Minutes of the last sederunt read.
Drafts of the following acts, namely: act recognising her majesty's royal authority; act for adjourning the session; act declaring the present meeting of parliament a lawful and free meeting of parliament; act for securing the true Protestant religion and presbyterian government; and act for a national fast, all read for the first time.
Her majesty's most gracious letter to the parliament, presented by her majesty's high commissioner in answer to the address from the parliament in relation to the Company Trading to Africa and the Indies, and concerning the union with the kingdom of England, read and ordered to be printed and recorded, and the drawing of an answer remitted to the committee to be named for drawing an answer to her majesty's letter read the former sederunt, of which letter now read the tenor follows:
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Signed above thus: Anne Regina,
My lords and gentlemen,
The address you made in the last session of parliament to our deceased royal brother King William, of ever blessed memory, was presented to him by our right trusty and right entirely beloved cousin and councillor James [Douglas], duke of Queensberry, our commissioner, and our two secretaries of state for that our ancient kingdom, and his majesty designed to have returned an answer thereto at your first meeting, in which no doubt he would have fully signified his good intentions for that our kingdom and for the encouragement and satisfaction of the Company Trading to Africa and the Indies; but he, being prevented by death, our commissioner and secretaries have presented your address to us, which we have had fully under our consideration.
It is our firm purpose and resolution to maintain the sovereignty and independency of that our ancient kingdom against all invasions or encroachments whatsoever, and we shall be ever equally tender of the rights, prerogatives and liberties of the crown and kingdom of Scotland as of these of the crown and kingdom of England. And we shall make it the chief design of our reign to govern both according to their respective laws and liberties and to avoid all occasions of misunderstanding or differences between them. And for this end, we shall think it our happiness to establish an entire union between the two kingdoms upon an equal and just foundation, and the parliament of our kingdom of England, having shown so good inclinations towards this union, we expect that you will do nothing in your part that can obstruct a design so useful for the security and happiness of both.
Orders were given by the late king that none of our subjects of Scotland should be impressed from on board Scots ships by the English for the sea service, and we have taken effectual methods and shall give such orders as shall be necessary for the full protection of our subjects of that our kingdom in this matter, and for the encouragement of commerce between the two nations.
We do heartily regret the great losses and disappointment which the Company Trading to Africa and the Indies have sustained in the carrying on and prosecuting their designs in settling of a colony in America, which has been also a great prejudice and loss to the whole kingdom. And therefore, we shall cheerfully concur in anything that can reasonably be proposed for their reparation and assistance, nor shall they want our countenance and protection in all their just designs and concerns. And we shall ever endeavour to promote the trade not only of that company but of the whole nation and shall do every thing that is in our power for the welfare and prosperity of our people. So we bid you heartily farewell. Given at our court at St James's, 21 April 1702 and of our reign the first year.
By her majesty's command, signed thus: [John Carmichael, earl of] Hyndford.
Directed thus: to the lords temporal, and to the commissioners for shires and burghs assembled in parliament in our ancient kingdom of Scotland.
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It was ordered that the several estates of parliament separate and elect the committees appointed by the last sederunt, whereupon the estates, having separated, returned and reported their several elections as follows, namely:
For the security of the kingdom: of the estate of the nobility, [George Melville], earl of Melville, lord president of the privy council, [Archibald Campbell], duke of Argyll, [Robert Kerr], marquis of Lothian, the earls [John Erskine, earl of] Mar, [John Maitland, earl of] Lauderdale, [Hugh Campbell, earl of] Loudoun, [David Melville, earl of] Leven and [John Carmichael, earl of] Hyndford and [John Dalrymple], viscount of Stair; of the estate of barons, Sir Robert Sinclair of Stevenson, Sir John Swinton of that ilk, Mr Francis Montgomery of Giffen, John Crawford of Kilbirnie, Sir Colin Campbell of Aberuchill, Adam Drummond of Megginch, Sir James Elphinstone of Logie, Duncan Forbes of Culloden and Mr James Melville of Halhill; and of the commissioners for burghs, John Anderson [of Dowhill] for Glasgow, Sir Archibald Muir [of Thornton], Sir James Smollett [of Stainflett and Bonhill], Sir David Dalrymple [of Hailes], Sir Alexander Ogilvie [of Forglen], Sir John Hamilton [of Halcraig], Sir Hugh Dalrymple [of North Berwick], Mr Robert Stewart [of Allanbank] and Sir Alexander Home [of Castlemains].
For controverted elections: of the estate of the nobility, the earls, [David Erskine, earl of] Buchan, [John Cunningham, earl of] Glencairn and [John Keith, earl of] Kintore, [George MacKenzie], viscount of Tarbat and [William Forbes], lord Forbes; of the estate of barons, William Morrison of Prestongrange, Robert Pollok of that ilk, Sir Colin Campbell of Ardkinglas, Sir John Dempster of Pitliver and Robert Reid of Baldovie; and of the commissioners for burghs, John Muir for Ayr, Sir Andrew Home [of Kimmerghame], Mr John Murray [of Bowhill], Mr William Johnston [of Sciennes] and Mr Robert Forbes [of Learney].
For drawing an answer to her majesty's letter: [Archibald Campbell], duke of Argyll, Mr Francis Montgomery of Giffen and Sir Hugh Dalrymple [of North Berwick].
For revising the minutes: [George MacKenzie], viscount of Tarbat, Sir Colin Campbell of Aberuchill and Sir David Dalrymple [of Hailes].
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A motion being made that a supply be granted to her majesty for maintaining of the forces for security of the peace of the kingdom, and it being also moved that effectual courses be taken for securing the coasts and trade of the kingdom, and likewise for securing the peace of the Highlands, and also it being moved that that part of her majesty's letter concerning the union with England be taken into consideration, the said motions were all remitted to the committee for security of the kingdom.
Ordered that the committees do meet in their usual places tomorrow at 9 o'clock.
The lord chancellor, by order of her majesty's high commissioner, adjourned the parliament until tomorrow at 10 o'clock.