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THE PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN 417 
of freedom of intercourse, during the Interregnum, led many AD Lim 
of the Scotch to desire a commercial union between the ’ 
countries. The project was the subject of negotiations in 
16677, but no terms were arranged and the distress in Scot- 
land continued. It was asserted that Scotland had declined Le Dug) 
rapidly both in population and wealth since the union of hag ~~ 
the Crowns. “Into this Condition hath this Nation been ¥or%ed 
brought by this loose and Irregular tye of the Union of the Lily oa 
Crowns, a state wherein we are not considered as Subjects 
nor allies, nor Friends nor Enemies, but all of them, only 
when, where, how and how long our Task Masters pleases.” 
It had thus become apparent that some change was requisite 
in the relations which subsisted between the two countries; 
and when the Commissioners met to devise a scheme, the 
English were determined to have a legislative, as dis- 
tinguished from any form of a federal union, and insisted 
that this matter should be voted on first, before entering 
on the discussion of any points of details, When this 
principle was once secured, they appear to have treated the 28 ie 
Scotch Commissioners generously on all points of detail. oe 
The quota which Scotland was to pay towards a land tax eme 
of four shillings in the pound was £48,000 as against 
£2,000,000 from England, while certain duties on malt and 
coals, which were to expire within a brief period, were not 
imposed upon Scotland at all. But besides this, Scotland 
received a considerable payment as an equivalent for in- 
curring a share of responsibility in the debt with which 
England was burdened. The portion of each class of 
taxation, whether customs or excise, which was appropriated 
to the English debt was taken, and the proportion which 
they bore to the whole customs and excise in England was 
calculated out®. Similar calculations in regard to the 
different branches of the Scottish revenue brought out the 
fact that £398,085. 10s. would be a fair equivalent to be 
paid to Scotland, for accepting obligations in respect of 
1 Hist. M88. Comm. 1. Ap. 55. Mackinnon, Union of England and Scotland, 10. 
? Proposals and Reasons for Constituting a Council of Trade, 1701. Intro- 
duction, p. 8. Brit. Mus. 1029. a. 6 (1). 
% Burton, 1. 407. 4 7h. 1, 412, 8 Ib. 1. 415. 
2