Negotiating the Articles for Union

In the early 18th century, a 'treaty' was a negotiation, and commissioners or 'treaters' for England and Scotland were nominated to meet in London to agree the foundation for a union. To the astonishment of many, the Duke of Hamilton, leader of the Country Party, proposed that the Queen rather than Parliament, should nominate the men to treat for union. This ensured most would be pro-union. The exception was the appointment of George Lockhart of Carnwath, a well-known Jacobite member of the Scottish Parliament and a Lowland laird.

The appointment of Commissioners to negotiate terms
The first meeting of the Commissioners
News of the Negotiations
Public Opinion

The appointment of Commissioners to negotiate terms

The Queen appointed Scottish and English commissioners to undertake this task. They met for the first time in April 1706 in the Council Chamber in the Cockpit at Whitehall. Among the Scottish commissioners present were the Earl of Seafield, the Duke of Queensberry, the Earl of Mar, the Duke of Argyll, John Clerk of Penicuik, and George Lockhart of Carnwath. Among the English commissioners present were the Earl of Godolphin, Robert Harley, Lord Wharton and Lord Somers. The two sets met separately and communicated only in writing.

A full transcript of the list of commissioners is available as an Acrobat PDF file (294 KB, opens in new window).

(National Records of Scotland, Journals of the Commissioners for Union, PA18/2 p.9)

The first meeting of the Commissioners

The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England welcomed the Scottish commissioners to London on 16 April 1706 with the following speech.

My Lords
We the Commissioners appointed by her Majesty and authorized by the Parliament of England to consult and treat with your Lordships… Concerning an Union of the two Kingdoms… most sincerely assure your Lordships that Wee… with hearts fully resolved to use our utmost Endeavours to remove all difficultys in this Treaty, to prevent all misunderstandings, … to act as if we were already United in Interest, and had nothing left to consider but what settlements and provisions are most likely to conduce to the Common Safety and happiness of this whole Island of Great Britain.

A full transcript of the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England's welcome to the Scottish Commisioners is available as an Acrobat PDF file (299 KB, opens in new window).

The Earl of Seafield, Lord High Chancellor of Scotland, replied to the English commissioners on behalf of his colleagues.

My Lords
The Lords Commissioners for Scotland have desired me to assure your Lordships that they meet you on this occasion with great willingness and satisfaction to Treate of an Union between the two Kingdoms, and of such other matters and Concerns as may be for her Majesty’s honour and the maintaining a good understanding between the two Nations.

We are convinced that an Union will be of a great advantage to both; the Protestant Religion will be thereby the more firmly secured, the designs of our Enemys effectually disappointed and the Riches and Trade of the whole Island advanced.

This Union has been often endeavoured both before and since the Kingdoms were united in allegiance under one Sovereign and several Treatys have been set on foot for that end, tho’ without the desired success, but now we are hopefull that this shall be the happy opportunity of accomplishing it,…

Wee have great Confidence in your lordships good Intentions and we shall be ready on our parts to enter into such measures with you, as may bring the Treaty to such a Conclusion as may be acceptable to her Majesty and to the Parliaments of both Kingdoms.

A full transcript of the reply to the English Commisioners by the Earl of Seafield, Lord High Chancellor of Scotland, is available as an Acrobat PDF file (296 KB, opens in new window).

(National Records of Scotland, Journals of the Commissioners for Union, PA18/2 p.10 & p.11)

News of progress with the negotiations

George Lockhart of Carnwath was a Jacobite and the only Scottish commissioner to oppose union. In April 1706, he wrote a letter with news as to how negotiations were progressing. The commissioners, referred to as treaters, had decided to pursue an incorporating rather than a federal union and the Scots insistence on freedom of trade had been granted.

…the treaters have agreed so farr, the Scots to be incorporated with England; the English to grant the Scots freedome of trade, under such terms & regulations as be hereafter treated off & judged for the good of both kingdoms… I’m told the Scots fairly proposed a federall Union, but upon the English declaring their aversion to it they let it drop.

(National Records of Scotland, Dalhousie papers, GD45/14/336/32)

Public Opinion

James Erskine wrote to his brother, the Earl of Mar, in London in June 1706 with his impression of people’s views in Edinburgh on the question of union.

… there seems to be very many who are neither much for the Union nor against it, but are in a kind of suspense about it & know not what to think. I fancy many of the Ministers are of this sort, some of them seem afraid of it but generally they do not show much anger at it so far as I have heard, the severals of them do.

The most part of the trading people talk favourably of it. My Lord Buchan the other day was very angry when he heard that all our Peers were not to sit in the United Parliament, and ’tis generally thought here that that will be a great obstacle to it’s passing among us.

A full transcript of the page shown above is available as an Acrobat PDF file (399 KB, opens in new window).

(National Records of Scotland, Mar and Kellie papers, GD124/15/413/3)