this is so unquestionably true that many of the wiser sort are of Opinion That the Presbyterian Faction would never have carried Matters to that heighth under that unfortunate Prince's Reign if they had not been back'd by the Covenanting Party in Scotland So that England may in a great measure lay the Calamities of the late Civil Wars and its fatal Consequences to their Doors which our Author would fain put altogether upon the English But let us see how he goes on in magnifying his beloved Scots DEFENCE Yet such was our Zeal for the Protestant Interest the Welfare of the Island and the Liberty of Europe that tho' we had a fair opportunity of providing otherwise for our security and the Advancement of our Trade and of forming our selves into a Commonwealth or of bringing England to our own Terms yet we frankly and generously concurr'd with them to settle our Government on the same Persons and in the same manner as they did theirs and all the Reward we had from them is that an Union of the Nations tho' twice propos'd by His Majesty in Parliament hath been rejected To this they have added an opposition to our receiving Foreign Subscriptions at Hamburgh and elsewhere refus'd us a Supply of Corn for our Money to relieve us in our Distress and discourag'd our Settlement at Darien by forbidding their Subjects to Trade with us there If these continued Slights be not enough to make us weary of the Union of the Crowns let any Man judge To discover a little of the unreasonableness of this sort of Treatment we dare Appeal to the calm thoughts of such of our Neighbours in England as prefer the Interest of the Publick to private Animosities and foolish ill-grounded Piques either as to Church or State whether at the time of the Revolution and before we declar'd our selves they would not have been willing to have assur'd themselves of our Friendship at the rate of Uniting with us as one Nation Had we but demurr'd upon forfeiting the late K. James or made but a Proffer of renewing our ancient League with France and joyning with that Crown to keep that Prince upon the Throne of Great Britain they know we might have made what Terms we pleas'd with the late King and Louis XIV on that condition and might have been restor'd to all the Honours and Privileges that our Ancestors enjoy'd in France which were almost equal to those of the Natives and yet that gallant Nation thought it no disparagement to them however we be despis'd and undervalued now by a certain Party in England Had we but seem'd to have made such Overtures the English must needs have foreseen that the natural Consequences of such a Design if it had taken effect must have been these viz. The late King's Adherents in England would certainly have join'd us and our Nation would have afforded them a safe Retreat in case of any Disaster till they could have concerted Matters to the best Advantage The late King would not have yielded himself such an easie Conquest not disbanded his Army in such a manner as he did Ireland had certainly revolted since every one knows that the Revolution was begun and in a great measure perfected there by the Scots of the North so that England must have become the Theatre of the War and been liable to an Invasion from France These must certainly have been the Consequences of our adhering to the late King and the English would have thought they had had a very good Bargain if they could have bought us off in that case with Uniting both the Kingdoms into one and granting us a joint Trade to their own Plantations whereas now they will not allow us to settle a foreign Colony of our own and treat us as Foreigners in theirs ANSWER Our Author has so entangled himself in pleading for the Scots that he is almost beyond his Senses for what Man who is in his right Wits could propose an Alliance with France which is in effect no less than to make Scotland a Province of France as more advantageous to the Scots than their Concurrence with England in the last Revolution for if they were become so indifferent as to their so much bragg'd of Liberty and Soveraignty and their Religion to Boot what need they have chang'd Masters since King James would have eased them of both and it appears to me as if our Caledonian was rather for the last since he takes so much pains to represent to us the consequences of it in the most passionate manner that could be But if the matter be duly weigh'd he has shot much beyond the mark for supposing the Scots to have stood it out against England for King James tho' I must confess it implies almost an absurdity to suppose it the consequences would not have been half so terrible as he would persuade us for Scotland being by reason of its Situation not easie to be relieved by France as long as the English and Dutch were Masters at Sea they might perhaps have proved troublesome but not so dangerous Neighbours as to make England the Theatre of War and it is I think odds on the English side that they might have served them as Cromwel did that is to bring them under an entire Subjection whereas they now enjoy many Priviledges beyond other Foreigners and have born but a very slender share in those vast Sums expended for the Glory and Interest of the Island in general It is not to be denied but that their ready Concurrence did hasten the Conquest of Ireland but I am apt to believe that their refusal would scarce have appear'd so dreadful to the English as to make them receive Laws from the Scots I cannot pass by in silence here with what Arrogance he is pleased to reflect upon the Measures taken in England on the account of the Scots East-India Company when it is beyond all question That every independent Nation has an inherent Right to secure their Commerce against the encroachments of a Neighbouring Nation which is the true state of the Case which our Author terms Ingratitude and I know not what in the English who did no more than to represent their Grievance to His Majesty's Consideration He runs on further thus DEFENCE To shew that this is not a mere Conjecture that has no other ground but a Vision of the Brain they may be pleas'd to consider the honourable Privileges granted us by their Ancestors and some of the greatest Princes that ever sway'd their Scepter viz. King Edward and William the Conqueror who by the Consent of the States in Parliament assembled Enacted That the Scots should be accounted Denizons of England and injoy the same Privileges with themselves because of their frequent Intermarriages with the English and that they did ever stood stoutly as one Man with them for the common Vtility of the Crown and Kingdom against the Danes and Norwegians fought it most valiantly and unanimously against the common
THE DEFENCE OF THE SCOTS Settlement AT DARIEN ANSWER'D Paragraph by Paragraph By Philo-Britan LONDON Printed and Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster 1699. THE DEFENCE OF THE SCOTS Settlement AT DARIEN ANSWER'D WHEN this Pamphlet came first to my Hands these bold and unaccountable Insinuations with which I found it stuff'd up from the very beginning to the end invited me to make some Reflections upon it for my own Diversion and the Use of some few of those whom I knew to be both my Friends and constant Adherers to the present Government in England not questioning but that some more able Pen than mine would take this Task in Hand and convince the World of the unreasonableness of such an Undertaking by a private Hand which amounts to no less than charging both His Majesty and the present English Government with Injustice and a mistake of their own Interest as will more evidently appear out of the following Sheets The Dedication which if rightly considered is nothing else but an Introduction to the rest is to make the World believe that the English stand much indebted to the Scots for suffering themselves to be united with them under one Head and cannot discharge this Obligation unless they maintain them in their present Settlement of Darien which if they don't do they must expect to be treated as an Ungrateful and Unjust People by the Scots who if we will take this Gentleman's Word for it are powerful enough either by themselves or with the Assistance of their Allies to reduce us to a more pliable Temper That this is the main design of the Dedication as well as the whole Treatise will sufficiently appear to any one who will take the Pains carefully to peruse them for tho' he is pleased to tell His Majesty at the beginning of the Dedication that his Design is to vindicate the Settlement of the Scots in Darien against the Aspersions of the Spanish Memorial yet when not long after he says That those cannot be look'd upon as Friends to His Majesty's Dignity as King of Scots who call in question what he enacts in the Parliament of Scotland I say these Words are an undeniable Proof that the whole is more levell'd against England than Spain I will not pretend to make particular Reflections upon each Passage here because I shall have occasion to do it hereafter but I cannot forbear to take notice of that unaccountable Arrogance which has emboldened some of our Modern Writers to foster the Inventions of their own Brains and their speculative Politicks upon the World under the Cloak of the Royal Authority Will not Posterity stand amazed when they see a Person whose Faith has not only been call'd in question but also condemn'd by a legal Sentence to cover his Zeal Self-Interest and private Passion under the Veil of His Sacred Majesty's Name But we will proceed to the Book it self which begins thus DEFENCE The Heads propos'd to be insisted upon in the following Sheets are The Legality of the Scots Establishment The Advantage or Disadvantage that may redound from it to England Whether the Scots without the Assistance of the English may be able to maintain their footing in America and what may probably be the Consequences if the Scots should be oppos'd therein by the English and miscarry in the Vndertaking ANSWER These sâ—veral Heads give us sufficiently to understand what I mentioned just now to wit That the chief aim of this Author was against the English and that what is said in relation to the Spaniards is only a Preparative to the rest as will more plainly appear out of the following Sheets Upon the first Head he says further thus DEFENCE The chief Objections against the Legality of their Establishment arise from the Memorial delivered in against it to the King by the Ambassador Extraordinary of Spain May 3 1699. O. S. as follows ANSWER As these Animadversions were intended at first only for a private use so I had not the opportunity of informing my self whether the following Spanish Memorial be Authentick in all its Parts or not which therefore I insert here barely upon our Author's Credit as it is extant in his Defence c. THE Vnder-Subscriber Ambassador Extraordinary from His Catholick Majesty finds himself oblig'd by express Orders to represent to Your Majesty that the King his Master having receiv'd Information from different places and last of all from the Governour of Havana of the Insult and Attempt of some Scots Ships equipp'd with Men and other things requisite who design to settle themselves in His Majesty's Soveraign Demains in America and particularly the Province of Darien His Majesty receiv'd those Advices with very much Discontent and looks upon the same as a Rupture of the Alliance betwixt the Two Crowns which His Majesty hath observed hitherto and always observes very Religiously and from which so many Advantages and Profits have resulted both to Your Majesty and Your Subjects as a Consequence of which good Correspondence His Majesty did not expect such sudden Insults and Attempts by Your Majesty's Subjects and that too in a time of Peace without pretext or any cause in the very Heart of his Demains All that the King desires is That this may be represented to Your Majesty and that Your Majesty may be acquainted that he is very sensible of such Hostilities and unjust Procedures against which His Majesty will take such Measures as he thinks convenient Given at London May 13 3. 1699. It were easie says the Author of the Defence of the Scot's Settlement to make proper Remarks upon the Weakness Insolence and Ingratitude of this Memorial but it is not worth while all the World knows what the Crown of Spain owes to His Majesty of Great Britain and therefore a more civil Application might reasonably have been expected to a Prince who had not only sav'd the Netherlands but prevented his Catholick Majesty from being insulted on his Throne at Madrid But these things we pass over and come to the chief Point in the Memorial which is That the Scots have posted themselves in the King of Spain 's Demains in America contrary to the Alliance betwixt the two Crowns If this be prov'd to be false then the Cause of the great Complaint ceases and His Majesty of Great Britain hath reason to demand Satisfaction for the Affront offered thereby to his Justice and Sovereignty To prove the Falshood of the Allegation That the Province of Darien is part of the King of Spain's Demains It is positively denied by the Scots who challenge the Spaniards to prove their Right to the said Province either by Inheritance Marriage Donation Purchase Reversion Surrender Possession or Conquest which being the only Titles by which they or any other People can Claim a Right to those or any other Dominions if the Spaniards cannot make out their Right by these or any of these their Claim must of consequence be null and void ANSWER It is a most
surprising thing to see the Author Charge one of the greatest Kings in Europe who thinks himself touch'd in the most sensible part of his Sovereignty with Insolence and Ingratitude against His Britannick Majesty when he who owns himself a private Person and his Subject uses so many reflecting Expressions throughout the whole Treatise upon the English Government That Spain owes in a great measure its preservation to His Majesty of Great Britain is scarce disputed by any but he must be but indifferently vers'd in the Politicks of Europe who does not know That the Councils of Princes are sway'd more by the Considerations of their present Interest than by the Remembrance of pass'd Obligations Amongst all those Titles which he Assigns for the Spaniards to prove their Claim by the Three last seem to be the most likely to do their Business and supposing they should be able by either one of them or perhaps all Three together to prove their Claim What will then become of our Author 's bold Challenge But let us hear what he further says upon this Head DEFENCE It is Evident says he That the Spaniards cannot pretend a Title to that Country by Inheritance Marriage or the Donation of Prince and People and as to Conquest it would be ridiculous to alledge it since the Dariens are in actual possession of their Liberty and were never subdued nor receiv'd any Spanish Governour or Garrison amongst them Nay they wâ—re so far from it that Wafer Dampier and others that have wrote of that Country do all agree that they mortally hate the Spaniards were in War with them and that the Spaniards had no Commerce with those Indians nor Command over them in all the North-side of the Isthmus a little beyond Porto-Bello Captain Sharp in the Journal of his Expedition published in Captain Hacke's Collection of Voyages gives an Account That in 1680 he landed at Golden Island with 330 Men and being join'd by one of the Darien Princes whom they call'd Emperor and another to whom they gave the Title of King Golden Cap with some hundreds of their Men took Sancta Maria attempted Panama and made Prize of several Spanish Ships which is the more remarkable because Captain Sharp was afterwards tried in England for Robbery and Piracy on this very Account but acquitted because of his Commission from those Darien Princes which is a plain Demonstration that the Government of England did then look upon Darien to be no way subject to Spain whatever some who are Enemies to the Scots do now say against the Legality of their Settlement in that Country This same Expedition against the Spaniards by the assistance of the Darien Indians is confirm'd by Mr. Dampier in his Introduction to his New Voyage round the World And the Bishop of Chiapa a Prelate of their own in his Relation of the Spanish Voyages and Cruelties in the West-Indies Pag. 217. owns That the Spaniards had no Title to the Americans as their Subjects by right of Inheritance Purchase or Conquest We have likewise a large Account and a full Confirmation of the War and perpetual Enmity betwixt the Dariens and Spaniards in the History of the Buccaneers of America Vol. 2. Part 4. wrote by Basil Ringrose who was one of their Company There he informs us That the Indians of Darien and the Spaniards are commonly at War with one another and that the Buccaneers were invited into that Country and join'd by the Darien Princes Captain Andreas Captain Antonio and the King of Darien who assisted them in the taking of Sancta Maria and their attempt upon Panama and the King whose Daughter the Spaniards had stole away promised to joyn the Buccaneers with 50000 Men. This is the more remarkable because those very Princes or their Successors are now in League with the Scots and have joyfully receiv'd them into their Country So that it is the strangest position that can be put upon any Nation and one of the most audacious Affronts that ever was put upon so Great a Prince as K. William for the Spaniards to pretend a Right to Darien and accuse him of a Breach of the Peace because a Colony of his Subjects have settled themselves there when it is so well known to the World that the Crown of Spain has no manner of Title to that Province Then as to any Claim by virtue of Possession the Spaniards have not the least ground of Plea All they can alledge on this Head is That they were once admitted by the Consent of Captain Diego another of the Darien Princes to work on some Golden Mines within 15 Leagues or there abouts of the Scots Settlement But it is plain that this makes nothing for their purpose That Prince admitted them only as Labourers but not as Proprietors And when they broke the Conditions on which they were admitted viz. To allow the Dariens such â—â—d such Sharâ—â— of the Product they were expell'd again by force and ever since that time the Dariens refuse to have any further Dealings with the Spaniards who made themselves odious to them by their Treachery and Insolence So that Mr. Wafter tells us Pag. 133. They allow a distinguishing Mark of Honour to him who has kill'd a Spaniard And Pag. 179. That Cascata one of the chief of the Darien Princes did in his Converse with him express his Sense and Resentment of the Havock made by the Spaniards in the West of America at their first coming thither ANSWER Our Philo-Calydon as he calls himself pretends to prove here That the Spaniards can lay no Claim to Darien as a Conquest His Reasons are Because they were never subdued but I would fain ask this Gentleman how he came to know this 'T is possible some of his Countrymen have been told so by some of the Dariens but this will be but a slender Argument against the Spaniards It is most unquestionable that there is much more probability on the Spaniards side than on the other For how can it be supposed that the Spaniards who have conquer'd such a vast Tract of America and several Plantations there should not have been able to force a few petty Indian-Lords who are enclosed within their Dominions to a Submission His Arguments by which he would prove them a free People is much more ridiculous than the pretended Conquest of the Spaniards it being evident that a few Cottages inhabited by a barbarous and unarmed People headed by many Leaders resembling the Heads of Clans in Scotland did require neither a Spanish Governour nor Garrison What he alledges concerning the Hatred they bear to the Spaniards and their joyning with the Buccaneers against them does not in the least invalidate the Title of Spain to Darien And all what Wafer Dampier and the History of the Buccaneers says upon this Subject proves no more than that those Petty Indian Lords who formerly either voluntarily or by force submitted to the Spaniards took this opportunity to shake off the Spanish Yoke and to
People or Subjects of the other against the Articles of that Alliance or against common Right there shall not therefore be given Letters of Reprisal Marque or Countermarque by any of the Confederates until such time as Justice is follow'd in the ordinary Course of Law Yet the Spaniards without any such Procedure or offering in the least to prove their Title to Darien present a virulent and huffing Memorial at the very first charging the King with want of Friendship and a breach of Alliance and threatning to take such measures as theâ— shall think meet When their sickly Monarchy has not yet had time to breath since rescu'd from the common Danger wherein Europe was involv'd by the Arms of that very Prince whom they treat so ungratefully But this is not all for contrary to the express Words of that same Treaty they attack the Scots by Sea and Land who had done them no Injury but acquainted them that they came thither peaceably without any hostile design against them or any other People and were so generous as to reject the Motion of Captain Andreas one of the Darien Princes and their Ally when he offer'd to make them Masters of Panama if they would but joyn him with 500 of their Men. The Spaniards have also contrary to the 10th and 11th Articles of the Treaty concluded at M drid July 8 18 1670. concerning America detain'd the Scots and English Prisoners who were forced a shoar at Carthagena by Shipwrack tho all such Practices be expresly provided against by the said Articles And they have also violated the 14th Article of that Treaty which forbids Reprisals except in case of denying or unreasonably delaying Justice From all which it is evident that the King of Great Britain has just reason to demand Satisfaction of the Spaniards for Attacking his Subjects contrary to Treaty and that the Scots being thus injuriously treated may very lawfully not only make Reprisals upon the Spaniards for themselves but joyn with the King of Darien in taking Sancta Maria Panama or any other place belonging to the Spaniards in that Country of which the Dariens are Natural Lords and the Spaniards Tyrannical Usurpers as is pleaded by the King of Darien himself and therefore he invited the English Buccaneers to assist him to retake it And by this Capt. Sawkins justified his Proceedings in a Letter to the Governour of Panama asserting that the King of Darien was true Lord of Panama and all the Country thereabouts and that they came to assist him History of Buccaneers Vol. 2. Part 4. P. 32. And we have mentioned before that Capt. Sharp who was accused of Piracy for that same Expedition and succeeded Sawkins in his Command was acquitted in England because he had that Prince's Commission ANSWER If it had been made so evident as our Author imagines that the Spâ—â—iards hâ—ve no Title upon Darien I would sooâ—â—◠〈◊〉 with him in Opinion that they themselves had 〈◊〉 guilty of that Breach of these Treaties whic◠〈◊〉 charge upon the Scots but this being look'd upon by the now unbyass'd as a Case which at the besâ— is yet undetermin'd the Question is Whether as suâ—h they have controvened against several of the Articles of these two Treaties I will not pretend here to Patronize or defend every step the Spaniaâ—ds have made since the Scots Settlement this ought to be left to the Determination of His Majesty of Great Britain who as he is the true Judge of it so no Question but he will in due time demand Reparation for the Miscarriages committed against the said Treaties I will only put the Reader in mind of that most ancient and general Maxim founded upon the Law of Nations Vim vi repelere licet What Wonder is it if the Spaniards when they saw a Foreign Nation without their permission Land good store of Men and other Warlike Instruments in a place which they look'd upon as their own Propriety and which is of the utmost consequence to them What Wonder is it I say when they saw them erect Fortifications and enter into Alliance with those who were at that time their declared Enemies according to our Author 's own Confession they endeavoured to draw that Thorn out of their Feet without seeking first for Redress at so many Thousand Miles distance I would have our Author turn the Tables and let the Scots make the Case their own whether they would not force any Foreign Nation from their Shoar that should pretend to come in the same manner to settle themselves without leave in any place under their Pretension or Jurisdiction If it be considered What a considerable Traffick the English have in Spain it is evident That it had been in their Power to make themselves an ample amends by way of Reprisals but since they have not taken any such Measures their endeavours to dislodge the Scots from Darien at such a distance from England may admit of a much more favourable Construction than our zealous Calidonian would put upon it He goes on further DEFENCE Having fully prov'd that the Spaniards have no Title to Darien it remains to be prov'd that the Scots have as good and just a Title to their Settlement there as any People in the World can have which may easily be demonstrated thus They were authorized by an Act of Parliament and the King's Letters Patent to plant Colonies in Asia Africa or America upon Places not inhabited or any other Place by consent of the Natives not possest by any European Prince or State Being provided with this Authority than which there cannot be a greater or one more duly and honestly limitted they Equipp'd their Ships and landed on the North side of the Isthmus of Darien in November 1698. where the Spaniards as has been fully prov'd never had any Posseisâ—on and no other European Prince or State pretends any Claim to it Being arriv'd there they fairly obtain'd the Consent of the Princes and People of the Country and particularly of Captain Andreas who is the chief Man in that Tract and after a solemn Treaty and Alliance deliberately made and wrote in Spanish because the said Prince understands that Language they peaceably enter upon their new Colony without either Force or Fraud So that they have religiously kept to the Conditions of the Act and Patent which is a plain Demonstration that they have a just and legal Title to their Settlement and a Right to the Protection of the Government against the Attempts of the Spaniards or any other People whatsoever ANSWER The Scots Title to their Settlement at Darien pursuant to their Patent might pass for very good if they could make it evidently appear that the same had not been possess'd before by any European Prince or State according to the Tenure of the said Letters Patent but till that be done upon a more sure Foundation than our Calidonian has pleas'd to lay they ought not to be angry if the Government is not so forward
prevent the going out of vast numbe s of their Youth who follow the same sort of Imployment or betake themselves to the Sword in Denmark Sweden Poland Mâ—sâ—â—oy Germany Holland and France by which means the Government of Gâ—â—at Britain may furnish their Fleets and Armies â—t a much cheaper and easier rate than formerly and with as good Mariners and Soldiers as â—ny in the World 6. The English by joyning with the Scots and supporting their â—olony at Darien may have their Pâ—aâ—e brought home in their own Bottoms and from their own Mines with which we are assured that Country abounds without being obliged to touch at Cadiz or any Foreign Port being liable to the vexatious Indulto's of Foreign Princes or in such hazard of being intercepted as they many times were during the late War 7. The English may by joyning with the Scots render themselves more capable than ever of keeping the Balance of Europe in their hands a Trust which Nature and Providence seems to have assign'd 'em since their Situation and Naval Force not only makes it proper for them but they have had an opportunity put into their Hands in little above the Revolution of one Century of twice breaking the Chains of Europe when threatned with Slavery first by the Spaniards and then by the French This is so much the more evident that by being possess'd of Darien they will be able either to prevent the uniting the Spanish and French Monarchies or if not so to render that Union so much the less dangerous when it will be in their power to seize their Treasure and Dominions in the Indies without which that bulky Monarchy must fall by its own weight This is likewise of so much the greater importance that it may very probably either prevent a Religious War towards which the Papists discover so much inclination or at least bring it to a speedier Conclusion For we have as good reason to look upon the Spanish Mines in the West-Indies to be Antichrist's Pouch by which he maintains his War against the Church as the Old Taborites had to call the Silver Mines in Bohemia by that Name It is certainly the surest Method of destroying Antichrist to seize his Purse for if he once be depriv'd of Judas's Bag he will quickly drop St. Peter's Keys It 's by the Charms of her Gold that the Babylonish Whore hath made the whole World to wonder after her and the Kings of the Earth to be drunk with the Cup of her Fornication ANSWER By this Cant of Antichrist's Pouch the Babylonish Whore and some other Expressions our Calidonian makes use of in this Treatise one would shrewdly suspect him to be a Disciple of the Old Covenanting Crew the more because I find he has a great Itch after the Spanish Mines a Property belonging in a most peculiar manner to that Gang who sold their King for Money as Judas did Christ. But to return to our more serious Considerations I think we have all the reason in the World to hope that since England has been twice instrumental in breaking the Chains of Europe and keeping up that Balance which is absolutely necessary for the Repose of Europe without the Assistance of the Scots it may be able to maintain its ancient Glory without their New Settlement at Darien which in my Opinion will contribute but very little either to prevent the Union of the Spanish and French Monarchies or to render it less dangerous for I am well Convinced that if the last should happen the French would soon tell the Scots Veteres migrate Coloni For if they would not take the Compliment they would find some other way to send them back to the Highlands He promises the English Golden Mountains and that without any trouble free from all Imposts and Danger but if these Mines should prove Abortive if it should happen with them as the Poet says Parturiunt Montes would not the English deserve to be Laugh'd at to expose their Spanish Commerce to hazard for the uncertain hopes of some imaginary Mines promised them by an unknown Gentleman who can give no better Account of them than what has been told him by others who perhaps have it no more than by hearsay themselves We are obliged to this Gentleman however for the Kindness he is pleased to shew for England in easing us of the Scotch Pedlars but the Danger is that in case the Scots should be permitted to furnish England with Muslins Silks c. as he mentioned before they would all turn Wholesale Men and those that now are gone to carry their Packs upon their Backs would go about the Country with as many Pack-Horses as a Carrier that comes to London freighted with all sorts of Commodities DEFENCE 8. By this means the English may be better able to prevent the Ruine of their Trade in the Mediterranean and West-Indies if the French should possess themselves of the Kingdom of Spain And they will likewise be the better able to prevent their possessing themselves of the Netherlands which if once they should do and get Ports there capable of holding a Fleet they would also ruine their Eastland Trade and put a period to the Liberties of Great Britain 9. It will effectually Unite the Scots to England by an inseparable Tie if the English join us in this Undertaking Their Ancestors would have gladly purchased this Union at a much dearer rate but were always outbid by France And the want of that Union made the English not only an easie Prey to their successive Conquerors but lost them all the large Provinces that they enjoy'd beyond Sea which were their Natural Barriers gave them a free Access to the Continent and made the English Name so glorious in the Days of their Ancestors ANSWER I can't for my Life conceive how this Scots Settlement should prove of such vast consequence as to support our Mediterranean and West-India Trade against the French if they should become Masters of Spain much less how it should influence our Affairs so near Home as to prevent them from possessing themselves of the Netherlands unless the whole be built upon the hopes of his Mines but as the same hitherto are but imaginary so he would have done very well to have given us some more satisfactory reason for this Assertion What he says of the English being made an easie Prey to their Conquerors for want of an Union with Scotland ought to be look'd upon as a piece of Romance and this Gentleman has forgot what he alledged not long before viz. how instrumental the Scots had been in defending the Island against any Foreign Invaders All that the Scots have to brag of in this Case is that the great distance and unkindness of their Climate secured them against the Attempts of those who being possess'd of the Fertile Grounds of England did not think it worth their while to look after them among the Cold and Barren Mountains It must be confess'd that their frequent Inroads
Succession of France to their Crown for they would immediately seize upon their Mines and Treasures in the West-Indies without which the Spanish Monarchy is not able to support it self Or supposing the King of Spain should live for many Years and by consequence keep the French out of possession yet having once goot footing at Darien which they will certainly do if the Scots be expell'd by their assistance the Spaniards will quickly be convinc'd to their Cost that they are more dangerous Neighbours than the Scots not only because of their greater Power to do them more mischief but because of their incroaching Temper which all Europe is sensible of and being of the same Religion with the Spaniards and having of late Years set up for the Champions of Popery they will by the Influence of the Clergy bring all the Spanish Settlements of America to a dependence upon them and a love for them as the great Protectors of the Catholick Faith which will at once destroy the Interest of Spain in America This will appear to be no vain Speculation to those that consider the Temper of the Popish Clergy and the Insolence of the Spanish Inquisitors who so daringly reflected upon the late Alliance of Spain with Protestant Princes and States tho' absolutely necessary to preserve that Nation from being swallowed up by France Whereas the Scots being Zealous Protestants and for that very reason hateful to the Popish Clergy and Laity they are under a moral Impossibility of having so much Influence to withdraw the American Settlements from the Obedience of Spain And besides being under an obligation by the Principles of their Religion and their fundamental Constitution not to invade the Property of another the Spaniards have no cause to fear any thing from them provided they forbear Hostilities on their part but on the contrary may find them true and faithful Allies and useful to assist them in the defence of their Country if attack'd by the French as in the late War It being the Interest of the Scots as well as of the Spaniards to prevent the Accession of the Crown of Spain to that of France These things together with the known Endeavours of the French to procure an Interest amongst the Natives of that Country and especially with Don Pedro and Corbet in order to a Settlement make it evident enough that it is the Interest of Spain the Scots should rather have it than the French who have already been tampering with the Spaniards as well as with the Indians and doubt not to have a large share of America whenever the King of Spain dies ANSWER Most People I am apt to believe will soon agree with our Author in this point That the French would be by far the more dangerous Neighbours to the Spaniards in America both in respect of their Power and the influence they might have over the Spaniards in America upon the score of their Religion but I hope he will also grant me that it is much more for the Spanish Interest not to be troubled with any Neighbours at all there that may be in any probability to interfere with them either in Power or Traffick but whether the Spaniards will be able as the case now stands to gain this point is what must be the present Object of our consideration I will for once suppose the Scots to be so unanimous in this matter as our Author would have them yet it is much to be doubted whether they would be so fond of a Project that is subject to so many Casualties and to no small danger of succeeding as the Nobility Gentry and others to mortgage their Estates upon that Score but supposing they should it would still be a question Whether they could be in a condition to procure time enough such a number of serviceable Ships and other Necessaries requisite for the maintaining themselves at Darien even against the Spaniards alone For granting they should not be in a capacity to force the Scots from their Fortifications they have other means to annoy and intercept their Convoys which considering a Communication betwixt the English West-India Plantations and the Scots Settlement is taken off may in all likelihood reduce them to a starving condition there or at the best put the Scots East-India Company under a necessity of providing their Ships with such strong Convoys at so great a distance that the Charge may surmount the Profit notwithstanding the hopes of their rich Mines What our Calidonian says of giving Commissions to the Buccaneers is little to the purpose it being evident that they have no power so to do by vertue of their Letters Patents and that consequently by so doing they must put themselves in the same range with them which would be the ready way for them to forfeit all the Title they can pretend to upon that Settlement But supposing the Scots should put the Spaniards so hard to it as to be obliged to seek for aid by the French who at this juncture seem to be very forward to purchase their good will at any rate it is very probable that they may have their Assistance upon much easier terms than the Surrender of Darien into their Hands neither is it to be questioned but that the Spaniards who are jealous of the French to the highest degree might take such sure Measures as to the Number and other Circumstances of the French Auxiliaries as might free them from the danger of being surprized by them especially at this time when the French are so cautious of creating a Jealousie in that Nation What our Author alledges of Ceuta is no parallel to this the only reason of the Spaniards refusing the Offers of the French as to the relief of that place being no more than that they thought it inconsistent with their Grandeur to leave the Glory of relieving a place which is so near them to a Foreign Nation when as yet they were sufficiently able to defend it against the Moors It may also be consider'd That the French have not shewn so much inclination to get a firm footing in America as our Author would fain perswade us for what reason I will not pretend to determine but certain it is that when Monsieur de Ponti had made himself Master of Carthagena they might with as much probability have defended themselves there against the Spaniards as the Scots in their Settlement at Darien And if Darien was of so much consequence to France what could hinder them from settling there when Monsieur de Ponti touch'd at that place in his way to Carthagena Which makes it very evident that the French did not think it for their Interest to plant any Colonies at this time in America or at least not at or near Darien DEFENCE But admitting says our Caledonian that the Spaniards should so far mistake their Interest as to accept of the Proffers of the French to expel the Scots it is not impossible for the latter to find other Allies than the
in granting them the dâ—sired Protection And I suppose the Scots for all our Authors Threats will be better advised 〈◊〉 they join with the Natives in making an 〈◊〉 upon Panama or any other strong 〈…〉 Spaniards for fear they should by 〈…〉 their Commissions forfeit all the righâ—◠〈…〉 Invested with by Virtue of the said Grant◠〈…〉 other irreparable Mischiefs upon their 〈◊〉 But let us now hear what our Author says to the next Point which has a more particular Relation to England DEFENCE The next Topick to be insisted upon is The Advantage or Disadvantage that may redound to England from this Settlement We shall begin with the Disadvantage which consists in the supposed Damage it may do to the Trade of England and that it may as is pretended occasion a Rupture betwixt them and Spain To this we may easily Reply That being a distinct and Independant Nation we are not oblig'd to consult their Interest any further than they consult ours and that we have as much reason to maintain this Colony because of the Advantage it may bring to our selves as they have to oppose it because of the Disadvantages that they fancy may arise from thence to England But withal we deny that it can be any damage to their Trade which from that part of the World consists chiefly in Sugar and Tobacco neither of which are yet to be found in New Calidonia But that which we look upon to be a compleat Answer to the Objection is this That they may be Sharers with us in the Settlement if they please and by consequence Partners in the Profits and Trade and lay it under such Regulations as may prevent its endamaging the Commerce of England And whereas it is further Objected That by the great Immunities and freedom from Customs granted to the Scots Company for so many years we shall be able to Under Sell the English Company forestall their Markets and lessen His Majesty's Customs We Answer That this Objection is in a great measure obviated since we do not now pretend to set up an East-India Trade but admitting it were true it will be to the general Advantage of the English Nation since the Buyers are always more than the Sellers It must certainly â—e better for the Kingdom in general that every one who has occasion for Muslin or Indian Silks c. should save so many Shillings per Yard or Piece in their Pockets than that some two or three Merchants should once in an Age get Money enough to make a Daughter or two a Countess or Dutchess Nor can it be denied but it 's better for England that House-keepers in general should save that Money to buy Provisions for their Families which consumes our own Product than that a dozen of Merchants should be enabled by the extravagant Prices of those Commodities to keep their Coaches Add to this That the English if they please by joining with the Scots may have an equal share of all those Immunities and if there should be for some time a lessening of the King's Customs of which there is at present no manner of prospect it will be sufficiently made up in time to come by a large Addition if that Colony prospers so that the King's Bounty in that respect is but like the bestowing of charge to improve barren or waste Ground which will return with treble Interest to him or his Heirs There 's another Objection made against the Scots Company That by their Constitution such Ships as belong them must break Bulk no where but in Scotland which will diminish the number of English Ships and Seamen and make Scotland the only Free Port of all those Commodities To which it's Replied That tho' our own Ships are obliged to break Bulk no where but at home they don't lay the same Obligation upon others but allowing them a free Trade to Darien they may carry their Goods where they please or upon fair Proposals there 's no doubt but the Parliament of Scotland will give the English all possible Liberty as to that matter ANSWER Allowing the Scotch Nation to be Independant tho' this has been questioned by some our Author tells us They are not obliged to consult the Interest of England further than they consult theirs which indeed is the best Argument he has made use of hitherto in the Defence of the new Settlement But then I hope he will also grant That this being Reciprocal betwixt these two Nations he ought not to blame the English if they won't Sacrifice their own Interest to that of the Scots and take all necessary and legal Precautions against their Encroachments to the Disadvantage of our Trade This Objection he says may be answered By making such Regulations as will prevent the endamaging the Commerce of England This is much sooner said than put in practice For if the Scots could have found out an Expedient which might be satisfactory both in respect to the Honour and Interest of the English Nation in that Point Why was it not proposed and put in Execution before the English saw themselves under a necessity to represent their Grievances against the Scots new Company to His Majesty and to take such further Measures against it as they judged most suitable to their own Interest He further would perswade us That the Immunities from paying Customs granted to the Scots Company cannot be any Detriment to England because Muslin Indian Silks c. will be sold Cheaper for the general benefit of the Buyers But what would in such a case become of our East-India Trade who being obliged to pay heavy Customs could not afford to Sell at the same Rate What would become of our Silk Manufactory and the Turkey Company It is certain That a great many thousands of People who maintain their Families by the Silk Manufactory must be reduced to a starving Condition if those East-India Silks were sold at a cheaper Rate than they are now This is indeed the way to make our Merchants go on Foot and sâ—t the Scots on Horseback By the Constitution of this New Scots Company their Ships are obliged to break Bulk no where but in Scotland This Advantage he pretends to balance by assuring us That the Scots Parliament will Dispence with the English upon that Score But pray what Reason is there for the English to depend on the favour of a Scots Parliament when they may carry on the East-India Trade in their own Country without it especially since it remains doubtful under what Restrictions and Limitations this Liberty might be granted to the English But let us hear what he says in Reference to the danger of a Rupture with Spain DEFENCE Then as to the hazard of a Rupture with Spain we Reply That the Spaniards are in no Condition to break with England when they are not able to maintain themselves against the Insults of the French by Sea and Land and the only way to secure them in the British Interest is to have a