A letter from her majesty to the lord high commissioner read, appointing Lord Archbald Campbell, brother german to his grace, to have the place and vote of the lord high thesaurer in this session of parliament, of which letter the tenor follows.
Sic suprascribitur, Anne R[egina],
Right trusty and right intirely beloved cousin and councellor, we greet you well. Whereas the office of lord high thesaurer is now in commission, and it being provided by the laws of that our kingdom that the number of our officers of state should not exceed the number of eight who are to have vote and place in parliament, even tho at any time there should be more persons imployed in the execution of the said offices, and it being reasonable that there should be one named to appear and act in the ensueing session of parliament as our thesaurer aforesaid, therefore, we do nominat and appoint our right trusty and well beloved Lord Archbald Campbell, brother to the duke of Argyll, to have the place and vote of the lord high thesaurer in the ensueing session of parliament. So we bid you heartily farewell. Given at our court at St James's, the ninth day of March, 1704/5 and of our reign the fourth year.
By her majesties' command, sic subscribitur, Seafield.
Directed thus: to our right trusty and right entirely beloved cousin and councillour John, duke of Argyle, our commissioner to our parliament of our ancient kingdom of Scotland.
The said Lord Archbald Campbell did then swear the oath of alleadgeance, subscribe the same with the assureance, swore the oath of parliament and thereafter took his place.
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James Black, commissioner elected for the burgh of Dysart in place of George Easson, deceased, swore the oath of alleadgeance, subscribed the same with the assureance and swore the oath of parliament.
Mr Roderick Mackenzie of Prestounhall, commissioner elected for the burgh of Fortrose in place of Mr John Mackenzie of Assint, deceased, swore the oath of alleadgeance, subscribed the same with the assureance and swore the oath of parliament.
Minuts of the last sederunt read.
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Moved that Alexander Mackie of Palgoun, being admitted last session of parliament but he haveing, of consent, declared that he would not vote till the competition betwixt him and Patrick Murdoch of Cumlodan should be determined, and seeing Cumlodan does not compear to compete he ought now to have his vote, after some debate it was agreed that he should have his vote in parliament.
The double election of the laird of Balnagoun and Mr George Mackenzie of Inchculter for the shire of Ross appointed to be considered next meeting of parliament.
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Her majesties' letter to the parliament presented by her majesties' high commissioner and read by the lord clerk register, of which letter the tenor follows.
Sic suprascribitur, Anne R[egina],
My lords and gentlemen,
It hath been our great care and concern ever since our accession to the crown to preserve the peace and promote the true interest and advantadge of that our ancient kingdom, and above all to have your present establishment so secured that both you and after ages may reap the benefite thereof. You are now again met in parliament, and no doubt with a full view of all your present circumstances which, we heartily wish, may be seconded with such endeavours on your part as what may best accomplish what we so really design.
In your last meeting, we recommended to you, with the greatest earnestness, the setling of the succession of that our ancient kingdom in the Protestant line, and several things haveing since happened which shows the great inconveniency of this matters continueing in suspence, we cannot but at present most seriously renew the recommendation of this settlement as being convinced of the growing necessity thereof, both for the preservation of the Protestant religion and the peace and safety of all our dominions, and for defeating the designs and attempts of all our enemies and to prevent any objection to the said settlement that can be suggested from the views or fears of future inconveniences that may happen to that our kingdom from thence, we shall be ready to give the royal assent to such provisions and restrictions as shall be found necessary and reasonable in such a case and, therefore, we must still leave it upon you as most necessary, for all the ends abovementioned, that you go to the settlement of the succession before all other business.
We are fully satisfied (and doubt not but you are) that great benefite would arise to all our subjects by an union of Scotland and England, and that nothing will contribute more to the composeing of differences and extinguishing the heats that are unhappily raised and fomented by the enemies of both nations than the promoteing of every thing that tends to the procureing the same. Therefore, we earnestly recommend to you to pass an act for a commission to set a treaty on foot between the kingdoms, as our parliament of England has done, for effectuating what is so desireable and for such other matters and things as may be judged proper for our honour and the good and advantage of both kingdoms for ever, in which we shall most heartily give our best assistance.
The supplies granted by the parliament for maintaining the forces with the forts, garrisons and frigots are now at an end and these, being still necessary to be maintained, as likewayes that the magazines of arms and ammunition be duely furnished for the peace and security of the kingdom, specially now in time of warr, we doubt not but you will provide the supplies needfull in such manner as may be most easie and effectual.
We have named the duke of Argyle to be our commissioner to represent our person in this session of parliament as one of whose capacity and zeal for our service and the kingdom's good and advantadge [and] we are sufficiently assured and no less hopefull that he will be to you acceptable. We have fully impowered him to declare our firm resolutions to maintain the government both in church and state as by law established and, likewayes, to consent to such further laws as shall be thought needfull for that end.
We have also impowered him to give the royall assent to such good laws as shall be concluded for the advancement of piety and discouragement of immorality, for the better encourageing and improveing of trade and manufacture, the farther secureing of private rights and conveyances, and for promoteing the more easie and speedy administration of justice, and generally for what may be found for the good and advantadge of the kingdom, in all which and whatever else may contribute to the happiness and satisfaction of our people you shall have our ready and cheerful concurrence.
And so we bid you heartily farewell. Given at our court at Windsor Castle, the eighteenth day of June, 1705, and of our reign the fourth year.
By her majesties' command, sic subscribitur, David Nairne.
The foresaid letter is directed thus: to the noblemen, and to the barons commissioners for shires, and to the commissioners for burghs assembled in parliament in our ancient kingdom of Scotland.
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Her majesties' commissioner made his speech to the parliament, as also the lord chancellour made his speech to the parliament.
Moved by the marquess of Annandale that her majesties' letter to the parliament, with the commissioner's and lord chancellour's speeches to the parliament, be printed.
Ordered that her majesties' letter, with the lord commissioner's and the lord chancellour's speeches to the parliament, be printed.
Then the lord chancellour, by order of her majesties' high commissioner, adjourned the parliament till Friday next at ten a clock before noon.