The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-07-05
From Paslsy's Magazine.
ne Black Tulip,
CHAPTER I.

readers that the two kingdoms OF Belgium
audHon and were formerly united under one
government and called the Netherlsnds.-
Three or four hundred years ago. the peo-
pie of this country we're celebrated for
Sheir industry and intelligence. A large
part of their territory was originally cover
ed by the ocean, but they had built dykes
along the shore. which walled ous the sea.
and thus the lands which had been covered
by water for ages, were turned into thriving
farms and beautiful gardens. interpreted
with towns cities and villages. Many OF
the inhabitants devoted themselves to COM
merce. and others to manufactures. Thus
che Netherlands surpassed every other
European country in the art Of farming and
gardening. in weaving and dying cloths. and
many other ingenious pursuits. Some Of
its cities were the chief emporiums Of trade
and commerce in oil northern Europe.
In the year 1855. this country came nm.
der the government OF Phillip ii. king OF
Spain. The people were Protestants, and
Phillip. being bigoted Catholic. sent pow
erful armies there. for the purpose of COM
polling the inhabitants to give up their own
religion and adopt that Of the king. The
people resisted, and for nearly half cen.u-
~ the country was dcsolated with fire and
sword. The terrible inqusiton was estsb-
iished by the king. and thousands Of per-
sous were murdered in its gloomy vaults and
prisons. A tribunal, called the Council Of
Clood. was formed, which sentenced to tor
ture and death many hundreds Of the best
Ieople of the land. The Duke of Alva,
Philips chief officer. boosted that during
his administration alone, eighteen thousand
persisted on the scaffold. because they resis-
ted the tyranny Of the king Of Spain. Ma
ny thousands were forced during this
gloomy period to quit the country. Many
Of them removed to England. where they
carried their manufacturing arts, and aided
in laying the foundation of the subsequent
wealth anc prosperity Of the British nation;
at the same time the Netherlands were im-
poverished Is we'll as desolsted by cypress.
In the year 1857, portion ofthe country
formed itself into republic called the SEP
en- United Provinces. the rest OF the country
remaining under Spain. The next republic
having established its independence, after
one of the severest conflicts known in hiato-
~. speedily rose to pitch of the highest
prosperity. Amsterdam. the commercial
capitol. became one OF the richest cities in
Europe. The commerce of Holland was
soon spread over the world. and its navy
was the most powerful in Europe. About
the year 1850. the British navy trinm Pied
over Holland. and in 1879, tho armies of
the king of France overrun portion Of the
country. With the madness Of dispair. the
people Of northern provinces broke down
sheir dykes and permitted the ocean to
overspread their farms. their houses, and
their villages. 1t was impossible to con-
quer people Of such desperate courage.
and unbending resolution, the king Of
France was therefore obliged TO withdraw
his armies, and make peace with the Hol-
landers.
1t is in the year 1879. while the country
was distressed by the war with France, and
convulsed with internal dissensious. that
our history begins. At this period. there
were in this country two celebrated brothers,
Cornelius and John De Witt, tho had held
high public Offices The people were now
divided into two parties one in favor Of
maintaining tie republic, the other in favor
of a central government under the care Of a
Stakeholder, who was to have nearly the
power and privileges of king. The De
Wits belonged to the former party. but
they were overborne by the populace and
Cornelius being falsely charged with some
crime. was confined in the Buytenhoff or
state prison, at the Hague. then the capitol
of Holland. Here he was subjected to the
torture. but as he confessed nothing, he was
only sentenced 10 perpetual bsnishment.-
His brother John came TO the prison 10 AS
sst him in his removal. While the man,
gled and bleeding victim was being led from
the prison by his brother. the magistrates
had ordered the prison gates to be thrown
open so that the mob might rush in and
w.eak their brutal vengeance upon the sub
jects of their hatred. Assisted by a beau
f,fh girl named Rosa. daughter Of old Cry
phous the jsilor. the DE Wits were able to
escape from the prison by back passage
They entered their carriage and we're driven
OF, but the gate Of the city was shut; and
beng forced to return, they were overtakeu
b. the mob. and both were inhumanly muir
oered. Their bodies were then taken to
sic public square aud treated with every
possible indignity.
About this period. William, Prince Of
Orange. was established as Stakeholder over
Holland. and the country. from being a re-
public. became kind of monarchy. This ,
fnnce OF orange Was now twenty two years |
of age. and from his tsciturny habits he got
the name Of William the Silent Some
twenty years after. he became king of Eng
land, under the title Of William Ill. Our
story, however. leads as back 10 the tragical
death Of the two De Wits. Il appears that
u nephew Of theirs. named Cornelius Van
Baerle. was living at this time in the town
OF Dordrechs, usually called bort. This
plsce is on an island in the Mouse. aud vas
the birthplace Of the De Wits. While the
whole country was aagitased with political
dissensions, Van Bserle devoted himself to
study and gardening. He had been educa-
ted as q physician, and had become IN sx-
cslieut boianist. A little before this time,
the famous mania for tulips ragged in Hol.
land Van Basrle WAS seized with the ex-
element, and soon became celebrated for
producing some Of the choicest specimens Of
this beautiful flower. Haarlem. eleven
miles west Of Amsterdam. had long been
noted fos its excellence in Hosticul-
tars and now ID was the chief seet Of the
tulip fever. Sach was the rage Of the time
thai single bulb of . rare variety would
sell for i've huodrsd or even . thousand
dollars. Under this mad excissmeot. the
hdssisultusal soeisty OF HARLEM annosaesd