Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton

162 HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL MEMOIRS
james, many ages ? Are none of the descendants here of those worthy patriots
of Hamilton. wno defended the liberty of their country against all invaders — who assist-
===== ed the great King Robert Bruce to restore the constitution, and avenge
the falsehood of England and usurpation of Baliol ? Where are the Dou-
glasses and the Campbells? where are the peers? where are the barons?
once the bulwarks of the nation ? Shall we yield up the sovereignty and
independency of Scotland, when we are commanded by those we repre-
sent to preserve the same, and assured of their assistance to support us?"
This speech drew tears from the eyes of many of his auditors.
From the 4th November, when the vote was put, Approve of the first
article of the Union or not? to the 16th January J707» when Parliament
approved of the act ratifying and approving of the treaty of the Union, the
Duke of Hamilton voted against every article of that treaty, with the excep-
tion of the first clause of the fifteenth article, relating to the equivalent; and
his Grace adhered to every protest against it. All this was in the way of
fair opposition. His Grace would not enter into the violent measures of his
party ; and, when a body of 7000 or 8000 men, well armed, were appointed
to rendezvous at Hamilton, to push forward to Edinburgh and disperse the
Parliament, his Grace, a day or two before the appointed time, sent ex-
presses privately through the whole country, strictly requiring all con-
cerned to put off their design ; and he being entirely trusted, by these
means so thwarted and broke the measure, that not above 500, who were
more forward than the others, came to the place appointed. Thus the
Duke had the merit of saving Scotland from all the horrors of civil blood-
shed, in which too many of the Opposition were ready to plunge the
nation.
Great numbers of the landed gentlemen of Scotland, who were averse
Leckhmfs Memoirs, to the Union, having come to Edinburgh, and many more being expected,
a national address was prepared, requesting the Queen to call a new Par-
liament, as the only means to avert the miseries of a compulsive Union ;
but the Duke of Hamilton requiring the addition of a clause expressive
of a desire to settle the succession on the House of Hanover, this occa-
sioned a delay that rendered the plan abortive. When the representation
of the Parliament of Scotland in the Parliament of Great Britain was
under discussion, his Grace proposed that the Marquis of Annandale
should renew his motion for establishing the same succession with Eng-
land ; and that, on its rejection, the country party should enter a solemn