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parent, and a gracious sovereign. Whether this had any effect upon him, or if it was from necessity, the French court not daring to harbour him longer, we know not, but in a few days James passed again into Italy. At no former period of his life, indeed, could he have made an attempt upon Britain with less prospect of success; the new king was generally popular, and nothing was left unattempted that could have any influence in making him more so; the pretender's friends were never before so divided, the episcopal clergy who used to be so firm in the cause, had rent their bond of unity into tatters, many of them having renounced all dependance upon superiors, civil or ecclesiastic, so that on all bands there was nothing among them but doubt and despondency. "And thus," Lockhart concludes, "whilst no party is acting for his interest, no projects formed, nothing done to keep up the spirits of the people, the old race drops off by degrees, and a new one sprouts up, who having no particular bias to the king as knowing little more of him than what the newspapers bear, enter on the stage with a perfect indifference, at least coolness towards him and his cause, which consequently, must daily languish, and in process of time be totally forgot."+

The elections both in Scotland and in England for the new parliament were almost every where carried according to the wishes of the ministry, and it was assembled on the twentythird day of January, 1728. In his opening speech, his majesty assured both houses, that by the last advices from abroad he had every reason to hope, that the difficulties which had hitherto prevented the opening of the congress would be speedily removed, reminding them at the same time of the necessity of keeping up those preparations by which they had ensured their own safety, and prevented an open rupture among the conti

"Lord Kincardine writes to me that there seems to be ane universal jealousie and dislike at certain persons, who for some time past have been chiefly trusted by you about your person, on what grounds he cant pretend further to say, than that universal credit is given to the many facts theyr charged with that occasioned the queen's retiring, and the removal of several persons of rank and character, that had long and faithfully served you and your cause at the expense of their all." Letter from Lockhart to the Pretender. Lockhart Papers, vol. ü. pp. 392, 393.

+ Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 405.

nental nations. He assured them that his first care should be to reduce from time to time, as circumstances would permit, the public expense. He also expressed an earnest desire to see the foundation laid of an effectual scheme for the increase and encouragement of seamen, and that they might be invited rather than compelled into the service of their country. He concluded by recommending unanimity, zeal, and despatch in the business that might be brought before them. This speech was received by both houses with almost boundless applause. The commons in their address expressed the warmest gratitude for the numberless blessings of his reign, and the lords hailed him as the best of kings, and the true father of his country. They approved of all his transactions, and promised to support him. in all his undertakings, declaring that for the public service no supplies should be wanting. Nor did they fail in the performance of their promises-every motion of the kind was carried, although not always without opposition. The national debt had already become a subject of alarm to many politicians, and, during this session, became the subject of violent debate, and a statement thereof being approved of by the house and presented to his majesty, he quieted their apprehensions by graciously assuring them, that the provision made for gradually discharging it was now become so certain and considerable, that, but for some unforeseen event, there was the fairest prospect of having all the old debts discharged without incurring any new encumbrances.* The session was closed on the twenty-eighth day of May, with his majesty's thanks for the effectual and kindly manner in which they had met all his wishes.

The General Assembly of the church of Scotland was opened on the second day of May, 1728, the Rev. William Wisheart, principal of the college of Edinburgh, moderator, Hugh, earl of Loudon, commissioner. This assembly, besides approving

* How often has this same fallacy been repeated, and how often to the reproach of common sense believed? Mr. Pulteney observed very justly at the time, that the shifting of funds was only perpetuating taxes, and putting off the evil day, and whatever had been built upon the sinking fund, nothing was more certain than that the debt had still been increasing, ever since the setting up of that pompous project.

of the address of the commission of last assembly, and engrossing the address among their minutes, also voted another of the same import, which was most graciously received by his majesty, who thereupon renewed the assurances of his fatherly care and protection. The principal business before this assembly was the affair of professor Simpson, the issue of which we have already summarily detailed. After appointing their next meeting for the first Thursday of May, 1729, the assembly was dissolved with the usual forms.*

The fate of Europe still continued in suspense--the congress opened at Soissons, for determining all matters in dispute, proving ineffectual-and the Spanish cruisers continued to insult British merchantmen, yea, often to make prizes of them with impunity. The British fleet, in the meantime, lay inactive in the West Indies; the ships eating up with the worm, and the sailors perishing under a noxious atmosphere, without being allowed to avenge their country's wrongs.

His majesty's eldest son, prince Frederick, who had hitherto resided in Hanover, arrived in England about the middle, or rather the beginning of December, and was admitted into the privy council, and created prince of Wales.

Parliament was again assembled on the twenty-first of January, 1729. Petitions from the merchants of London, Bristol, Liverpool, &c. were presented to both houses, complaining of the depredations committed upon them by the Spaniards, and craving protection; which, on an address from the commons, his majesty promised his best endeavours to obtain. The session, upon the whole, was fruitful in nothing but idle debates; the Jacobite Shippen, still acting the farce of a patriot, clamorous for the constitution, and the liberties of the subject. The session was closed on the fourteenth of May. An act having been passed enabling the queen to act as regent in his majesty's absence without taking the oaths, she was appointed accordingly, and his majesty departed for Hanover on the seventeenth, in order to settle some disputes that had arisen between the regents of that electorate, and the king of Prussia.t

*Acts of Assembly, 1728.

+ Smollett's History of England.

The General Assembly of the Scotish church met according to appointment, on the first of May, 1729. The Rev. Mr. James Alston, minister at Dirleton, was chosen moderator; David, earl of Buchan, commissioner. His majesty's letter, with one thousand pounds, for propagating the gospel in the Highlands and Islands, was presented by the commissioner. The letter contained the usual compliments, and was answered in the usual manner.

; The presbytery of Lorn was by this assembly divided into two, for the more convenient meeting of the members, and the more easy attendance of such as had business with these courts. The parishes within the Isles of Mull, Tiree, and Coll, and the country of Ardnamurchan, Sunnard, and Morven, consisting, at that time, of six ministerial charges, were erected into one presbytery, to be called the presbytery of Mull, and their place of meeting appointed to be at Arros, in that island. The parishes of Lismore and Appin, Ardchattan and Muckcairn, Kilmoir and Kilbride, Kilbranden and Kilchattan, Kilniver and Kilmelfort, with the parishes of Kilchrenan and Dalavich, and Innishall and Clachandysart, formerly belonging to the presbytery of Inverary, they constituted the presbytery of Lorn, appointing their ordinary place of meeting to be at Kilmoir.

A letter from the dutchess of Gordon, in answer to one sent her by the late commission, was read in this assembly, wherein she declared her profession of the true reformed religion to have been always real, and not seeming only, and she assures them, that her utmost care and endeavours shall not be wanting to have, not only her eldest son, but all her children educated with the strongest attachment to truth and justice. The assembly ordered a respectful letter to be written, in their name, to her grace; and they appointed a deputation of three ministers, and two ruling elders, to wait upon her grace, and deliver the same.*

* This dutchess of Gordon, was lady Henrietta Mordaunt, daughter of the celebrated general, Charles, earl of Peterborough and Monmouth; she brought up all her children in the protestant faith, and upon that account had, in 1735, six years after the period of which we now write, a pension of one thousand per annum, granted by George II. for the better support of herself and chil

The assembly was dissolved on the sixteenth with the usual forms, having appointed their next meeting to be upon the second Thursday of May, 1730.

The British parliament was assembled on the thirteenth of January, 1730, when his majesty informed both houses, that a treaty had been concluded at Seville, built upon the foundation of former treaties, tending to render more effectual what the contracting powers in the quadruple alliance were before engaged to see performed, by which he considered the peace of Europe to be completely established. All former conventions made with Spain, in favour of British trade and navigation, he assured them, were by this treaty renewed and confirmed, and the free uninterrupted exercise of their commercial pursuits completely restored. He further stated, that the court of Spain had agreed to an ample restitution and reparation for unlawful seizures and depredations; having solemnly re-established, confirmed, and guaranteed all rights, privileges, and possessions belonging to him and his allies, without so much as one concession having been made to the prejudice of his subjects. In consequence of this happy turn of affairs, orders had already been issued for discharging a great number of the forces, and for laying up a part of the fleet, which, he observed, would make a great saving in the expenses of the current year. Addresses of thanks and of congratulation were in return voted by both houses; but when the treaty came to be examined, it was far from giving that general satisfaction which his majesty and his ministers had anticipated. That restitution and reparation, of which his majesty was not a little vain, was not to be obtained, till the British merchant had proved his losses at the court of Spain, a method so troublesome and expensive, as might well be supposed would deter the greater part from undertaking it, especially as they had reason to suspect that their claims would be met

dren. She died on the eleventh of October, 1760, at Prestonhall, in the county of Edinburgh, an estate which she purchased in 1738, at a judicial sale, and left to her fourth son, lord Adam Gordon, who died a general in the British army, colonel of the first regiment of foot, and governor of Edinburgh castle, on the thirteenth of August, 1801.-Douglas' Peerage; by Wood, vol. i. p. 634.

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