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CHAP. LXXII.

Of Queen Anne.

ANNE, princess of Denmark, being the next protestant heir to her father James II. succeeded king William in the throne. As she had been ill treated by the late king, it was thought she would have deviated from his measures. But the behavior of the French, in acknowledging the title of her brother, who has since been well known by the name of the pretender, left her no choice. She therefore resolved to fulfil all William's engagements with his allies, and to employ the earl of Malborough, who had beeen impris oned in the late reign, on a suspicion of Jacobitism, as her general. She could not have made a better choice of a general and a statesman; for that earl excelled in both capacities. No sooner was he placed at the head of the English army abroad, than his genius and activity gave a new turn to the war; and he became as much the favorite of the Dutch, as his wife was of the queen.

He gave the first proofs of his wisdom, by advancing the subaltern officers, whose merits had hitherto been neglected. He gained the enemy's posts without fighting, ever advancing, and never losing one advantage which he gained.

To this general was opposed on the side of France, the duke of Burgundy, grandson of the king; a youth more qualified to grace a court, than to conduct an army. The marshal Boufflers,

a man of activity and courage, commanded under him. But these qualifications in both were forced to give way to the superior power of their adversary. After being forced to retire by the skilful marches of Malborough, after having seen several towns taken, they gave up all hopes of acting offensively, and concluded the campaign with resolutions to prosecute the next with greater vigor.

Malborough, upon his return to London, received the rewards of his merit, being thanked by the house of commons, and created a duke by the queen. He afterwards obtained many glorious victories; but those of Blenheim and Ramillies gave the most effectual checks to the French power. By that of Blenheim, the empire of Germany was saved from immediate destruction. Though prince Eugene was that day joined in command with the duke, yet the glory of the day was confessedly owed to the latter. The French general Tallard was taken prisoner, and sent to England; 20,000 French and Bavarians were killed, wounded, or drowned in the Danube, besides about 13,000 who were taken, and a proportionable number of cannon, artillery, and trophies of war.

About the same time, the English admiral, Sir George Rooke, reduced Gibraltar, which still remains in our possession.

The battle of Ramillies was fought and gained under the duke of Malborough alone. The loss of the enemy there has been variously reported. It is generally supposed to have been 8000 killed or wounded, and 6000 taken prisoners.

CHAP. LXXIII.

Of the Union of England and Scotland,
A. D. 1706.

THE union of England and Scotland under one legislature, which had been so long and so ardently desired by some of the wisest heads and best hearts in the two British kingdoms, was at last accomplished; and in consequence of it, all disputes concerning the succession to the Scottish crown, fortunately prevented.

The principal articles of this treaty of incorporation were, "That the two kingdoms should be united into one, by the name of Great Britain; that the succession of the united kingdom should remain to the princess Sophia, and the heirs of her body, being protestants; that the whole people of Great Britain should be represented by one parliament, in which sixteen peers and forty-five commoners, chosen for Scotland, should sit and vote; that the subjects of the united kingdoms should enjoy an entire freedom and intercourse of trade and navigation, and a reciprocal communication of all other rights, privileges, and advantages, belonging to the subject of either kingdom; that the laws in regard to public right, policy, and government, should be the same throughout the whole island, but that no alteration should be made with respect to private property; and that all the courts of judicature in Scotland should remain as then constituted by the laws of that kingdom.

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These were the principal articles of the union; and it only remained to obtain the sanction of the legislature of both kingdoms to give them authority. But this was a much more difficult undertaking than it was first imagined to be. It was not only to be approved by the parliament of Scotland, all the popular members of which were averse to the union, but it was also to pass through both houses in England, where it was not a little disagreeable, except to the ministers, who had proposed it.

The arguments in these different assemblies were suited to the audience. To induce the Scotch parliament to come into the measure, it was alledged by the ministry, and their supporters, that an entire and perfect union would be the solid foundation of a lasting peace. It would secure their religion, liberty, and property, remove the animosities that prevailed among themselves, and the jealousies that subsisted between the two nations. It would increase their strength, riches, and commerce. The whole island would be joined in affection, and freed from all apprehensions of different interests, so as to be enabled to resist all its enemies, to support the protestant interests, and maintain the liberties of Europe. It was observed, that the less the wheels of government were clogged by a multiplicity of councils, the more vigorous would be their exertions. They were shewn that the taxes, which, in consequence of this union, they were to pay, were by no means proportionable to their share in the legislature. That their taxes did not amount to a seventieth part of those supplied by the English;

and yet their share in the legislature was not a tenth part less. Such were the arguments in favor of the union addressed to the Scotch parliament.

In the English houses it was observed, that a powerful and dangerous nation would thus for ever be prevented from giving them any disturbance. That in case of any future rupture, England had every thing to lose, and nothing to gain against a nation that was courageous and poor.

On the other hand, the Scotch were fired with indignation at the thoughts of losing their ancient and independent government. The nobility found themselves degraded, in point of dignity and influence, by being excluded from their seats in parliament. The trading part of the nation beheld their commerce loaded with heavy duties, and considered their new privilege of trading to the English plantations in the West Indies, as a very uncertain advantage.

In the English houses also it was observed, that the union of a rich and poor nation, would be always beneficial to the latter, and that the former could only hope for the participation of their necessities.

It was said that the Scotch reluctantly yielded to this coalition, and that it might be likened to marriage with a woman against her consent. The adherents of the excluded family, whose particular interest it was to obstruct such a measure, zealously opposed the treaty; as did also many independent members of the Scottish parliament, on principles of mere patriotism.

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