The publication of this declaration was the first public act of his pretended royalty after his arrival in Scotland, and it affords an additional proof of the duplicity of the late queen, and the dangerous measures which her ministers were pur

sent usurpation. During the life of our dear sister, of glorious memory, the happiness which our people enjoyed, softened in some degree, the hardship of our own fate; and we must confess, that when we reflected on the goodness of her nature, and her inclination to justice, we could not but persuade ourself, that she intended to establish and perpetuate the peace which she had given to these kingdoms, by destroying for ever all competitions to the succession of the crown; and by securing to us at last, the enjoyment of that inheritance, out of which we had been so long kept; which her conscience must inform her was our due, and which her principles must bind her to desire that we might obtain.

But since the time it pleased Almighty God to put a period to her life, and not to suffer us to throw ourself, as we then fully purposed to have done, upon our people, we have not been able to look upon the present condition of our kingdoms, or to consider their future prospect, without all the horror and indignation which ought to fill the breast of every Scotchman.

We have beheld a foreign family, aliens to our country, distant in blood, and strangers, even to our language, ascend the throne.

We have seen the reins of government put into the hands of a faction, and that authority which was designed for the protection of all, exercised by a few of the worst, to the oppression of the best and greatest number of our subjects. Our sister has not been allowed to rest in her grave, her name has been scurrilously abused, her glory, as far as in the people lay, insolently defaced, and her faithful servants inbumanly persecuted. A parliament has been procured by the most unwarrantable influences, and by the grossest corruptions, to serve the vilest ends; and they who ought to be the guardians of the liberties of the people, are become the instruments of tyranny. Whilst the principal powers engaged in the late war, enjoy the blessings of peace, and are attentive to discharge their debts, and ease the people, Great Britain in the midst of a peace, feels all the load of a war; new debts are contracted-new armies are raised at home-Dutch forces are brought into these kingdomsand by taking possession of the Dutchy of Bremen, in violation of the public faith, a door is opened by the usurper to let in an inundation of foreigners from abroad, and to reduce these nations to the state of a province-to one of the most inconsiderable provinces of the empire. These are some few of the many real evils into which these kingdoms have been betrayed, under pretences of being rescued and secured from dangers purely imaginary; and these are such consequences of abandoning the old constitution, as we persuade ourselves very many of those who promote the present unjust and illegal settlement never intended. We observe, with the utmost satisfaction, that the generality of our subjects are awakened with a just sense of their danger, and that they show themselves disposed to take such measures as may effec

suing, when they were cut short by her unexpected and sudden demise. It is, at the same time, characterized by a monkish whine, strongly indicative of a narrow and illiberal spirit fretted by disappointment, and clouded by superstition. One

tually rescue them from that bondage, which has, by the artifices of a few designing men, and by the concurrence of so many causes, been brought upon them.

We adore the wisdom of the divine providence which has opened a way to our restoration, by the success of those very measures that were laid to disappoint us for ever; and we most earnestly conjure all our loving subjects, not to suffer that spirit to faint or die away, which has been so miraculously raised in all parts of the kingdom, but to pursue, with all the vigour and hopes which such a just and righteous cause ought to inspire, those methods which the finger of God seems to point out to them. We are come to take our part in all dangers and difficulties to which any of our subjects, from the greatest down to the meanest, may be exposed on this important occasion; to relieve our subjects of Scotland from the hardships they groan under, on account of the late Union; and to restore the kingdom to its ancient, free, and independent state.

We have before our eyes the example of our royal grandfather, who fell a sacrifice to rebellion; and of our royal uncle, who, by a train of miracles, escaped the rage of the barbarous and blood-thirsty rebels, and lived to exercise his clemency towards those who had waged war against his father and himself, who had driven him to seek shelter in foreign lands, and who had even set a price upon his head.

We see the same instances of cruelty renewed against us, by men of the same principles, without any other reason than the consciousness of their own guilt, and the implacable malice of their own hearts; for, in the account of such men, it is a sufficient crime to be born their king. But God forbid that we should tread in those steps, or that the cause of a lawful prince, and an injured people, should be carried on like that of usurpation and tyranny, and owe its support to assassins. We shall copy after the patterns above mentioned, and be ready, with the former of our royal ancestors, to seal the cause of our country, if such be the will of heaven, with our blood. But we hope for better things, we hope, with the latter, to see our just rights, and those of the church and people of Scotland, once more settled in a free and independent Scots parliament, on the ancient foundation. To such a parliament, which we shall immediately call, shall we entirely refer both our and their interests, being sensible that these interests, rightly understood, are always the same. Let the civil, as well as the religious rights of all our subjects, receive their confirmation in such a parliament; let consciences truly tender be indulged, let property of every kind be better than ever secured, let an act of general grace and amnesty, extinguish the fears of the most guilty; if possible let the very remembrance of all that has preceded this happy moment be utterly blotted out, that our subjects may be united to us, and to each other,

might, indeed, suppose it to be the sole composition of James himself, and it would be difficult to frame a more effective satire upon royal declarations. The allusions to the fate of his "royal grandfather," and "royal uncle, who, by a train of miracles, escaped the rage of the barbarous and bloody-thirsty rebels," were particularly unfortunate, tending to excite among Scotishmen nothing but feelings of contempt and execration. He was, however, repaid in kind by his faithful episcopal subjects of Aberdeen, clerical and lay, in addresses inimitably adapted to the circumstances of the case. The first was from the church:-"To the king's most excellent majesty, The humble address of the episcopal clergy of the diocess of Aberdeen. Presented to his majesty by the Rev. Drs. James and George Gordons, Dr. Burnet, Mr. Dumbreck, Mr. Blair, and Mr. Maitland at Fetteresso, the twenty-ninth day of December, 1715. Introduced by his grace the duke of Marr, and the right honourable the earl Marischal of Scotland:-Sir, We, your majesty's most faithful and dutiful subjects, the episcopal clergy of the diocess of Aberdeen, do, from our hearts, render thanks to Almighty God

in the strictest bonds of affection as well as interest, and that nothing may be omitted, which it is in our power to contribute to this desirable end, we do, by these presents, absolutely and effectually for us, our heirs and successors, pardon, remit, and discharge all crimes of high treason, misprision of treason, and all other crimes and offences whatsoever, done or committed against us, or our royal father, of blessed memory, by any of our subjects, of what degree or quality soever, who shall at, or after our landing, and before they engage in any action against us, or our forces, from that time lay hold on mercy, and return to that duty and allegiance which they owe to us, their only rightful and lawful sovereign. By the joint endeavour of us and our parliaments, urged by these motives, and directed by these views, we may hope to see the peace and flourishing state of this kingdom, in a short time restored. And we shall be equally forward to concert with our parliament such farther measures as may be thought necessary for leaving the same to future generations. And we hereby require all sheriffs of shires, stewarts of stewartries, or their deputies, and magistrates of burghs, to publish this our declaration, immediately after it shall come to their hands, in the usual places and manner, under the pain of being proceeded against for failure thereof, and forfeiting the benefit of our general pardon.

Given under our sign manual, and privy signet, at our court of Commercy, the 25th day of October, in the fifteenth year of our reign.

for your majesty's safe and happy arrival into this, your ancient kingdom of Scotland, where your royal presence was so much longed for, and so necessary to animate your loyal subjects, our noble and generous patriots, to go on with that invincible courage and resolution which they have hitherto so successfully exerted for the recovery of the rights of their king and country, and to excite many others of your good subjects to join them, who only wanted this great encouragement.

"We hope, and pray that God may open the eyes of such of your subjects as malicious and self-designing men have industriously blinded with prejudices against your majesty, as if the recovery of your just rights would ruin our religious liberties and property, which, by the overturning of these rights, have been highly encroached upon; and we are persuaded, that your majesty's justice and goodness, will settle and secure those just privileges to the conviction of your most malicious enemies.

"Almighty God has been pleased to train up your majesty from your infancy, in the school of the cross, in which the divine grace inspires the mind with true wisdom and virtue, and guards it against those false blandishments by which prosperity cramps the heart. And as this school has sent forth the most illustrious princes, as Moses, Joseph, and David, so we hope the same infinitely wise, and good God designs to make your majesty not only a blessing to your own kingdoms, and a true father of them, but also a great instrument of the general peace and good of mankind.

"Your princely virtues are such, that, in the esteem of the best judges, you are worthy to wear a crown, though you had not been born to it, which makes us confident that it will be your majesty's care to make your subjects a happy people, and so to secure them in their religion, liberties, and property, as to have no ground of distrust, and to unite us all in true Christianity, according to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the practice of the primitive Christians.

"We adore the goodness of God in preserving your majesty amidst the dangers to which you have been exposed, notwithstanding the hellish contrivances formed against you, for encouraging assassins to murder your sacred person, a practice abhorred by the very heathens. May the same merciful pro

vidence continue still to protect your majesty, to prosper your arms, to turn the hearts of all the people towards you, to subdue those who resist your just pretensions, to establish you on the throne of your ancestors, to grant you a long and happy reign, to bless you with a royal progeny, and at last with an immortal crown of glory. And as it has been, still is, and shall be our care to instil into the minds of the people true principles of loyalty to your majesty, so this is the earnest prayer of-May it please your majesty, your majesty's most devoted," &c. &c.

To this cruel, though unintended ridicule, his pretended majesty made the following answer, which it may be readily conceded, was at least sincere:-"I am very sensible of the zeal and loyalty you have expressed for me, and shall be glad to have opportunities of giving you marks of my favour and protection."

The clergy of the diocess were followed by the magistrates, town council, and citizens of Aberdeen, in a strain, if possible, of still more ridiculous bombast:-"To the king's most excellent majesty. We, your ever loyal and dutiful subjects, the magistrates, town council, and others, your majesty's loyal subjects, citizens of Aberdeen, do heartily congratulate your arrival to this your native and hereditary kingdom. Heaven very often enhances our blessings by disappointments, and your majesty's safe arrival after such a train of difficulties, and so many attempts, makes us not doubt but that God is propitious to your just cause.

"As your majesty's arrival was seasonable, so it was surprising. We had the blessing We were happy and we knew it not. wished for, yet insensible, till now that your majesty has been pleased to let us know, that we are the happiest, and as so we shall always endeavour to be, the most loyal of—May it please your majesty," &c. &c.

To this monstrous absurdity it was impossible to reply without being ridiculous. Perhaps the answer of the chevalier was as well as could have been expected:" I am very sensible of the duty and zeal you express for me in this address, and you may assure yourselves of my protection."*

* Patten's History of the Rebellion, pp. 215–220. Campbell's Life of John, Duke of Argyle, pp. 237-240.