CHAPTER XXVIII.

UNION BETWEEN SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND-COMMOTION AMONGST THE PEOPLE-ACTION OF CORDINERS AND OTHER CRAFTSMEN.

THIS Union, especially in Scotland, seems to have created a most wonderful ferment amongst the people; and, in so far as Glasgow was concerned, especially amongst its craftsmen. We find that the crafts represented, in a great measure, the views of the citizens, and that the Cordiners took an important part in connection with the then disputes, for Mr. John Stevenson, the deacon of the Cordiners, formed one of a deputation of three appointed to go to Parliament to state the grievances of the people of Glasgow.

When Princess Anne, in 1702, ascended the throne, to the satisfaction of all parties, the kingdoms of Scotland and England had been governed by one sovereign since the days of James I. of England, yet each nation continued to be ruled by its respective parliament—each of which often pursued opposite interests. To avoid this a union between the kingdoms had often been attempted and failed; but it was at last concluded and ratified by the Scotch Parliament on 25th March, 1707. The terms of this Union were very obnoxious to the people of Scotland, for, although the Scottish Parliament had deputed twenty commissioners to meet twenty-three

commissioners appointed by the English Parliament, the people maintained that they had been deceived, that the terms of the Articles of Union had been carefully concealed, and that they were not known till they were laid before Parliament. The commotion was so great that all ranks of the people raised their united voice against what they considered a detested treaty. The nobility and gentry were exasperated at the abolition of the Scottish Parliament, and, as they thought, their consequent loss of influence. The main body of the people conceived that they saw the independence of the nation sacrificed, and they confidently affirmed that the necessary residence of the Scotch members in London would involve the withdrawal of a large amount of money from circulation in Scotland. The commercial portion of the inhabitants was also dissatisfied with the Union, for a variety of reasons adduced by them, the principal one being its probable evil effect on the interests of trade and commerce. Very violent disputes took place in the Scottish Parliament. Lord Belhaven, in a vivid and impassioned speech, deplored the situation into which. the Union would bring the Scottish nation, and drew tears from the eyes of many of his audience. Almost every article of the Treaty was made the subject of a protest; addresses against it were prepared and presented to Parliament by the Convention of Royal Burghs, the Commissioners of the General Assembly, the shires, burghs, towns, and parishes, and by others, without distinction of creed or politics.

In Glasgow the disturbances in connection with the Union assumed for a time a somewhat serious aspect,

and addresses against it were presented by all classes. Messrs. John Bowman, dean of guild, Robert Scott, deacon of the Tailors, and John Stevenson, deacon of the Cordiners, were sent to Parliament with, and presented, the united remonstrances of their fellowcitizens of Glasgow.

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The Commission of the General Assembly appointed a fast to be held on Thursday, 7th November, to implore the Divine protection from what was considered an impending calamity. On this occasion Mr. James Clark, the minister of the Tron Church, Glasgow, preached from these words in Ezra viii. 21, “"Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance." After the discourse was finished the preacher said, Wherefore, up and be valiant for the city of our God!" The people instantly rose, and being joined by those from other towns, armed themselves, and burned the proposed Articles of Union. They then resolved to take their way to Edinburgh and dissolve the Parliament. Meantime the Privy Council had issued a proclamation against riots, and ordered the guard to fire on the discontented. Soon after this the ministry, in consequence of the defection of a number of the nobility and gentry who had formerly favoured the the popular feeling against the Union, succeeded in obtaining a majority, and the articles were passed by the Scottish Parliament on the 3rd October, 1706, on which occasion the Duke of Queensberry, who was a great supporter of the Union, dissolved that ancient

assembly, and Scotland from that time ceased to be a separate and independent kingdom. After this the two kingdoms, as stipulated by the Treaty, took the name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. On the 1st May, 1708, the British Parliament, by fifty against forty, dissolved the Scotch Privy Council, whereby the last vestige of the ancient national government of Scotland was removed.

The commotion against the Union had not been allayed when the religious sentiments of the Scottish people were aroused by an Act of Parliament passed in 1712, which conferred the patronage of the Scotch Church upon certain public bodies and individuals. This was considered by the people as an infringement of their religious liberties, as, since the Scotch Act of Parliament of 1690, the heritors and elders of every parish elected their own ministers. By the recent Act of 1874 abolishing patronage, the principles of the old Act of 1690 have been reverted to, but in a more extended form, inasmuch as the right of electing ministers to fill the charges in the Church of Scotland. is now conferred on the congregations of the church.

Whatever may be thought of the union of the two kingdoms in a political point of view, it is undeniable that the predictions of the objectors to it at the time have not been fulfilled, but that, on the contrary, the Union has tended greatly to the advantage and commercial prosperity and enrichment of Scotland as well as of England; and we of the present day, it is thought, have every reason to be thankful for the accomplishment of a Union which has brought in its train so many substantial advantages to us.

The Union has not impaired in any way, as is well known, our national independence; and, although there may be some who hold a different view, it is hoped we are now, and ever will be, as true and independent Scotchmen as before the accomplishment of the Union, which was the occasion of so much excitement and a source of bitter complaint at the time.