Page:The study of history in Holland and Belgium (IA studyofhistoryin00frrich).pdf/21

 and slightly cool reserve but charming good-nature, which characterize him. Then he drew out his watch, remarked that it was time, and opened a door leading into the bare hall where the students were waiting. I seated myself on the first bench and the lecture began.

M. Fruin occupies the chair of national history, to which he has for the last quarter of a century brought great renown. As this was the first time he had met his students since the demonstration in his honor, he began with a few words of acknowledgment to the young men who had joined in the celebration. Circumspect applause greeted this little preamble. Then M. Fruin entered upon the situation of the Republic of the United Provinces in 1660. There were nine students present.

M. Fruin stated and criticised the commercial policy of the Grand Pensionary de Witt, the intrigues of the diplomacy of Louis XIV, the attitude of England and the part played by William III of Orange. He frequently read extracts from contemporary writings, Mignet's Documents de la succession d'Espagne, and other collections. From time to time he paused to take in his hand a sheet of paper, upon which he had noted, in a cramped handwriting, the points he wished to make; then he began upon a new aspect of the question, always in a calm, even tone, like a judge pronouncing sentence, without studied expressions, but with admirable clearness and precision. It was evident that he was a master imparting the results of long research and cool meditation, without pretenSion or display, but with a serious simplicity which had in it something of solemnity.

The part which struck me most in this masterly lecture was that devoted to the situation of our Belgian provinces at the end of the seventeenth century. The Grand Pensionary de Witt dreamed of making the Spanish Netherlands an independent Catholic Republic, which would have been the sure ally of the Protestant Republic of the United Provinces. Before him Oldenbarnevelt had already had the idea of adding to the Protestant states an independent Belgium, having for