Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

ccciv WILLIAM, FIRST MAIiQUIS OF ANNANDALE, 1G72-1721.
Oil 3d July, tlie queen's letter to parliament being read and speeches
made by the commissioner and the lord chancellor, Annandale moved that
these should be printed, which was agreed to by the house. ^ At tlie next
sederunt, on 6th July, he proposed that the parliament should consider
such limitations and conditions of government as should be judged proper
for the next successor in the Protestant line; and at the same time
name a committee to consider the condition of the coin and state of trade
as to export and import. The house, however, decided to proceed first on
coin and trade by v/ay of overture.^ On 17th July, tlie Duke of Hamilton
carried a resolution not to proceed to the nomination of a successor till there
was a previous treaty with England iu relation to commerce and other
affairs, and to proceed to limitations of government before proceeding to the
said nomination. Commenting on this, Annandale observes, " Yesterday
the Duke of Hamilton, Duke of Atholl, and all there friuds unitted there
fullest force to oppose and defeatt the treatie whiche wes proposed by the
queen's servantts." After a warm debate it came to the vote, proceed to a
treaty with England or to limitations and regulations of the constitution,
when the last was carried by three votes. Annandale used his best endeavours
to advance the treaty since the parliament had concluded by a resolution not
to name the successor without a previous treaty, and commented on the dis-
ingenuity of the other party. The Duke of Hamilton took this to himself
and thought it was too hard upon him.^ After this, Annandale came
into collision with the commissioner on the question of the appointment
of clerk to the council. The duke wished to give it to Jlr. Alexander
Arbuthnott, who, according to Annandale, was a Jacobite, and his lordship
told the Duke of Queensberry that ho would not bear such an invasion and
eucroachmeut upon the office, because he held that the appointment belonged
to the secretary's office. On •21st September, at their concluding sederunt,
' Acts of the Parliaraciits of Scotland, vul. .xi, p. 214. - Ihid. p. 215.
5 Letter, ISth July 170.3, vol. ii. of this work, p. 232.