FROM THE SPANISH MONARCH*. 



From Italy, where Cofmo de Medic is had newly ref- 

 tored its golden age, the Netherlanders tranfplanted 

 into their country the arts of painting, architecture, 

 fcuipture and engraving, which here, in a new foil, 

 acquired a frefher bloom. The nernifh. fchool, a 

 daughter of the kalian, foon contended the prize with 

 her parent ; and, in common with her, gave law to the 

 fine arts in Europe. The arts and manufactures on 

 which the Netherlanders chiefly grounded, and in part 

 ftill ground their fuccefs, need here no farther notice. 

 The art of painting in oil, that of flaming glafs, even 

 watches and dials, are, as Guicciardini affirms, origi- 

 nally flemifh inventions ; to them we are indebted for 

 the improvement of the compafs, the points whereof 

 are ftill denoted by netherland names. In the year 

 1482. the art of printing was invented at Harlem, and 

 it fo happened, that this ufeful difcovery, in the cen- 

 tury following, rewarded its native country with free- 

 dom. To the moil fertile genius at new inventions, 

 the Netherlanders joined the happy talent of improving 

 thofe they brought from abroad j, and that were already 

 in ufe ; there were but few manufactures and arts, 

 which were not either produced in this foil, or carried 

 to higher perfection. 



Hitherto the provinces had formed the men: enviable 

 ftate in Europe. None of the burgundian dukes had 

 fhewn the ieaft inclination to injure the conftitution ; 

 even to the daring fpirit of Charles the bold, who 

 brought into thraldom a foreign free flate, it was ever 

 deemed facred. Thefe princes indulged themfelves in 

 no higher expectations than to rule over a republic, 

 and none of their countries could give them another 

 6 lot. 



