'To the People of the Netherlands', printed by J.R. Jonas of Antwerp, 1781. On the morning of 26 September 1781 copies of a revolutionary pamphlet titled 'To the People of the Netherlands' were distributed throughout the Republic. The author of this anonymously published missive was Joan Derk van der Capellen. He stated that government had a responsibility for the welfare of the population and argued that people should form local organisations and citizens' militias. Meanwhile, the stadholder and the House of Orange were identified as enemies of freedom. Loan from Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Knuttel 19.864.