CONTENTS

[CHAPTER I]
PAGE
Fletcher’s Birth and Education—Travels Abroad—A Member of the Scottish Parliament—Goes to the Continent9
[CHAPTER II]
The Whig Plot—Comes to England with Monmouth—Shoots Dare—Is found guilty of High Treason and attainted—The Estate of Saltoun forfeited20
[CHAPTER III]
Adventures in Spain—Serves in Hungary against the Turks—Returns to Scotland at the Revolution—Reforms in the Scottish Parliament—Saltoun Restored—Darien37
[CHAPTER IV]
Fletcher’s Political Writings—‘A Discourse on Militias’—The Affairs of Scotland—Supports Slavery as a Cure for Mendicancy—Attacks the Partition Treaty49
[CHAPTER V]
The First Session of the Union Parliament—Fletcher proposes his Twelve Limitations on the Crown—An Act of Security—The Supplies are refused61
[CHAPTER VI]
‘A Conversation concerning a Right Regulation of Government for the Common Good of Mankind’85
[CHAPTER VII]
A New Ministry in Scotland—Scenes in the Parliament House—The Act of Security becomes Law—England retaliates by passing the Alien Act96
[CHAPTER VIII]
A Ministerial Crisis, and a Change of Government in Scotland—The Government is defeated—The Limitations again—Fletcher’s Duel with Roxburghe—The Act for a Treaty of Union passed108
[CHAPTER IX]
The Union Commission at Westminster—The Act of Union passed—Belhaven’s Speech—Violent Conduct of Fletcher and other Members during the Debates129
[CHAPTER X]
Arrest of Fletcher—His Release—The Jacobite Prisoners of 1708—Death of Belhaven—Fletcher retires into Private Life—Conversations with Wodrow—His Death—Views of his Character142