180G.] 



State of Public A^airs in July. 



15 



the empire of the Weft, they were neither free 

 nor tranquil. Neither were they fo after- 

 wards, when fubjedted to Spain. Their wars 

 and their repeated quarrels until the union, 

 added to the glory of the nation, conlirmed its 

 xjualjties in point of fvanknefs, intrepidity, and 

 honour, for which, indeed, it had been always 

 celebrated : but its efforts procured it neither 

 tranquility nor independence, even under the 

 Princes of Orange, who, tliough they were 

 ufcful to their country, as foldiers and ftatcf- 

 men, were always difturbing it, by pretending, 

 or endeavouring to obrain a pcvA-er which the 

 nation denied them. N.)r could Holland be 

 coiifidered in that ilate in later times, when 

 the elevation of ideas and the general agJta-^ 

 tion of Europe fo long fufpcnded tlie rcpofe ol 

 nations. After fo many vKlicitudcs, fo much 

 agitation, fo many calamities, and at the time 

 when the great ftates were enlarijing them- 

 felves, ameliorating and concentrating their 

 governments and tli'cir forces, this country 

 could enjoy no real fafcty nor independence 

 but in a moderate monarchial ftate ; a form 

 which had been acknowledged during a long 

 jjeriod, and by each nation in its turn, as the 

 inori: perfeiV, and, if not abfolutely fo, yet 

 as much as the nature of man will admit. But, 

 idoubtlefs, if perfeftion were the lot of huma- 

 ;iity, we might then difpenfe with a govern- 

 ment of this kind. — Laws would then be 

 founded in wifiom, and obeyed wlt'nout reluc- 

 tance or obftacle ; virtue would reign tri- 

 phant, and cnfure its own reward ; vice 

 would be banilhed, and wickednefs rendered 

 impotent; but illufions which favour fuch 

 romantic ideas of human nature are tranficnt ; 

 and experience fuon brings us back to pofitlve 

 fifts. However, even monarchy is not fut- 

 ficient for a country, wlfich though power- 

 /ul and important, is not fuftkiently fo for 

 its pofition, which requires forces of the 

 <irit rank both by land and fea. It will, 

 therefore, be necefl'ary for it to form a con- 

 nexion with one of the gre.it Powers cf 

 iurope, with which its amity may be eter- 

 nally afTured without any alteration of its in- 

 dependence. 



" This, Gentlemen, is what your nation has 

 .done; this is the objeft of its cnnftitutiona! 

 laws, and alfo that of my taking upon me 

 an employment fo glorious; this is my ob- 

 jeft in placing myfelf in the midft of a people 

 who arc, and ever fhall Lie mine, by my affec- 

 tion and my folicilude. With pride I per- 

 ceive two of tlie piincipal mi-ans of govern- 

 ment and confidence oliering thcmfclves to 

 me ; tlie honour and the virtue of the inha- 

 aitants. 



" Yes, gentlemen, thefe fhall be the real 

 fupporters of the throne— 1 wilh for no otlier 

 guides. For my part, I know no dlitinftions 

 of religion or party — diftinclions can only 

 arife from merit and fervic^s. — My defign is 

 only to remedy the evils which the country 

 has fiiftrred. Th.e duration of tho'.e evils, 

 and tlje Uilficulty ia remedying them, will 



only increafe and rcallfe my glory. To efttil 

 thefe objefts, I have occahon for the entire 

 conlidence of the nation, their complete devo* 

 tion, and all the talents of the dillinguiihed 

 men vvhom it contains, but particularly of 

 you, gentlemen, whofe zeal, talents, and pa- 

 triotilm arc well known. 1 am at this mo- 

 ment appealing to the good and faithful Hol- 

 landers, before the deputies of the provinces 

 and principal cities of the kingdom. I fee 

 them around me with plcafure. Let them 

 bear to their fellow citiz.-ns the aSiuance of 

 my folicitude and my aft'ecVion ; let them 

 carry the fame teiHmnny of thefe fentiments 

 to .\mllerdam ; that city which Is the honour 

 of commerce and of the country ; that city 

 which I wifli to call my good and faithful ca- 

 pital, though the Hague will always remain 

 the refidence of the Sovereign. Let them 

 aifo cairy the fame aiTurances to their fellow 

 citizens, and the deputii-s of tliac neighbour- 

 ing city, the profperity of which 1 hope very 

 foon to renew, and wliofe inhabitants I di^ 

 tinguiih. 



" It is by thefe fentiments, gentlemen, if 

 is by the union of all orders of people in the 

 (fate, and b^' that of my fubjcfls among them- 

 felves ; it is by tlie devotion of each indivi- 

 dual to Ills duties, the only balis of real honour 

 affigned to men ; but principally by the una- 

 nim'ty which has hitherto preferveJ thefe pro- 

 vinces from all dimgers and calamities, and 

 v.liich has ever been tlicir ihielJ, that I ex- 

 pecr the tranquillity, fa-cty, and ghjry of the 

 oation, and tiie happinefs of my liie." 

 Or.RMA.NY. 



The Vienna Gillette of tlie lldi of 

 Jinic, contains the following ptuticnl:u-s 

 un'.ier tlic head of Turkey : 



" The Servian infurgents, hitherto fcf 

 uniformly fucccfsful againft the troops i^ 

 the grand feignor, have been de.eatcil iif 

 the Bofniaks. The enmity of thefe tw9 

 tribes towards each other has in confe. 

 quen:e been inflamed to Jin uncommon degree, 

 and great multitudes of Servians have already 

 ta.kirn tiie iield againil tl'ie latter. 



The preparations of the Horte on t!ie Drina 

 are continued w'.tliout intermiiTion. Numer- 

 ous decachnienls of troops daily pafs through 

 the capital, on their march from Natoli.i to 

 that quarter. C.iji Pacha is alio on his march 

 from Conia, with a body of from 10,000 to 

 li'jOOO men. Ibrahim, pacha of Albania, has 

 declined the proffered command of the gr,and 

 army at Sophia, until the ftate of things ia 

 the vicinity of his Pachalic (hall affume a more 

 fettled afpeft. Of the 1','th of May near 

 13,000 tcuocs, difciplined on the new pliu, 

 began their march from the barracks, to a<it 

 partly againft the Servians, and partly ngainll 

 other tribes in Roaielia ; wiio ftill abfolutcly 

 refufe to fubmit to the government of Nizani 

 GeJid. 



The Reis Eftendi has given Count Italinfky 

 to linaerftanl, that tlie Po.te may be placed in 

 unpleaiant circuiuftante.-i with regaiJ to ano*; 



K 2 tljCf 



