A CONVERSATION CONCERNING A RIGHT REGULATION O F GOVERNMENTS For the common Good of Mankind. IN A LETTER to the Marquifs of MONTROSE, the Earls of ROTHES, ROXBURG and HADDINGTON, From London the first of December, 1703, Edinburgh; An ACCOUNT of a Converfation, &c. My Lords, Y OU defire to know the fentiments of fome confiderable perfons of the English nation, touching our affairs, and the common interest of both kingdoms. And I think I cannot give you more fatisfaction in these particulars than by an account of a conversation I lately had with the Earl of Cr-m-rty, Sir Ed. S--m-r, and Sir Chr. M-fgr-ve; in which if the defence I made for you do not give you fatisfaction, I shall be glad to hear a better from yourselves. If you afk how I had the fortune to meet with men of fentiments fo different from my own, that was partly owing to chance, and partly to the frank and courteous way which is fo natural to the Earl of Cr-m-rty. For fome days ago, walking flowly and alone in the Mell, the Earl and Sir Chr-ft-ph-r overtook me: And though during the whole time I was laft in Scotland, I had not waited on the Earl, he with a very obliging air faid to me, That if I expected not other company, they would be glad of mine; asking me withal if I was acquainted with Sir Chr. I said I had formerly the honour of fome fmall acquaintance with him, which I should be very willing to renew. And after fome compliments paffed on all fides, finding I was not engaged, he invited me to dine with him, telling me he would give me the opportunity of doing as I defired; and therefore we should pass the time together till the hour of dinner. So we prefently went. to his lodgings in Whitehall, and entring into a room from whence we had a full view of the Thames and city of London, You have here, Gentlemen, faid the Earl, two of the nobleft objects that can entertain the eye, the finest river, and the greatest city in the world. Where natural things are in the greatest perfection, they never fail to produce moft wonderful effects. This moft gentle and navigable river, with the excellent genius and industrious inclination of the English people, have raised this glorious city to fuch a height, that if all things be rightly confidered, we shall find it very far to surpass any far to surpass any other. Befides the beauty and conveniences of the river, the fituation of this city is fuch, that I am perfuaded if the wifeft men of the nation had been many years employed to chuse the most advantageous, they could not have found a better: and as the profperity of a country depends in a great measure upon the fituation of the capital city, the good fortune of this nation in that particular, has chiefly contributed to the great riches and power they now have. My lord, faid Sir Chr-, you are fo'fully in the right, that notwithstanding the extent, and particularly the great length of the buildings; yet |