HOLLAND. 415 



had nothing to do either in choosing their representatives or their 

 magistrates. In Amsterdam, which took the lead in all public 

 deliberations, the magistracy was lodged in thirty-six senators, who 

 were chosen for life, and every vacancy among them was filled up by 

 the survivors. The same senate also elected the deputies to repre- 

 sent the cities in the province of Holland. 



The above particulars are mentioned, because, without a knowledge 

 of them it is impossible to understand the history of the United Pro- 

 vinces from the death of king William to the year 1647, when the 

 stadtholdership was made hereditary in the male and female repre- 

 sentatives of the family of Orange. This office in a manner super- 

 seded the constitution already described. The stadtholder was pre- 

 sident of the states of every province ; and such was his power and 

 influence, that he could change the deputies, magistrates, and officers, 

 in every province and city. By this he held the moulding of the 

 assembly of the states-general, though he had no voice in it: in 

 short, though he had not the title, he had more real power and 

 authority than some kings ; for besides the influence and revenue he 

 derived from the stadtholdership, he had several principalities and 

 large estates of his own. The late stadtholder, who was expelled by 

 the French, was William V, prince of Orange and Nassau, son of the 

 stadtholder William Charles, who married Anne, princess royal of 

 Great Britain, and died in 1751. 



Though Holland under this constitution was called a republic, yet 

 its government was far from being of the popular kind : nor did the 

 people enjoy that degree of liberty which might at first view be ap- 

 prehended. It was indeed rather an oligarchy than a commonwealth ; 

 for the bulk of the people were not suffered to have the least share 

 in any part of the government, not even in the choice of the deputies. 

 It may also be observed that very few persons in this state dared 

 speak their real sentiments freely ; and they were generally educated 

 in principles so extremely cautious, that they could not relinquish 

 them when they entered more into public life. 



After the departure of the stadtholder, on the conquest of Holland 

 by the French, in 1795, a convention was assembled to administer the 

 government, and frame a constitution for the new Batavian republic. 

 The first plan they presented was rejected by the people in the primary 

 assemblies ; but another was afterwards drawn up, which was accept- 

 ed. This constitution was again changed in several particulars in 

 1,793 ; and the Batavian republic is now governed by a directory of 

 twelve members, the president of which is changed every three 

 months, and of which one member goes out annually ; and a legisla- 

 tive body of 35 members, which assembles twice, and if necessary 

 oftener, in the year, and appoints a committee of twelve of its mem- 

 bers to examine and report on the laws and regulations proposed by 

 the directory. But the Batavian republic was annihilated, in 1806, and 

 the constitution suffered another revolution, Louis Bonaparte being 

 created king of Holland. 



In 1810, when this country was united to France, it received the 

 Napoleon Code ; with which it continued to be governed, till the new 

 revolution of 1814, when the Prince of Orange was recalled; who is 

 now styled the Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands. The 

 government since the restoration has undergone several alterations, 

 approaching nearly in form and spirit to that of Great Britian. 



