ive commoners to represent Scotland in
the British parliament. This being touched with the sceptre, the three
estates proceeded to elect their representatives. The remaining part
of the session was employed in making regulations concerning the coin,
in examining the accounts of their African company, and providing
for the due application of the equivalent, which was scandalously
misapplied. On the twenty-fifth day of March the commissioner adjourned
the parliament, after having, in a short speech, taken notice of the
honour they had acquired in concluding an affair of such importance to
their country. Having thus accomplished the great purpose of the court,
he set out for London, in the neighbourhood of which he was met by above
forty noblemen in their coaches, and about four hundred gentlemen on
horseback. Next day he waited upon the queen at Kensington, from whom
he met with a very gracious reception. Perhaps there is not another
instance upon record of a ministry's having carried a point of this
importance against such a violent torrent of opposition, and contrary
to the general sense and inclination of a whole exasperated people. The
Scots were persuaded that their trade would be destroyed, their nation
oppressed, and their country ruined, in consequence of the union with
England, and indeed their opinion was supported by very plausible
arguments. The majority of both nations believed that the treaty would
produce violent convulsions, or at best prove ineffectual. But we
now see it has been attended with none of the calamities that were
prognosticated; that it quietly took effect, and fully answered all the
purposes for which it was intended. Hence we may learn that many great
difficulties are surmounted, because they are not seen by those who
direct the execution of any great project; and that many schemes, which
theory deems impracticable, will yet succeed in the experiment.

PROCEEDINGS in the ENGLISH PARLIAMENT.

The English parliament assembling on the third day of December, the
queen, in her speech to both houses, congratulated them on the glorious
successes of her arms. She desired the commons would grant such supplies
as might enable her to improve the advantages of this successful
campaign. She told them that the treaty of union, as concluded by the
commissioners of both kingdoms, was at that time under the consideration
of the Scottish parliament; and she recommended despatch in the public
affairs,