The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-08-11 00:00:00

STATE OF HOLLAND.

AMSTERDAM, JULY 25.—Our Court Gazette
of this day contains observations on the public
rumoun, of the following important tenor :
'4 There are truths, it is said, which must not be avowed.
Mlissents however arrive, when these truths may be attended
by the *Grit consegaences. Holland is Ina difficult situation.
It enjoys, as well as other countries,. may, the advantage of
pousessioga prudent Government; but how many disadvantages
are thereto be put in the opposite balance! A Just, free, nod
solid Government, is the first Interest, the first advantage of
every society. These properties are, however, indispensibly ne-
cessary tassels a (matey as Holland, as it cannot subsist if any
one of them be wanting. The sitaatino of France, Germany,
or Italy, is different. They can support a period of misfortune,
and withstand the evils of an unjust, negligent, or improvident
Government. These countries may he said to be capable of
subsisting without trade. If their territory remain, their ex-
istence never can depend upon the extension of their com-
merce, and the exertion of all the mercantile activity of
which they are earth's.. But we, on the contrary. have no-
thing but the fishery, and the inheritance of that confidence
and credit which the Dutch of former times base so well me-
rited. Our chief interests are dosibtloss a free and well con-
solidated Government. the preservation of our political exist-
ence, and the maintenance of our credit and reputation
abroad. Here naturally arises the question—What was the
cause of the ancient prosperity of Holland? It depended
principally
:
" 1. On the great number. the wealth, the industry, and
the virtues of the middle classes of the people.
" 2. On the then situation of Europe, in which the great
Powers always endeavoured to render their forces, both by
land and sea, nearly equal. and to maintain a balance with
respect to each other—in which marine armaments were far
from having reached their present degree of strength and per-
fection—in which we advanced at an equal pace with these
Powers—and in which the interests and the inclination of all
the different Powers concurred in supporting the indepen-
dence of our country.
" Bat what is at present our true situation ?—kfter the
shocks and revolutions of the last twenty years, instill mai:l-
- lain nurgrosend. while greater Powers have fallen. Oisorder
and corruption in the finances have already brought one great
, European Power to the verge of destruction. These evils
Occasioned that terrible convulsion which spread death, de-
spair,
and moaning over the finest region of tee world, and
finally brought in their train that greatest of all misfortunes, a
state bankruptcy. Our credit and reputation remain how-
ever untouched. On Inc otner hand, disorder and corruption
in the Finances have led another and not less powerfhl na-
tion into an overstrained and unnatural system, the come-
*testes of which cannot be reflected on without horror. We,
however, have the good fortune to find ourselves in a situa-
tion, which, though difficult. is still in the path of im-
provement. In those deplorable periods of convulsive
and war, justice and the government of the laws have
been disregarded, but we have still the happiness of liv-
ing only under our own laws. We have not had to submit to
the caprice of an arbitrary government, nor have we to groan
under the despotic insolence of a conqueror. Our few re-
sources have ant become the booty of war. Our last hope
has not, as in other courtries. been torn from as. We are,
perhaps, the only European people to whom neither the con-
scription nor the impress is known. What more benefits do
we then look for? In the dreadful contest which bas so long
kept Europe in a state of fermentation, we must be involved.
But we have reason to thank Providence that the crisis has
approached at the least aefavettrable period, and for bevies;
conducted ns to Monarchy, and having, through it. created to
la a real state. or at least a real right of independence and
political existence."