On March 25 1707, in Parliament Hall, the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Seafield formally confirmed the passing of the Act of Union and closed the Scottish Parliament with the words ‘Now there’s ane end of ane auld sang’. Outside the Bells of St Giles tolled the popular tune ‘Why should I feel so sad on my wedding day?’ After three months of heated debate, the Scottish Parliament, ‘The Three Estates’, had voted by 110 votes to 67 to end Scotland’s independence.
It is often claimed that Scotland was on its knees with a begging bowl, desperate for a Union with prosperous England. This illustrated talk will consider the background to the mounting crisis between Scotland and England, a crisis that could easily have slipped into hostilities. It is clear from the evidence that popular opinion in Scotland was opposed to the terms agreed after negotiations between commissioners appointed by both countries. A total of 96 petitions were submitted to the Scottish Parliament during the months of debate; not one supported the proposed Union. So, what were the immediate consequences of the Union? There was though clearly a major casualty and that was the City of Edinburgh.
