Romanticism and the Scottish-English Border

Upon the enactment of The Acts of Union in 1707, Scotland’s independent parliament was removed and integrated with that of the Kingdom of England. In response to this coalition, there have been many immediate and longstanding debates between the English and Scottish. This union marked early antagonism and stirred deeply seeded feelings of nationalist identity on either side. Though Scotland was united with Great Britain, invisible borders remained as visions of identity and nationalism, unique to each country, were forced to merge together.

For both the English and the Scottish, there were opinions of both content and resentment in reaction to this union of states, and these positions were taken up through many different social mediums, particularly literature. Romantic writers of the era used their works as primary vehicles in expressing nationalist identity as they clashed with the other, specifically in response to issues of emigration from Scotland to England, the division of resources and wealth, and the unity of cultures in love and war.

Reactions to The Acts of Union and Feelings Toward the Other

The Scottish Perspective

Discontent

The union of England and Scotland meant the merging of major assets, these being taxation, systems of currency, and public laws. For many Scots, this coalition of power suggested a certain submission, and the very name of their state would be abolished under England’s dominating wealth. To the English, this union was viewed as a mere transformation of their northern neighbors from lower-class barbarianism to a civilized member of a greater kingdom, however the Scottish majority felt differently. Immediately following the year 1707 and still to this day, the treaty of union was and has been regarded as a critical turning point in the history of their country. There were many bitter responses from Scots who felt that their sense of identity and legitimacy was being taken away, and many expressed feelings of being bullied by their English neighbors.

In addition to opinions of lost identity, much and most of Scottish discontent and fear was expressed in terms of the United Kingdom’s economic distribution of power following the union. One of the dominating issues was the debate of what would happen to Scotland if economic sanctions were invoked. The prevailing issue in Scotland was that of finances and the economic importance of their country in the union following 1707. This economic focus, though, always shifted back to the redemption of Scottish nationhood and identity. Commonly found was a sense of denial and lament as Scots watched their power as an individual state mesh with a larger force.

Satisfaction

While the majority of Scots felt as if they were being robbed of an identity, others reacted to the transition into union with content, accepting the English as a kind and generous people. The House of Commons was described to be particularly “club-like” and welcomed their new, Scottish members with ease. From this perspective, there is little expression of the Scottish as being treated like powerless victims, as many others had claimed. In addition, very few allusions indicated the English as acting with anti-Scottish feelings.

Alderman George Macaulay, a prominent English figure native to Lewis, Scotland, had much praise to bode Great Britain in his personal diary, which was published in 1796. In this account, he detailed his life and success after emigrating from Scotland to England in 1765, at the age of 15. Upon his arrival, Macaulay moved his way up through the political tiers of Britain, first becoming Alderman, Warden of the Bowyers Company and finally the Sheriff of London in 1790. This diary, as he saw the internal workings of the law, exposes many ways in which the Scots experienced a period of intense ridicule and political strife following the Acts of Union. However, his opinions on the English and the kingdom of Great Britain as a whole are expressed with nothing but admiration and content. The writings in his diary indicate pride for Great Britain as well as support for both the political and cultural aspects of London. Essentially, Macaulay claims to consider himself a Scot by birth, however an Englishman by choice.

Scottish geologist and folklorist Hugh Miller wrote on his personal opinions of the merging states in his 1847 book, “First Impressions of England and its People,” describing them with much kindness and credit. In his piece, he details them to be “exceedingly civil and also much franker, yet less prying than the Scotch.”

The English Perspective

After the Acts passed in 1707, London was a prime location for Scottish emigration, and as a notably upper-class city, it was widely understood that only the richest of citizens could make a suitable and comfortable life in England. Still, however, the emigrants continued to arrive. Even though their parliament was taken away, the Scots were given no new rights of residence in England, and most found it extremely difficult to survive in such an expensive location. As a result, many social attitudes of the English were elitist and bitter as they watched the Scots invade their country without equal means of wealth and class.

To the high-class Englishmen, the Scot was seen as barbaric and exploitative in nature. Many felt that their emigration into England was parasitic; that they fed off the wealth that their new union provided for them. For at least a century after the treaty passed, many felt that the abundance of English resources were being used up by their Scottish residences, and that the joining of kingdoms was singularly beneficial to North Britain at the expense of the South.

The 1760’s, in particular, proved a peak in anti-Scottish sentiment under the prime leadership of Lord Bute. He had a heavy influence on English society and publicly smeared the Scottish as a people. This hostility continued with much influence throughout the 18th and into the 19th century. As a whole, not much sympathy was felt for the Scots who claimed to have lost their independence and national identity, and the dominating feeling was that of exclusion and bitterness.

The Integration and Clash of Cultures

Integrated Military

Rather than heightening a sense of unity in war and peace, introducing Scots into the military of Great Britain only increased sour feelings between the English and their new additions to the union. The arena of military was extremely sensitive, as issues of class came into play. High-born or high-society Scots were treated with a much higher degree of respect in the service than their less privileged countrymen. Oftentimes, Scottish soldiers felt embarrassed by their brothers from the homeland who did not meet the standards of an elite British military. Thus, antagonism was increased and perpetuated.

Integrated Marriage

Marriage between Scottish and English men and women was common following the Act of Union, and only increased over time. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, at the peak of Scottish emigration to England, the percentage of Scottish daughters marrying Englishmen was marked at 16 percent. By the second half that same century, this marriage rate had risen to 36 percent, and by the mid-nineteenth century to 42 percent.

The English met this rising trend with sour feelings. Most saw the union of Scottish women with Englishmen in marriage as another way of raiding the resources and wealth of England and Britain as a whole. This resentment was strong and perpetuated and personalized the opinion that the Scots were invasive and exploitive of newfound wealth of Great Britain.

The Scottish also felt resentment towards the rising number of integrated marriages, however for different reasons. By marrying into an English name, it further took from Scottish national identity. Many felt that the sense of Scottish heritage was diluted as a result of these unions, and that marriage should reside only between fellow Scots.

Borders of Language and Perception

As Scots moved into London and other areas of England, the battle of language came into play between the two cultures, as each had their unique way of speaking. This battle of bordering vehicles of expression became a key component in the acceptance of the Scots by the English. Just as the English found the people of Scotland to be barbaric, their language was seen as just the same. Deviant accents were at a disadvantage, and only proper English was met with agreement. Even the standard, regional English was looked at with discontent. This perception of language added high tension to the clash of cultural differences between what lay beyond the Scottish and English borders.

Romantic Literature on the Border Wars

-Scottish poet Robert Burns’ poem, published in 1791, entitled, “Such a parcel of rogues in a nation,” expresses a farewell to Scottish identity following their loss of freedom in the 1707 Acts of Union.

-Sauny the Scot: or, The Taming of the Shrew. A Comedy is a play written by William Shakespeare in response to English feelings of Scottish invasion. The play exposed the Scottish as malicious thieves that came to dry up English resources.