1700. had the state of affairs abroad permitted; and ex- BOOK IV: pressing his very great concern at the misfortunes and losses the nation had sustained in their trade; and promising to concur in any measures calculated to promote and encourage it. And the lord commissioner, in his speech, assured the parliament, that he knew his majesty's mind to be so favorably disposed, that there was a certainty of obtaining any thing that could be in reason asked on his head. But these soothing declarations seemed to produce little effect. In a short time a strong and inflammatory remonstrance was presented from the Darien company, reciting all the losses, disappointments, and hardships they had sustained. This was followed by petitions and addresses of the same kind from all parts of the kingdom. And a resolution being moved, "that the colony of Caledonia in Darien was a legal and rightful settlement, in the terms of the act of parliament of 1695; and that the parliament would maintain and support the same;" the commissioner, to avoid the consequence of such a vote, immediately adjourned the parliament for three days, But all his endeavours in that interval to extinguish, or even to moderate, the flame which raged so fiercely, were ineffectual. The parliament met again in the same ferment, and with the same disposition as before-so that his grace was compelled, by a dangerous and invi BOOK IV. dious exercise of the prerogative, to adjourn 1700, them for twenty days more. This step the lord commissioner condescended to apologise for, in a plausible and popular speech, in which he declared, "that as he was ever firm and faithful to. his king, so he was ever zealous for the honour and interest of his country; and that he had hoped at this time to do acceptable service to both. He told them, that he had power and instructions for every thing that appeared necessary or convenient for the good and advantage of the nation, as to their religion, property, liberty, trade; and particularly what could be of most solid use to the African and Indian company. But several things having occurred wherein he found himself obliged to consult his majesty, he was under the necessity of adjourning parliament for some days." But in the present paroxysm of enthusiasm, all these arts of conciliation were vain. The majority of the members met that ings of that very evening, and framed an address to the king in a high strain, rather "besieging than beseeching" the throne-and demanding that parliament should meet on the day to which it was then adjourned, and to sit as long as might be necessary for redressing the grievances of the nation. This was presented to the king by lord Ross, June 11th, 1700, at the head of a deputation appointed for that purpose and they received for answer, Violent Assembly. "that they should know his intentions in Scot- BOOK IV. land." In the interval, the parliament had been 1700, again adjourned by proclamation, on which great tumults had ensued in the city of Edinburgh; and the malcontent members talked of sitting by force. The boldest language was unreservedly used; the nation was said to be out of the protection of the crown-and, if another convention had been in this crisis called, there was reason to believe that the throne would have been a second time declared vacant. and Mo deration of the King. Justly alarmed at this state of things, the king at last wrote (July 26) to the lord commissioner a remarkable letter, afterwards published by authority, in which he declared, "that if it had Wisdom been possible for him to have agreed to the resolve offered to assert the right of the African company, he had readily done it for the satisfaction of his people-That he was truly sorry for the nation's loss, and most willing to concur with his parliament in every thing that could be reasonably expected of him, for aiding and supporting their interests-and for demonstrating his hearty inclinations to advance the wealth and prosperity of that his majesty's ancient kingdom-That he was confident this declaration would be satisfying to all good men, who would certainly be careful both of their own preservation and of the honour and interest of the government, and not suffer 1700. BOOK IV. themselves to be misled, nor to give advantage to enemies and ill-designing persons ready to catch hold of any opportunity, as their practices did too manifestly witness."-This declaration produced a sensible effect upon the minds of all who were capable of reflection: and though a second violent national address was signed and presented, the parliament had met before that period, and the king wisely referred it to their consideration. The king's letter to the parliament, at the re-commencement of the session, was conceived in the softest and most insinuating terms, engaging to give the royal assent to all such bills as should be offered to him for the better establishment and security of the religion, liberty, and commerce of the nation, so that nothing should be wanting on his part to make his people contented and happy. Another warm and angry representation was nevertheless presented from the Darien company, the very first day of the renewed session, which was immediately followed by the second national address. But the storm now began visibly to abate, and the salutary effects of the wise and conciliatory policy of the court were strikingly manifested. The parliament saw that the loss the nation had sustained, however great, was irretricvable. They could not but perceive the extreme difficulty of the king's situation; and if his conduct was not wholly to be vindicated, it doubt- BOOK IV. less claimed the most candid construction, and ad- 1700. mitted of the greatest palliation. What better could be done than, forgetting the past, to embrace and improve the present favorable disposition of the court to enact laws and establish regulations such as the state of the kingdom required-such as were most conducive to the permanent welfare and prosperity of the country? These public considerations, corroborated no doubt by others of a more private nature, happily prevailed. The indignant humour of the parliament and even of the nation gradually subsided: and' when the great question of supplies came under discussion, January 21, 1701, a loyal and cheerful vote passed, "that, in consideration of their great deliverance by his majesty, and that, next under GoD, their safety and happiness depended wholly on the preservation of his majesty's person and the security of his government, they would stand by and support both his majesty and his government to the utmost of their power; and and maintain such forces as should be requisite for those ends." To sum up the whole, this fac- Calm and tious and turbulent session had a calm and peace- Close of the ful close; and the lord commissioner, after the session. rising of parliament, was honoured by an high. and, to a native of Scotland, unusual compliment, with the order of the garter, and the earl peaceable Scottish |