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Rh talents, had her counsels tended to the prosperity of the republic; but they were uniformly directed to augment the power of the stadtholder, and with little suitable attention to the genius or prejudices of the nation, on whose rights she endeavoured to encroach. She possessed few of those qualities which engage the affections of the vulgar; and the severe etiquette of her court, together with its expensive magnificence, disgusted the higher ranks of a frugal people, jealous of their liberties.

The French revolution added a third party to the factions which divided Holland, and it may be doubted whether the majority of the Dutch nation entered cordially into the war with France. The republican party looked up to France as the only power capable of delivering them from the yoke of the stadtholder, and the influence of England; and it is well known that when the Austrian and British troops bravely disputed every inch of ground, the Dutch forces opposed a very feeble resistance to the French army. If it is certain that there was much disaffection or