The Political Interest

A good deal of recent work has been published on modem Scottish political history, but mostly in form of articles rather than wide-ranging books. Some welcome general text-books have appeared, but, in these, politics share company with economic, social and cultural developments. The almost simultaneous publication of two large books on successive periods of Scottish politics between Union and 1924 is therefore a notable event in Scottish historical studies, and another testimony to great advance these studies have made in last 20 years. The difference between two periods before and after 1832 is, politically speaking, a sharp one in Scotland, sharper than in England and Wales. Dr Sunter's book is concerned with important business ofmanaging a political interest in eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Scottish electors before 1832 were so few that attempts to manage them were made very readily, while electors for their part were very conscious of political power they could exercise on patrons. Voters depended on patron for places and gifts, patron depended on voters for building and maintaining his interest, so patronage was an essential requisite of politician. Despite protests of reformers, patronage was ubiquitous grease in system before 1832 and for long afterwards. The first part of book is a thorough account ofpatronage and different channels through which it was exercised. Lucrative posts in India and remunerative government contracts were highly desired, and politician who could procure them possessed important levers of Ability to obtain customs and excise appointments was also politically valuable. Whether it was valuable to customs service is questionable, as patronage could result in appointment of unqualified persons to important posts and frustration of subordinates hoping for promotion, as well as removal ofofficials by members of a rival political interest. Military and naval patronage was another aspect of political influence, and Scottish politicians, it is said, were very successful in obtaining commissions for friends. In navy it could be a hard struggle to obtain commissions for friends of doubtful competence, but, even so, Earl St Vincent complained in 1801 that the list of lieutenants abounds with improper persons who have obtained promotions by influence. Political influence was also crucial in obtaining judicial, ecclesiastical and academic posts. In 1714 someone who was asked to stand as government candidate in a parliamentary election assented on condition that his brother was given a vacant chair of

Political science · Politics · Irish and British Studies · Law · Scottish History and National Identity