From Scotland would come all the finest jewels and brocade worn by duchesses at the balls of St.James's and Versailles.

From Scotland would come all the saltpetre which would furnish the means of war to the fleets and armies of contending potentates.

And on all the vast riches which would be constantly passing through the little kingdom a toll would be paid which would remain behind.

There would be a prosperity such as might seem fabulous, a prosperity of which every Scotchman, from the peer to the cadie, would partake.

Soon, all along the now desolate shores of the Forth and Clyde, villas and pleasure grounds would be as thick as along the edges of the Dutch canals.