it would
be lasting; that with regard to ecclesiastical affairs, all heats and
animosities might be allayed by soft and gentle management. The cantons
of Switzerland, though they professed different religions, were yet
united in one general body; and the diet of Germany was composed of
princes and states, among whom three different persuasions prevailed;
so that two sorts of discipline might very well subsist under one
legislature. If there was any danger on either side, it threatened the
Scots much more than the English, as five hundred and thirteen members
could certainly be too hard for forty-five; and in the house of lords,
six-and-twenty bishops would always preponderate against sixteen peers
from Scotland. Notwithstanding all the opposition made by the lords
of the tory interest, every article was approved by a great majority,
though not without a good number of protestations; and a bill of
ratification was prepared in the lower house by sir Simon Harcourt, the
solicitor-general, in such an artful manner as to prevent all debates.
All the articles, as they passed in Scotland, were recited by way
of preamble, together with the acts made in both parliaments for the
security of the several churches; and, in conclusion, there was one
clause by which the whole was ratified and enacted into a law. By this
contrivance, those who were desirous of starting new difficulties found
themselves disabled from pursuing their design. They could not object to
the recital, which was barely matter of fact; and they had not strength
sufficient to oppose the general enacting clause. On the other hand,
the whigs promoted it with such zeal that it passed by a majority of one
hundred and fourteen, before the others had recollected themselves from
the surprise which the structure of the bill had occasioned. It made
its way through the house of lords with equal despatch; and, when
it received the royal sanction, the queen expressed the utmost
satisfaction. She said she did not doubt but it would be remembered and
spoke of hereafter to the honour of those who had been instrumental in
bringing it to such a happy conclusion. She desired that her subjects of
both kingdoms should from henceforward behave with all possible respect
and kindness towards one another, that so it might appear to all the
world they had hearts disposed to become one people.

{1707}

PARLIAMENT REVIVED BY PROCLAMATION.

As the act of union did not take place til