Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/347

 friends, tho' they cannot complain you ever forgot them. It is a more busy time then ordinary here upon the accounts of the treaty of trade, which is understood by soe few that it gives a large field to those who have a mind to find fault, and it hath been soe long a receiv'd opinion that a trade with France is prejudicial to this kingdom that it is noe easie task to beat them out of it. The Lords are not yet come to a debate, but have spent their time in reading papers from the commissioners of trade, and are to goe on with their work to day.

Yesterday was taken up with a long debate concerning the Scotch. My Lord Seafield * after a long speech of the hard- ships his nation had endur'd, concluded with a motion for leave to bring in a bill to dissolve the Union, preserving the Succession. All his countreymen joyn'd with him and most of the Whigs, but were beat by a majority only of four, and that by proxys, for the present Lords made an equality. What hath provoked the Scotch is the malt tax, after the assurances given them in the Articles of the Union that it should not be tax'd during the war, and before it is well ended, it is impos'd upon them, tho' to pay the debts of the war. Lord Peterborough was very pleasant in comparing the union to a marriage, and own'd we had been a little rough to our spouse. Tho' this matter is over in parliament, it is to be fear'd it will not be so in Scotland, where they will never pay this tax, and the officers who are to gather it, will be in some danger, as well as the justices of peace if they take their part. Tho' the days are imploy'd in business, the nights are reserved to pleasure, for balls arc much in fashion. There hath been two lately in my neighbourhood at My Lord Wharton's and the Duke of Bolton's. There is a report but whether upon any good ground, that finding the D. of Marl- borough does more mischief abroad then he could do here, he is sent for, and that he hath been viewing the Emperour's army. Several merchants were heard to day in relation to the treaty of commerce, and My Lord Bolingbrook made his


 * James Ogilvy, fourth earl, an eminent lawyer.

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