Earls of Cromartie > [NSLBLANK]

1714.] ADVOCATES THE FISHERIES. clix
a Hotting baskett, recovered uuexspectedly, and by a king's daughter ; and now
more then that, I pray God shee may pitch on good nurses." His Lordship de-
precates divisions which might again make the united nation look like two.
He also urges very earnestly the prosecution of fishing, on which he thinks the
richest trade and power are founded. He demonstrated this to King Charles
in a debate in his closet with Mr. Slingsby so early as the year 1662, and he
could do so again ; and he beseeches Lord Mar to work with as great zeal
and constancy for establishing both herring and cod fishings in Scotland, by
Scotch hands and English direction, and British stocks, as Lord Cromartie
himself did for the Union, and he dared prophesy that no potentate in Europe
could hinder them from the greatest and best-founded trade in it. He did
not think to live to see it — seventy-five years old being too low for that — but
while he lived he would wish it, and endeavour it, as far as a wearied age
could act. He says that a vigorous fishery is a better mine for Scotland than
the Indies can afford, for theirs will never grow, while ours do every year.
Meat never wants market, and so can never want vent or vendition, and to
fell two dogs with one stone, set up Lome and cause Carthage to fall, by
fairly taking off the base on which it did rise, and yet without hindering
the Dutch from the claim of their greatest man and greatest lawyer (Grotius),
viz., Mare liberum. Eor though they fish with us, they can never equal us,
if English purses, Scots hands and provisions, and Britain's strength join
cordially and prudently.
Lord Cromartie, in a note holograph of his Lordship, thus refers to his
exertions for the Union. "Now for 46 years under my five crowned
masters, for my tynie was little, and my service under King Charles, and
who was my seventh master, was short, and my capacity wanted all experi-
ence, which now makes the best part of what I have."
In another paper on the Supreme Civil Courts, Lord Cromartie refers