GENERAL HISTORY. 



[97 



burthen than an advantage, and 

 the future defence of which could 

 only be secured by a strong and 

 expensive line of fortresses. It is 

 therefore probable that a change 

 in the occupation of these pro- 

 vinces was early deliberated in the 

 councils of the allied powers, 

 though difficulties would occur in 

 assigning their new possessor. 



Hints had been thrown out in 

 the public papers of the Low 

 Countries, of an intended union of 

 the ten provinces to the state 

 with which they had the greatest 

 natural affinity ; but it was not till 

 the end of July that matters were 

 fully prepared for an open disclo- 

 sure of the design, and the mea- 

 sures for bringing it to effect. On 

 the 30th of that month, the Prince 

 of Orange, sovereign of the Ne- 

 therlands, came to Brussels, where 

 he was waited upon by Lord Lyne- 

 docb and the superior officers of 

 the English and Belgian troops, 

 and had a long conference with 

 the governor-general Baron de 

 Vincent. On the next day, after 

 attending divine service performed 

 Jby a French clergyman, he gave 

 audience to the members of the 

 administration of the public boards, 

 and the principal civil officers ; 

 and received addresses expressive 

 of confidence and attachment. On 

 August lst» a proclamation was 

 publiithed by Baron de Vincent, in 

 which he acquainted the people 

 «f Bolttium, that the time fixed by 

 the high allies for giving up the 

 general government into the hands 

 of the Sovereign Prince of the Ne- 

 therlands being arrived, he was to 

 take leave of them. He briefly 

 dwelt upon the advantages that 

 would accrue to them from that 

 union with a people already con- 

 nected with Oiem by a common 



Vol,. LVI. 



origin, and common industry and 

 virtues, which was destined by 

 the general interest of Europe; 

 and assured them, that it would be 

 rendered indissoluble, and their 

 new condition would be secured 

 by the firmest guaranty that human 

 power could give. On the same 

 day an address to the Belgians by 

 the Prince of Orange was pub- 

 lished. After informing them that 

 the allied sovereigns intended to 

 give to Europe a political system 

 which would assure a long period 

 of prosperity and repose to its na- 

 tions, his Royal Highness said, 

 " The new destination of your 

 beautiful provinces is a necessary 

 part of this system ; and the ne- 

 gociations which are going to be 

 opened at Vienna will have for 

 their object to cause it to be re- 

 cognized, and to consolidate the 

 extension of Belgium on a basis 

 conformable to your interests, to 

 that of your neighbours, and of all 

 Europe." He then announced his 

 being called to the government of 

 their country during the short in- 

 terval before this desirable union, 

 and expressed his wish of being 

 assisted by the most estimable 

 characters among them, and his 

 resolution to bend all his attention 

 to their welfare. This change in 

 the present administration and 

 future prospects of the Belgian 

 provinces seems to have been re- 

 ceived with great satisfaction at 

 Brussels, which enjoyed the ex- 

 pectation of becoming one of the 

 capitals of the United Low Coun- 

 tries, and by the concourse of civil 

 and military authorities and dis- 

 tinguished strangers, was daily 

 resuming the splendor and gaiety 

 by which it was characterized 

 when the seat of an Austrian 

 court. The country, a? far sis, tii^ 

 ["1 



