Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 3.djvu/544

528 a manner between the contending parties. The intelligence of these events in the capital soon spread throughout the provinces ; and in most of the large towns similar scenes were enacted, commencing with plunderings and outrages by the mobs, followed by the institution of burgher guards for the maintenance of peace. The burgher guard of Brussels was most anxious to terminate the dispute without recourse being had to extreme measures. They demanded the dismissal of the minister, Van Maanen, who was obnoxious to the people, and a separate administration for Belgium without an entire separation of the two countries. The Government neither agreed to make these concessions nor did it resolve upon actual furce, but adopted a sort of middle course which, by allowing things to go on, ended in converting a popular riot into a complete revolution. The heir-apparent, the prince of Orange, was sent on a peaceful mission to Brussels, but furnished with such limited powers as, in the circumstances, were utterly inadequate. On his arrival a conference was held, which extended over several days ; and at the final meeting on 3d Sept., when a number of the members of the States-general were present, the prince had become so convinced that nothing but a separate administration of the two countries would restore tranquillity, that he promised to use his influence with his father to bring abuut that object the persons present on their part assuring him that they would heartily unite in maintaining the dynasty of the House of Orange. The king summoned an extraordinary States- general, which met at the Hague, 13th Sept., and was opened by a speech from the throne, which was firm and temperate, but by no means definite. The proceedings of the body were dilatory, and the conduct of the Dutch deputies exasperated the people of Belgium beyond measure. The moderate party in the country gradually lost their influence, and those who were in favour of violent measures prevailed, while the warlike demonstrations made by the troops kindled a feeling of animosity and stimulated pre parations for defence. Although the States were still sitting at the Hague, the king s army was gradually approaching Brussels. It consisted of 14,000 well-appointed troops under the command of Prince Frederick ; but its movements were too tardy if force was to be employed, and it was entirely out of place if conciliatory measures were to prevail. On 20th September the council resolved to take possession of Brussels, believing that the inhabitants were eager to receive the troops, and that their presence there would tend to restore peace ; and orders were sent to Prince Frederick to that effect. On the 23d the troops advanced towards the city, and, with little opposition, occupied the upper or court portion of it, which is situated on a hill, by which the rest of the town is commanded. The fighting continued for three days without any definite result, when the prince ordered a retreat. The news of this soon reached Ghent, Bruges, Ostend, and other towns, which at once declared in favour of separation. A Provisional Government was formed at Brussels, which declared Belgium to be an independent state, and summoned a national congress for the regulation of its affairs. The council of the king now consented to separate administra tions for the two kingdoms, but it was too late to restore peace. Antwerp was the only important town which remained in the hands of the Dutch ; and the army on leaving Brussels had fallen back on this town. In the end of October an insurgent army had arrived before the gates, which were opened by the populace to receive them, and the troops, under General Chasse, retired within the citadel. A truce was concluded between the parties, but the Belgian officers were unable to restrain the fury of the populace who, with such weapons as they had, attacked the citadel. The general ordered a cannonade and bombardment of the town, which continued for two days, destroying a number of houses and large quantities of merchandise. A suspen sion of hostilities then took place, but the misrepresentations and exaggerations of the proceedings which spread did much to inflame the minds of the Belgians still farther against the Dutch. A convention of representatives of the five great powers met in London, in the beginning of November, at the request of the king of the Netherlands, but its attention was mainly directed to bringing about peace, and through it both sides were brought to consent to a cessation of hostilities. On the 10th November the national congress assembled at Brussels, consisting of 200 deputies chosen from the different provinces. Three important questions were decided by that assembly : (1.) The independence of the country, carried unanimously ; (2), a constitutional hereditary monarchy, by a majority of 174 against 13 in favour of a republic ; and (3), the perpetual exclusion of the Orange Nassau family, by a majority of 1G1 against 28 in favour of delay. On 20th December the conference of London proclaimed the dissolution of the kingdom of the Netherlands, at the same time that it claimed for itself the right of interfering even against the will of both countries to regulate the conditions of partition. On the 28th of January 1831 the congress proceeded to the election of a king, and out of a number of candidates the choice fell on the duke of Nemours, second son of Louis Philippe, but he declined the office. The congress then resolved on the election of a regent as a temporary measure, and they selected Baron Surlet de Chokier, who was installed on the 25th of February. This, however, did little to restore tranquillity to the country, and the partisans of the prince of Orange were still actively intriguing in his favour. At length, in the month of April, a proposition was privately made to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, widower of the Princess Charlotte of England, with the view of ascertaining whether, if chosen, he would accept the crown. It is remarkable that though his name was mentioned he was not among the number of candidates brought forward on the previous occasion. He answered in the affirmative, but strictly abstained from giving any authority to exertion &quot;being made in his favour. After many stormy discussions the election at length took place on the 4th of June, when 152 votes out of 196, four only being absent, determined that Prince Leopold should be proclaimed king of the Belgians, under the express condition that he &quot;would ac cept the constitution and swear to maintain the national independence and territorial integrity.&quot; Leopold at once accepted, and made his public entry into Brussels on the 2 1st, when he was received with great cordiality. He subsequently visited other parts of the kingdom, and was everywhere re ceived with demonstrations of loyalty and respect. While this was going on news suddenly arrived that the Dutch were preparing to invade the country with a large army. This had been brought together so secretly that the Belgians were unaware of its existence till it was about to cross the frontier. It comprised 45,000 infantry and GOOO cavalry, with 72 pieces of artillery, while Leopold could scarcely bring forward 25,000 men to oppose it. On the 2d of August the whole of the Dutch army had crossed the frontier. Leopold collected his forces, such as they were, near Louvain in order to cover his capital. The Dutch army advanced to the attack (9th August), and though the king displayed great bravery and determination, he was unable to impart his spirit to his undisciplined troops, who were speedily routed, the king himself and his staff making a narrow escape from being taken prisoners. He, however, made good his retreat to the capital ; and a French army, which w r as ready to enter the country, then advanced, and the Prince of Orange saw the necessity of 