GENERAL HISTORY. 



[167 



commence your labours, Divine 

 Providence has confirmed the 

 peace of Europe. If, after the 

 happy re-estabhshment of peace, 

 the residence of the Army of Oc- 

 cupation in France was judged 

 necessary to consolidate the tran- 

 quillity which had been re-esta- 

 blished, the resolution of the 

 Allied Powers, which puts an end 

 to the occupation, and prescribes 

 the departure of the army, proves 

 that the proposed object has been 

 attained, and presents, by the 

 unanimous confidence of the so- 

 vereigns in this respect, the best 

 guarantee for a durable peace. 



" The internal situation of the 

 kingdom affords new motives of 

 gratitude towards the Almighty. 



" The universities, the acade- 

 mies, and the colleges, are or- 

 ganized, and in the active execu- 

 tion of their functions ; and a 

 constant attention is given to the 

 means of rendering these esta- 

 blishments still more brilliant and 

 useful. The local, and even the 

 private administrations second, 

 in the most laudable manner, the 

 government in its efforts, on the 

 one hand, for preparing and esta- 

 blishing primary instruction, and 

 on the other, for extending and 

 perfecting it. Last year has 

 afforded certain and valuable 

 pledges for the revival of the fine 

 arts in the Netherlands. Several 

 kinds of manufactories still feel 

 the effects of the influence of the 

 events by which such important 

 changes have been produced, in 

 transactions and interests of every 

 sort ; but agriculture, maybe con- 

 sidered as in the most favourable 

 situation. Its rich products 

 equally contribute, with the navi- 

 gation and commercial relations 



which are extending themselves 

 with the Indies, to give to trade 

 that life and spirit, of which the 

 evidently growing prosperity of 

 several great towns, and other 

 interesting parts of the kingdom, 

 is the effect and visible proof. 



" Thb situation of the poor is 

 ameliorated ; the real benevolence 

 of the nation has been directed, 

 with the most laudable zeal, to- 

 wards its true object ; those use- 

 ful institutions, banks for loans 

 and savings, are extending more 

 and more ; the depots of mendi- 

 city are increased. In the plan 

 of a law relative to the next year's 

 budget, which will be submitted 

 to j'our consideration, you will 

 find. High and Mighty Lords, 

 the necessary arrangements for 

 the maintenance of foundlings ; 

 and as the want of uniform regu- 

 lations has often created uncer- 

 tainty as to the place where the 

 poor have the right, not of being 

 succoured, but of participating in 

 the existing succours, it is my 

 wish that a law calculated to fix 

 that place on precise and just 

 rules should also be proposed to 



" Some ratifications of limits, 

 which have been adjusted in con- 

 cert with the Provincial States, 

 will also be submitted to your 

 High Mightinesses. 



" The liquidation of the com- 

 munal debts will soon be entirely 

 terminated. The establishment 

 of the municipal imposts will also 

 be completed and generalized, as 

 soon as the law under the consi- 

 deration of your High Mighti- 

 nesses, relative to penalties and 

 the mode of prosecution, shall 

 have passed. 



" The execution of the militia 



law 



