American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-29
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH
HoIland-Its Characteristics and Its
NUMBER TWO.


The Netherlands which general name
Flanders, or Belgium, as it is now called, is in
cluded, as well as the seven provinces whose
general physical features we have sketched-
came under the sway of the House of Austria
by the marriage of Mary Of Burgundy with the
Emperor Maximilian; but when that prince re-
signed the imperial crown, the seventeen prov
inces of the Netherlands dovolyed, according to
the law of succession in use at the time, on Don
John Of Spain; but he and his successor, Philip
lie Beau, dying shortly after, they in the year
1906 fell under the dominion of Charles the
Fifth, at that time o minor.
At this period the seven provinces which now
compose the kingdom of the Netherlands en-
joyed kind of independence; but Charles the
Fifth was not at all disposed to tolerate such a
position of things, where fraud or force could
be applied to effect total subsection. Accord
ingly he effected this, instead of the partial sway
to which he was legally entitled. When he alb
dicated in favor of his son Philip, the Neither
lands were in a most fourishing condition. In
this small territory were reckoned no fewer than
$50 large cities enclosed with walls, and $500
considerable towns, all become rich by their
application to the arts and commerce. In this
remark is to be included, not only what is
now termed the kingdom of the Netherlands,
but the present kingdom of Belgium. The love
Of liberty was at this period passion of the
people, and consequently they watched with
jealous care every invasion of their rights or
privileges. The arbitrary rule of Philip was
extremely distasteful to his subjects in the Low
Countries, or Netherlands, and his extreme super
stition and cruelty proved source of serious
discomfort. The doctrines of the reformcrs had
been preached and received with avidity in these
countries. Charles V. had commenced cruel
persecution of the reformers and it is alleged
upon good evidence that he had destroyed no
less than one hundred thousand persons on ac-
count of their religion. This cruelty, instead
of diminishing, increased the number Of their
adherents-a fact which Mary, queen of Hun
gary and sister Of the emperor, perceivng, she
invited him to the Low Countries, to see for
himself the evil effects of his cruel policy. The
emperor was so far convinced as to grant toll
Grafton; but his son Philip was inAexible. To
carry into effect his views against the reformers,
a court of the Inquisition was instituted, and
under the prctence that three bishops, which at
that time was the number in the country, were
inadequate to its spiritual wants, seventeen Of
these dignitaries we're created, three with the
title Of Archbishop. This measure was followed
up by others Of similar character, tending to
the same end, and designed to rivet the ecclesi-
astical and political fetters These were the
appointment of his natural sister, the duchess
Of Parma, to she regency of the Netherlands,
and the giving her, as counsellor, Cardinal
Granvele, bloody prosecutor of the reformers.
At the same time the provinces suffered from
the violence of foreign troops and the oppres
sion of heavy taxes Three councils were es-
tablished at Brussels-one to preside over the
laws and courts; second for the direction Of