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taken possession of his mind, and had goaded him to a horrible crtAP.crime and a horrible fate. It was natural that an assassination -attended by so many circumstances of aggravation should movethe indignation of the members of the Convention. Yet theyshould have considered the gravity of the conjuncture and theimportance of their own mission. They unfortunately, in theheat of passion, directed the magistrates of Edinburgh to strikethe prisoner in the hoots, and named a Committee to superin-tend the operation. But for this unhappy event, it is probablethat the law of Scotland concerning torture would have beenimmediately assimilated to the law of England.*

Having settled the Claim of Eight, the Convention pro-ceeded to revise the Coronation oath. When this had beendone, three members were appointed to carry the Instrumentof Government to London. Argyle, though not, in strictnessof law, a Peer, was chosen to represent the Peers: Sir JamesMontgomery represented the Commissioners of Shires, and SirJohn Dalrymple the Commissioners of Towns.

The Estates then adjourned for a few weeks, having firstpassed a vote which empowered Hamilton to take such measuresas might be necessary for the preservation of the public peacetill the end of the interregnum.

The ceremony of the inauguration was distinguished from Williamordinary pageants by some highly interesting circumstances. acccp' aryOn the eleventh of May the three Commissioners came to the of smI-"Council Chamber at Whitehall, and thence, attended by almost Iand-all the Scotchmen of note who were then in London, proceededto the Banqueting House. There William and Mary appearedseated under a canopy. A splendid circle of English noblesand statesmen stood round the throne: but the sword of statewas committed to a Scotch lord; and the oath of office wa9

* Act. Pari. Scot., April 1. 3689; Orders of Committee of Estates, May16. 1689; London Gazette, April 11.

Macaulay, History. IV.

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