90

HISTORY OP ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XXV.

1702 .

between England and Scotland. He was convinced that• nothing could more conduce to the safety and happinessof both. He should think it his peculiar felicity if, beforethe close of his reign, some happy expedient could bedevised for making the two kingdoms one; and he, in themost earnest manner, recommended the question to theconsideration of the Houses. It was resolved that themessage should be taken into consideration on Saturday,the seventh of March.

But on the first of March humours of menacing ap-pearance showed themselves in the king’s knee. On thefourth of March he was attacked by fever; on the fifthhis strength failed greatly; and on the sixth he wasscarcely kept alive by cordials. The Abjuration Bill anda money bill were awaiting his assent. That assent hefelt that he should not be able to give in person. Hetherefore ordered a commission to be prepared for hissignature. His hand was now too weak to form the lettersof his name, and it was suggested that a stamp should beprepared. On the seventh of March the stamp was ready.The Lord Keeper and the clerks of the parliament came,according to usage, to witness the signing of the com-mission. But they were detained some hours in the ante-chamber while he was in one of the paroxysms of hismalady. Meanwhile the Houses were sitting. It wasSaturday, the seventh, the day on which the Commons hadresolved to take into consideration the question of theunion with Scotland. But that subject was not mentioned.