‘ 
1799: ] Dutch Soldiers. 
myftery into which I have no taclifation 
to penetrate, and fhall be happy. it, by 
contrafting the characters of the two bro- 
thers, I may fucceed in re&tifying the opi- 
nions of any of your readers, and guard- 
ing them againk deception. 
Iam, ia your i Gy 
a 
‘ For the Monthly pean. 
CHARACTER OF THE DUTCH SOLDIERS. 
{From A. Riem’s* Travels through Holland 
tz the years 1796 and 1797.| 
S the Batavian chiefly delights. in 
x fleeping, eating, drinking, and 
{meking his tobacco, aaa now and then, 
.by way of interlude, in faying his prayers ; 
it is very natural that he Paculd view raith 
abhorrence whatever interrupts his tran-, 
quil courfe of life. He thus becomes un- 
fit for the hardy deeds of war, and the 
painful toils andcares attendant on it, and 
hates it for the fake of his dear corporeal 
gratifications and pleafures. If to this we 
add, that a war in which he takes part, 
im a direct manner attacks his private in- 
tereft, by interrupting the ufual courfe of 
trade, his difinclination to war, and defire 
to remain in a continual ftate of neutra- 
lity, will eafily be accounted for. 
Wations who have fallen into fo great 
a defuetude of war, as was the cafe with 
.the Dutch, neceflarily degenerate in this 
refpe&. In former times the Batavians 
were one of the braveft among the nations 
ef Europe. The events of the years 
1787 and 1794, however, have fhewn that 
they are fono longer. After their wide- 
extending commerce had enriched them, 
they adopted the pernicious cuftom ‘of 
committing the execution of all military 
Operations to foreign mercenaries, whom 
they took i into their pay. Thus the war- 
‘like fpirit of the people was totally extin- 
guifhed ; and cowardice and want of en- 
terprize might naturally be expected in 
- foldiers, who, unufed to bear arms, and 
ss 
to bend to a rigorous difcipline, under- 
_ took the defence of their country, when 
attacked by an army of well-difciplined 

* Mr. Riem refided a confiderable time at 
the Hague, was perfonally acquainted with 
the leaders of the Revolutionary ‘party, and 
had many opportunities of acquiring an ac- 
curate knowledge of the ftate of affairs in 
Holland. As he was zealoufly attached to 
the Republicans, his opinions deferve the 
more credit, where he fpeaks in difpraife of 
their meafures, or fhews their want of power 
and abilities to effect their purpotes. 

=Vandalifm. 683 
troops. The meft important fortified 
places furrendered, if fummoned by only 
twelve or fifteen of the enemy. All mar- 
tial ardour had flown, till the republican 
{oirit awoke, the Batavian legion: was 
formed and inured to the dangers and toils 
of war; and the genius of Daendels tri- 
umphed over dificn lties which to many’ 
other generals might have appear ed i infyr- 
mountable. The triennial enjoyment of 
liberty has alread y efiected a great revo- 
lution in the character of many. of the 
Batavians, and I am convinced, that half 
a year’s practice in war would. again 
eee them into brave defenders of their 
ights and their country, fuch*as their 
anceitors proved. themfelves when they 
had fhaken off the yoke of Spain, and 
were ftruzgling for independence. 

[FROM THE SAME.] 
Ou the Probability of a fpeedy Counter 
- Revolution in Hollard. 
THE genius of a fingle great patriot, 
ormed a mong the French, of a Daendels, 
a fiery, oleic! prudent and courageous - 
man, with the affiftance of the French army, 
effcgied the revolution, which may render 
the Republic happy, if they follow more 
the counfels of their ally, than the fug~ 
geftions of the majority of Federahits. f£ 
am fuily convinced, that when the new 
Dire&tory, the Bonnell of ancients, and 
the legiflative body, fhall be eftablifhed 
according to the forins of the conftitution, 
and thofe men have been feated at the 
head of affairs,, who now fo firenuoufly 
fixive after the firft offices in the ftate, 
that one might name them beforehand— 
I am convinced, that, if France fhould 
withdraw her fupport, a counter-revolu- 
tion might be begun and completed in 
the fpace of a few weekss An energe- 
tical revolutionary government for one 
year can alone fubdue the falfe patriot, 
and awaken the fpirit of the nation. 
—————— 
| For the Monthly Magazine. 
ON THE Saat VANDAL, VANDALISMs 
&c. 
How little, mark ! that portion of the ball, 
Where, faint at be&, the beams of {cience fall: 
Soon as they dawn, fromm Hyperborean fkies 
Embody’d dark, what clouds of Vandals rife ! 
Dunciad, Book iii. 
MONG the maxims of profligate 
ftate-craft may be claffed the jetui- 
tic eae that, ‘** thofe who defire to in- 
seas changes oppofed by public opi- 
ton, do w I Sst to attribute the inten- 
tion 
