Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

CCCviii WILLIAM, FFFST MAIIQUI-S OF AXXANDALK, 167-2-1721.
to ];aillie, Aiinaiuliile says, " 1 liavc been lieare ever since I came lioiue,
and desjgtie to contiuue lieare till the parliament mcett." ^
The Inst session of the parliament of Scotland, conunonly called the
Union pnrlian)ent, was begun at Edinburgh on 3d October 170G, with
Queensberry as commissioner. Annandule was present on the opening day.
During the session he attended and voted steadily with the Dukes of llaniil-
tou and Atholl, and others, in opposition to the union. On 4th November,
in the debate upon the first article of the treaty, when the vote was about to
be taken, lie offered two alternative resolutions against an incorporating
union with England, M'hich he said would be subversive, of the fundamental
constitution and claim of I'ight of the kingdom, would tlircateu ruin to the
church as by law established, and would create distractions and animosities
among themselves and jealousies between them and their neighbours. His
resolutions were to the effect that they enter into such a union with England
as would unite them in their respective interests of succession, wars,
alliances and trade, reserving to each their sovereignly, independence,
immunities, constitution and form of government both of church and state as
then established. His lordship did not press the resolutions ujjon the house,
knowing that they were not acceptable to it.
The first article of the union was ajiprovcd by parliament. Annandale
recorded his vote against it, and adhered to a protest made by the Duke of
Atholl.- He voted v/itli the government in favour of the second article of
tlie treaty of union, v\-hich made the succession to the crov*"n of Scotland the
same as in England.^ But he gave his vote against the third article, which
placed England and Scotland under one parliament. He also protested and
took instruments thereupon, upon the same ground as in his previous protest.
The Dukes of Hamilton and Atholl, and the Earl of Errol, and many others,
' Jcrviowuoil C'uiiusiioinlciice, iip. Ij7, 1.'>S.
- Acta of the I'aili.-iiuciiU of Scotland, vol, xi. ]. ."llL'-olo. '1 lir LoiUbart r.->|iciLJ,
vol. i. PI). 1S2, 163. = Acts of tlif raili.imcuts of .Scutlaii.l, vol. xi. i'. olIG.