Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-17

FORMATION OF the Kingdoms OF tnoaefn A.H-
robe, after the. FIJI Of the Roman Empire.
Continued
HOLLAND.
Holland, or the United Provinces of the
Netherlands, grew into political confede-
racy about the year 1879. Each province
administered it's local affairs with an abso-
Lutte authority but the States-General was
vested with the supreme legislative power
of the confederacy. which was formed OF
deputies sent from each OF the states, and
was clothed with power to make war and
peace, levy taxes, and provide for the gene
raj welfare. The country, in the time of
the Roman empire, was inhabited by the
Frisii, the Batavi, and other warlike tribes,
who, as occasion served, were IN alliance
or hostility with Rome. The name OF Ci
wills, Batavian chief, will forever be i'm
mortal, for his genius, policy, and courage,
displayed in a bold but Intellectual effort to
free his country and the neighboring nation,
from the Roman yoke. HIS fortunes and his
character are described by racitus.
The Hollanders have been patiept and
laborious people, and by unexampled per-
severance, made their country, (the surface
of which is in many places below the level
of the sea, which is fenced out by dykeS) a
theatre of immense wealth and population,
the result OF an industry that puts all comPa-
rison at defiance, unless a parallel may be
drawn from community Offices. Celebrat-
ed for their herring, cod; and Whale fshe
ries; for their navigation, BY which, at one
time, they engrossed the carrying trade OF
Europe; for their possessions i'll the East
Indies, and for their naval strength, which
enabled them for many years to dispute the
dominion of the seas with reat-Brltaln, and
at one period To insult the proud metropolis
of her English rival ;--poliLicai faction has
been the rock upon which the prosperity OF
the Hollanders has been wrecked. Accus
toned to be governed by Stockholders, or
Princes of the states, they occasionally abo-
lished that Office, and the whole republic was
long convulsed by the conflicts OF the parry
of the Stakeholder, and OF that OF LOuves-
TEN The house OF Nassau has enjoyed the
chief executive dignity of the commonwealth.
I his house boasts of great antiquity, C some
of it's princes were men OF admirable abIli-
ties, particularly William III, who succeed
ed To the British crown, and still retained in
his hands general experimenting authori-
ty over the affairs of Holland. Ever since
that period Great Britain has had pre-
vailing influence III her political concerns,
until the commencement of the French revo-
luton. In the year 1795, the whole country
was overrun by the French, and the Stad-
tholder was compelled to seek, for himself
and his family, dn asvluM in England. The
connection of HoIlani. with Great Britain uil-
der William III, and her association with
France in 1895, have been the cause of her
ruin. The French government, treating her
first as an Independent power III the form OF
republic, then erecting the country into a
kingdom, under a prince of the house OF
Bohapafte, has completely succeeded III
breaking down the spirit of the people, in
absorbing their riches, and in the lmCorpora-
ton of the inhabitants into the French en-
pire, under the name IF Departments. The
fate of Holland affords an awful admonItlon
to weak states how they enter into aSsOcia-
tions with powerful ones and warns free
people to confde for security in nothing but
their own industry aud yalor. Louis bro
ther of Napoleon, and for a while the phaD-
tom king OF Holland, after hypocritically anC
basely cUnniving at the usurpauons OF tht
French, has sunk into obscurity, the pension
ed, and for the present discarded instrument
of AN artful and powerful relative. Th,
friend of humanity will weep over the des
tiny of The lIOllanders, whose commerce wa,
the nursery of freedom, aud whose cite
were a refuge from political and religious
intolerance.
DENMARK.
Denmark, in ancient times, asthe couu
try Of the Tcntones and the Cinbrians, ant
afterwards furnished those bands Of hard-
adventurers who invaded England, and lai,
waste the maritime ports Of Europe. Til,
government, in its origin, was an elective
monarchy, and as tranquility or intcstin
brois prevailed in Germany, was independ
ent or dependent Oh that empire. As Chris
iianity spread in the North ofthe European
Continent. the sovereigns Of Denmark wert
converted to the Gospel but, although thel
extended their possessions alosg the south
err shores Of the Baltic, none Of them max,
any great figure in history, till about th,
year 1857, when the celebrated Margare
Of Waldcmar began to reign. BY espouslnl
the king Of Norway she became his heir, an,
succeeded in causing herself % be chosci
queen Of Sweden. BY her policy she ex
torted from The three kingdoms IN 1897, tine
treaty ofCalmar, which cOnlaiuedan engage
ment for the perpetual union OF the peopl'
o. Sweden, Norway AMI Denmark, undcI
the same crown. The successors OK Alarga
ret were feeble or cruel princes, and SWe
den, IN 1923, was wrestcd from the crow
of Denmafs, by the heroism Of Gustav
Fassa, j. is the house % Hol.,ein taat pos