the sword, and by the end of February, their arrangements throughout the north were represented as nearly complete. A vessel had landed her cargo, arms and ammunition, in the island of Skye, whence several emissaries had dispersed them majesty's undoubted title to the crown, wee have to the utmost of our power endeavoured to maintain. This unhappy nobleman, my lord Lovat, for whom, in all humility, we offer this petition, would not be so presumptuous as himself to make any request to your majesty; but has appealed to those who are known to have openly and firmly devoted themselves to your majesties service. And his relations desireing us to be witnesses of the truth in his behalf, we could much less in justice than in compassion, refuse to bear this evidence to your majesty; that by the assistance and power of those by the name of Fraser, who are almost all under his direction, we have strengthened ourselves in the defence of the present happy constitution in church and state. These are the motives which have compelled us in the most humble manner to lay my lord Lovat's case before your majesty; and we are so sensible, not only of his power, but of his sincere intentions to join with us, in the supporting inviolably the authoritie of your majesty's government in the north of Scotland, that if we can be so happy as to obtain the royall favour for him, we humbly make offer to become bound for his loyal, faithful, and dutifull behaviour to your majestie, in whatever sum your majesty shall be graciously pleased to appoint.” A list of the considerable persons of Inverness, Morray, and Nairne, who signed this address to his majesty in favours of the lord Lovat; and who are known to be zealously affected to the present constitution, and the most landed men in those shires: Hugh Rose of Claver Thomas Tullock of Fannochie John Forbes of Culloden, Member of Robert Logan, Baillie selves over the country, and the chevalier, it was confidently reported, would follow in a few days, accompanied by an army of twelve thousand men. These reports do not appear to have made any great impression on the public mind, as they called forth, for the time, no greater preparations than the reviewing of a single regiment [Forfar's], and the moving of a few dragoons from Jedburgh, Kelso, and other parts on the borders, to the Links of Leith. The new parliament, almost every individual member of which had been particularly instructed by his constituents in what manner he was to act,' was assembled on the seven A list of the considerable persons of the shires of Ross and Sutherland, that signed this address to his majesty in favours of the lord Lovat; and who are known to be zealously affected to the present constitution, and the most landed men in those shires: Earl of Sutherland Lord Strath Naver Hugh Munro of Teaninish Hugh Rose of Killravock, Shiriff Prin- John Munro of Novar yor. cipal of Rosshire Sir Robert Munro of Foulls Alexr. Gordon of Ardoch Robert Munro yor. of Foulls, Member of John Gordon of Garthie William Robertson of Craigmill Alexr. Munro of Kilsehoan * The reader may take the following as a sample of what these instructions were, and as a specimen of public feeling at the time. "We, the citizens of London, who have cheerfully elected you to represent us in parliament, and thereby committed to your trust, the safety, liberty, property, and privileges of us and our posterity, think it our duty, as it is our undoubted right, to acquaint you of what we desire and expect from you, in discharge of the great confidence we repose in you, and what we take to be your duty as our representatives. I. "We desire and expect that you will enquire by whose counsel it was, that after God had blessed the arms of her late majesty and her allies, with a train of unparalleled successes, she was prevailed upon, contrary to the grand alliance, and her repeated promises from the throne to both houses, to send to, or receive managers from France, to treat separately of a peace, without the knowledge or consent of our allies? II. "By whose advice the emperor's minister, the count de Gallas, was discharged the court, for resenting and opposing these separate negotiations, teenth of March, 1715, with the usual solemnities. The honourable Spencer Compton was unanimously chosen speaker, and, on Monday the twenty-first, presented to his majesty, who was pleased to inform the house from the throne, that he had ordered the lord chancellor to declare the causes for contrary, not only to the grand alliance, but to the queen's particular assurances to his master? III. "By whose advice his majesty's memorial, delivered by his majesty's minister, the baron de Bothmar, against those clandestine and separate negotiations, was not only disregarded, but called a libel, and the said minister affronted ? IV. "By whose advice and management her majesty was prevailed on, first to come to a cessation of arms with our common enemy, and then so surprisingly to withdraw our troops from those of the allies, which was attended with such dismal consequences? V. "By whose advice and management all that had been gained by a profusion of blood and treasure, in a glorious and successful war, was thrown up, just as we were seizing the prize of our conquest; and a freeborn people, brought within the view of slavery? VI." By whose advice and management our constitution was struck at, by creating twelve new lords at once, to carry a vote in the upper-house? VII." By whose advice it was, that the treaty with the French for settling our common barrier in the Netherlands, and making them guarantees of the protestant succession, was enervated, and a new treaty which weakened both securities, made in its place? VIII. "By whose advice and management, we were mocked with the assurances of being free from the danger of the neighbouring fortress of Dunkirk; and whether the late ministry, or any of them did agree, that the French king should make a new harbour at Mardyke, as part of the equivalent for demolishing the fortifications and harbour of Dunkirk ? IX. " By whose advice and management the best branches of our trade were exchanged for chimeras, and the ruin of the whole endangered by a vile treaty of commerce with France? X. "How the expedition in Canada came to miscarry; and by whose advice her majesty, contrary to her proclamations published in New England, &c. for encouraging that expedition, came to allow the French to keep their interest in Canada, to sell that in Newfoundland, and to settle on Cape Breton, to the great detriment of our fishing trade, and to the manifest danger of all our plantations in North America? XI. "By what advice it was, that the confederates were refused to be invited to be guarantees to the protestant succession, though her majesty had promised it in her answer to the addresses of both houses, in 1708? XII. "By whose advice it was, that his now royal highness, George prince of Wales, was denied the liberty to come and take his place in parliament, when the presence of one of the illustrious family of Hanover was so abso calling this parliament. At the same time he delivered to the chancellor the following, which his lordship read as his majesty's speech to both houses of parliament:-*" My lords and gentlemen, This being the first opportunity that I have had of meeting my people in parliament, since it pleased lutely necessary to quiet the minds of the subjects, and to secure us from the just apprehensions we had of danger from the chevalier? XIII. "By whose advice it was, that his majesty's minister, baron Schutz, was discharged the court, because he demanded a writ for the prince? XIV. "By whose advice, Sir Patrick Lawless, the chevalier's agent or envoy, was entertained at court at the same time, and honourably conveyed beyond sea, soɔn after it was complained of in parliament ? XV. "By whose advice and management, our holy church was in danger of being given up to popery, our civil rights to tyranny, and the way prepared for the chevalier ? XVI. "By whose advice it was, that the Jacobite clans in Scotland were armed and kept in pay, and that levies of men for the chevalier in Great Britain and Ireland, were so long connived at ? XVII. " By whose management it was, that the public affairs of the kingdom are brought under the greatest difficulties, as well in respect to our trade, and the interruption of our navigation, as of the great debts of the nation, which have been very much increased since last war, as his majesty has been graciously pleased to inform us, in his proclamation for calling a new parliament ? XVIII. "We also desire and expect, that you concur in demanding an account how the money raised by parliament has been expended since the change of the ministry, in 1710. XIX. "That you not only concur in such enquiries, but also in a parliamentary way, to bring such to justice as shall be found guilty of those mismanagements; this being a duty owing to ourselves as well as our confederates, and indispensably necessary for retrieving the honour of the nation, and restoring a due confidence and harmony betwixt us and our allies? XX. "That you concur in making such laws as shall be thought necessary for the better security of the churches of England and Scotland, as severally by law established; and for suppressing and preventing these seditious and groundless clamours, of the church of England being in danger by his majesty's administration? XXI. "That you concur in giving the king such sums as shall be thought necessary for enabling his majesty to defend the nation, to support and retrieve our trade, and to keep the balance of Europe, which is threatened with a new war, by the intrigues of our common enemies." Publication of that day, &c. &c. His majesty George I. could not speak, nor could he read, English. These circumstances were often urged against him by the Jacobites, and were supposed to afford very fair grounds for refusing to acknowledge him as sovereign of these realms. Almighty God, of his good providence, to call me to the throne of my ancestors, I most gladly make use of it to thank my faithful and loving subjects, for that zeal and firmness that hath been shown in defence of the protestant succession, against all the open and secret practices that have been used to defeat it; and I shall never forget the obligations I have to those who have distinguished themselves upon this occasion. "It were to be wished, that the unparalleled successes of a war, which was so wisely and cheerfully supported by this nation, in order to procure a good peace, had been attended with a suitable conclusion. But, it is with concern, I must tell you, that some conditions, even of this peace, essential to the security and trade of Great Britain, are not yet duly executed, and the performance of the whole may be looked upon as precarious, until we shall have formed defensive alliances to guarantee the present treaties. "The pretender, who still resides in Lorrain, still threatens to disturb us, and boasts of the assistance which he still expects here to repair his former disappointments. "A great part of our trade is rendered impracticable. This, if not retrieved, must destroy our manufactures, and ruin our navigation. "The public debts are very great, and surprisingly increased, ever since the fatal cessation of arms. My first care was to prevent a farther increase of these debts, by paying off forthwith a great number of ships, which had been kept in pay, when there was no occasion for continuing such an expense. "Gentlemen of the house of commons:-I rely upon you for such supplies as the present circumstances of our affairs require for this year's service, and for the support of the public faith. The estimates shall be laid before you, that you may consider of them; and what you shall judge necessary for your safety, I shall think sufficient for mine. "I doubt not but you will concur with me in opinion, that nothing can contribute more to the support of the credit of the nation, than a strict observance of all parliamentary engagements. |