The Union of 1707 by P.H. Scott

Author:P.H. Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Birlinn

They also proposed that the English Act of Succession would apply to the United Kingdom.11

On 24th April the Scots table an alternative proposal:

Succession according to the English Act.

Reciprocal exchange of rights and privileges between the two Kingdoms.

Free exchange and Intercourse of Trade and Navigation between the two Kingdoms and the Plantations.

All laws and statutes in either Kingdoms contrary to these terms of Union to be repealed.

This could be regarded as an attempt at a compromise. It made a substantial concession in accepting the English Succession without any safeguards of Scottish independence. In other words it ignored the Act of Security and all the subsequent legislation in the spirit of the Act and of Fletcher’s Limitations which the Scottish Parliament had passed by substantial majorities during the last three years. On the other hand, it implied, in contradiction to the English proposal, that Scotland would retain her Parliament and still function as a separate Kingdom, but under the same monarch as England. In other words it would be a resumption of the status quo. It also followed the proposal for free trade with the Plantations as in the clause suggested by the lord Advocate, Stuart of Goodtrees, in 1703.

In fact, it was clear from their subsequent behaviour that this was not a serious proposal for which the Scottish Commissioners intended to put up a genuine effort. In consequence of Hamilton’s action, they were all, with the exception of George Lockhart, supporters of the Court, men who were accustomed to acting on instructions from London. We know from Clerk’s remarks about the preliminary discussion among the Commissioners before they left for London that they knew in advance what the English side were going to demand. The Scottish proposals can only have been a faint attempt to save face, so that they could claim that they had at least made an effort.

The English response on 24th April was a blunt refusal even to discuss the Scottish proposal:

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