible of the great effects of this union." On the 11th of March, both houses waited on her majesty to congratulate her on the "conclusion of a work that, after so many fruitless endeavours, seemed designed by providence to add new lustre to the glories of her majesty's reign." In dismissing this subject we may add that we believe no man had more contributed, by his wise suggestions and zealous exertions, to the completion of this great national act than lord Somers.
As the act did not come into effect till the 1st of May, numbers of traders in both kingdoms were on the alert to reap advantages from it. The English prepared to carry quantities of such commodities into Scotland as would entitle them to a drawback, intending to bring them back after the 1st of May; and the Scotch, as their duties were much lower than those of England, intended to import great quantities of wine, brandy, and similar articles, to sell them into England after the union. Some of the ministers were found to have embarked in those fraudulent schemes, which so alarmed the English merchants that they presented a remonstrance to the commons. The commons began to prepare a bill on the subject, but it was discovered that the previous resolutions of the house sufficiently provided against these practices; and, as the 1st of May was now so near, the matter was dropped.
Chapter VI.
The Reign of Queen Anne (Continued).
The great event of the union of the kingdoms has carried us somewhat past the course of general events. After the last disastrous campaign, Louis XIV., humbled to a degree that he was hitherto unacquainted with, employed the elector of Bavaria to propose a congress to the duke of Marlborough and the States-General. He had already presented a memorial to the Dutch government through the marquis D'Alegré; and he besought the pope to use his influence to this end. The terms which Louis offered in the moment of his alarm were such as well merited the attention of the allies. He proposed to cede either Spain and the West Indies to king Charles, or Milan, Naples, and Sicily; to grant a barrier to the Dutch of fortified towns on the frontiers of the Spanish Netherlands, and to indemnify the duke of Savoy for the ravages committed on his territories. Never since the commencement of the war had the allies such an opportunity of closing the war triumphantly. They could thus balance the powers of France and Austria by dividing the Spanish monarchy, and give to the Dutch all they asked—a secure frontier. But the great doubt was whether Louis was in earnest, or only seeking to gain time during which he might continue to divide the allies. Long experience had impressed on all men the utterly slippery character of the man, and his very proposals seemed of themselves to produce this effect; for the emperor, alarmed at the idea of the allies acceding to such terms, determined to make himself master of Naples before any terms for its cession to France in exchange for Spain should be entered into. This was further seen in the circumstance of the emperor in the following winter concluding a separate treaty with Louis by which he evacuated Milan, and thus liberated his troops to use them against the allies in Spain and the Netherlands.
But the allies were by no means eager to accept Louis's offers. The Dutch were greatly elated by Marlborough's astonishing victories, and Marlborough himself was in no humour to stop in the mid career of his glory. He is said to have induced the grand pensionary, Heinsius—who was now as much devoted to him as he had formerly been to
