cufation has no very peculiar application to the inhabitants of the north. If it has any real foundation, it must undoubtedly be imputed to the debafing effects of the old Scottish government, and to the long continuance of that poverty and dependence, from which the people, in our days, are but beginning to emerge.

The national spirit of Scotchmen has been much taken notice of; infomuch that they are supposed to be all in a confederacy to commend and extol one another. We may remark, that, as candidates, either for fame or profit, in the London market, they are greatly the minority; and it is not surprising, `that in fuch a fituation they fhould feel a common bond of union, like that of strangers in a hoftile country *.

The

* It is faid that the common people in Scotland never give a direct answer. This may proceed, no doubt, from habits of caution, concealment, and diffimulation; but it may also be derived from a habit of reflection, which leads them to difcern not only what you directly inquire, but. what farther information you may wish to obtain. "Pray, "friend, am I in the right road to fuch a place?" "What place did you come from, Sir?" "What bufi

The deficiency of Scottish authors, in every department connected with wit and humour, has been univerfally admitted. This we may ascribe to the fly and cautious temper of the people, which is calculated to repress every exertion of mirth and pleafantry. It may. alfo have proceeded, in fome measure, from the difficulty they meet with in attaining such a command of the English language as must be requifite for the forcible and humorous delineation of ordinary life and manners*

cr nefs have you, friend, with the place I came from?" None at all, Sir; but I have as little with the place to which you are going."

* A noted literary character has waggifhly obferved, in fpeaking of the learning of Scotland, "That every

66

one has a mouthful, but nobody a belly ful." The amount of this criticifin feems to be, that instead of confuming their whole life by a vain endeavour to become adepts in two dead languages, they have diveted themfelves of a fuperftitious reverence for antiquity, and are content to cultivate each branch of knowledge fo far only as they find it useful or agreeable. The mouthful of the Scot may be fomewhat fcanty, but it is fresh and wholefome food; to him the English belly ful feems affal..

DEFENCE-DIFFERENT EFFECT OF THESE

IN BRITAIN, AND UPON THE NEIGH-
BOURING CONTINENT.

T

HE acceffion of James the First to the English throne, while it gave rife to fuch remarkable changes in the state of his ancient hereditary dominions, became the fource of great advantages, in common to both countries; from which, however, England, as the ruling power, derived the principal benefit. As far back as we can clearly trace the history of the two kingdoms, we find them engaged in a course of mutual depredation and hoftilities, during which, indeed, England was commonly in the end victorious; though, at the fame time, from her fuperior wealth,

VOL. III.

H

she

she was usually the principal fufferer. Upon the Norman conqueft, when England was involved in connections with the continent of Europe, her enemies were of courfe incited to cultivate the friendship of Scotland; and after the pretenfions of the king of England to the fovereignty of France had produced a rooted animofity between the two countries, the manarchs of the latter became the conftant allies of the Scottish princes. In this fituation, Scotland was commonly the dupe of French politics; and was found a convenient inftrument for creating a powerful diverfion of the forces in the fouthern part of the island. The invafions of England by her Scottish neighbours, being thus directed and affifted by a foreign power, became in many cafes alarming and formidable. In the reign of Elizabeth, France had an opportunity of retaliating the vexation and embarrassment fhe had felt from her ancient enemy, by fupporting the claim of Mary, Queen of Scots, to the crown of England. The artful policy of the English queen, in order to counteract and disappoint the machinations practifed against her, has been fuppofed by many to throw an indelible

tain upon her character; and even when regarded in the most favourable point of view, can be justified only by its neceffity. The intrigues of this wife princefs, the expence incurred by her on that account, the extreme vigour, not to say injustice, with which the treated her unfortunate rival, a measure which, fhe forefaw, was likely to draw upon her the public cenfure and refentment: all these are fufficient proofs of the danger to which the found herself expofed, and of the mischief which her dominions were liable to fuffer through the medium of Scotland.

By the union of the two crowns in the person of James the First, England was completely delivered from every hazard of that nature. The two kingdoms, having the fame fovereign, poffeffed of the power of declaring war and peace, were reduced under the fame administration, and confequently destined for the future to live in perpetual amity. As their whole military force acted under one head, and against their common enemies, they were enabled to affume a fuperior rank in the fcale of Europe; while the infular fituation of Britain gave her little ground to apprehend