ing friendship between
the two kingdoms. The Scots acquiesced in this reply, and both sides
proceeded in the treaty without any other intervening dispute. They were
twice visited by the queen, who exhorted them to accelerate the articles
of a treaty that would prove so advantageous to both kingdoms. At length
they were finished, arranged, and mutually signed, on the twenty-second
of July, and next day presented to her majesty, at the palace of St.
James's, by the lord-keeper, in the name of the English commissioners;
at the same time a sealed copy of the instrument was likewise delivered
by the lord chancellor of Scotland; and each made a short oration on the
subject, to which the queen returned a very gracious reply. That same
day she dictated an order of council, that whoever should be concerned
in any discourse or libel, or in laying wagers relating to the union,
should be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law.

SUBSTANCE OF THE TREATY.

In this famous treaty it was stipulated, that the succession to the
united kingdom of Great Britain should be vested in the princess Sophia,
and her heirs, according to the acts already passed in the parliament of
England: that the united kingdoms should be represented by one and the
same parliament: that all the subjects of Great Britain should enjoy a
communication of privileges and advantages: that they should have the
same allowances, encouragements, and drawbacks; and be under the same
prohibitions, restrictions, and regulations, with respect to commerce
and customs: that Scotland should not be charged with the temporary
duties on some certain commodities: that the sum of three hundred and
ninety-eight thousand and eighty-five pounds ten shillings, should be
granted to the Scots, as an equivalent for such parts of the customs and
excise charged upon that kingdom in consequence of the union, as would
be applicable to the payment of the debts of England, according to the
proportion which the customs and excise of Scotland bore co those of
England: that, as the revenues of Scotland might increase, a further
equivalent should be allowed for such proportion of the said increase
as should be applicable to the payment of the debts of England: that
the sura to be paid at present, as well as the monies arising from the
future equivalents, should be employed in reducing the coin of Scotland
to the standard and value of the English coin; in paying off the capital
stock and in