Political Works

Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (1653–1716) was one of the most acute observers of the European political order of his time, and an important forerunner of the Scottish Enlightenment. Famous in his own day and since for his patriotic opposition to the Anglo-Scottish Union of 1707, Fletcher was an admirer of the ancients and a student of Machiavelli, who would adapt Machiavelli’s strictly political concepts of a world increasingly shaped by commerce. His works address the fate of small nations dominated by larger, the advantages and disadvantages of great capital cities, and the prospects for new forms of political union which would be to the benefit of all of Europe’s regions. This is the first complete modern edition of Fletcher’s works. The editor’s introduction draws on new research into Fletcher’s life and thought, and the annotated text enables readers to appreciate for the first time the range and sharpness of Fletcher’s analysis.

• First complete modern edition of political works of major Scottish thinker • Massive relevance to current Devolution debate: Andrew Marr (Independent, July 1997) proposed erection of statue to Fletcher outside new Scottish parliament! • Notes on text will make readers aware of the range of Fletcher’s references and the sharpness of his observation • Editor’s introduction drawing on new research into Fletcher’s life to reveal the full extent of his interests

Acknowledgements; Introduction; Chronology of Fletcher’s Life; Bibliographical Guide; Biographical Notes; Note on the Text and Edition; A Discourse of Government with relation to Militia’s; Two Discourses concerning the Affairs of Spain; written in the year 1698; A Discourse concerning the Affairs of Spain: written in the month of July, 1698; A Speech upon the State of the Nation: in April 1701; Speeches by a Member of the Parliament which began at Edinburgh the 6th of May, 1703; An Account of a Conversation concerning the Right Regulation of Governments for the Common Good of Mankind. In a Letter to the Marquiss of Montrose, the Earls of Rothes, Roxburg and Haddington, from London the first of December, 1703; List of Variants.