Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Decline And Fall Of The Dutch Republic.
the loss of their political independence . America has been separated from the empire of Great-Britain ; the reign of anarchy has succeeded to that of despotism in France ; Poland has bent to the yoke ofthe sovereigns who surround her ; and Holland has y ielded to the formidable strength of-the Gallic republic . The causes which have led to the last of these events constitute the peculiar objea ofthe present enquiryand in the course of
inves-, tigation , it will appear to be ascribable , ist . to the narrowness ofthe territory belonging to the United Provinces , the want of internal re- ' sources consequent upon it , and the luxury and corruption incident to a state merely commercial . zdly . To the perpetual applications which , the' different faaions in the country made to foreign powers for their assistanceand the dependence of the comriionwealth upon
, them . 3 dly . To the dissensions between the Stadtholder and the aristocracy , and the want of a balancing power to controul either ^ And , 4 thly . To the impolitic cohdua of the house of Austria in dismantling the fortified towns of the Low Countries , and weakening the defence both of them and Holland . I . The foundation of the prosperity aiid independence of any
community must be laid on the basis of territory and population , supported by the labours of agriculture , and enriched by the spirit of commercial diligence and exertion . The chieftan of a Tartar horde ,-6 r the leader of an American tribe , may wander with his followers over an extensive space , adequate , with proper cultivation , to every purpose of liberty , security , and opulence ; but the small nurobef of
his adherents , the rudeness of their maimers , and the indolence and inaaivity attendant upon untutored minds , limit his power to the precinas of the camp they have pitched , teach that exemption froni hostile attempts is to be purchased by eluding the possibility of pur- " suit , and repose obtained b y dwelling in the howling waste , or wandering amidst inaccessible rocks . . Confined by the necessity of their situation to the employment of huntsmen or shepherdsthe inhabitants
, of Arabia and Scythia , after terrifying riiore polished nations by their transient devastations , have speedily returned to the bosom of their deserts , and forgot their dreams of dominion in the toils ofthe chace or the revellings of the rustic banquet . A people thus constituted ,-though its progress in arts , science , and civilization , will be incon siderable , has a better chance of escaping servitude , than one whose
population is immense , and whose industry is indefatigable ; but whose landed possessions are trifling , and whose means of supply are precarious , while their wants may be pressing and numerous . Among states of this description may be reckoned the ; United Provinces , the free towns of Germany , and the modern republics of Italy ; and , as their imperfeaions vtere similar , their fate has been the same . The virtue
which necessity produced , and which poverty fostered , which withstood the power of Philip , and arrested the arms of Louis , which checked the devastations of Attila , and frowned defiance upon the Ottoman Porte , sunk in the progress cf wealth , and is lost in the continued accumulation of riches . The well-filled warehouses of Amsterdam , the magnificent palaces of Genoa , a « d the lofty turrets
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Decline And Fall Of The Dutch Republic.
the loss of their political independence . America has been separated from the empire of Great-Britain ; the reign of anarchy has succeeded to that of despotism in France ; Poland has bent to the yoke ofthe sovereigns who surround her ; and Holland has y ielded to the formidable strength of-the Gallic republic . The causes which have led to the last of these events constitute the peculiar objea ofthe present enquiryand in the course of
inves-, tigation , it will appear to be ascribable , ist . to the narrowness ofthe territory belonging to the United Provinces , the want of internal re- ' sources consequent upon it , and the luxury and corruption incident to a state merely commercial . zdly . To the perpetual applications which , the' different faaions in the country made to foreign powers for their assistanceand the dependence of the comriionwealth upon
, them . 3 dly . To the dissensions between the Stadtholder and the aristocracy , and the want of a balancing power to controul either ^ And , 4 thly . To the impolitic cohdua of the house of Austria in dismantling the fortified towns of the Low Countries , and weakening the defence both of them and Holland . I . The foundation of the prosperity aiid independence of any
community must be laid on the basis of territory and population , supported by the labours of agriculture , and enriched by the spirit of commercial diligence and exertion . The chieftan of a Tartar horde ,-6 r the leader of an American tribe , may wander with his followers over an extensive space , adequate , with proper cultivation , to every purpose of liberty , security , and opulence ; but the small nurobef of
his adherents , the rudeness of their maimers , and the indolence and inaaivity attendant upon untutored minds , limit his power to the precinas of the camp they have pitched , teach that exemption froni hostile attempts is to be purchased by eluding the possibility of pur- " suit , and repose obtained b y dwelling in the howling waste , or wandering amidst inaccessible rocks . . Confined by the necessity of their situation to the employment of huntsmen or shepherdsthe inhabitants
, of Arabia and Scythia , after terrifying riiore polished nations by their transient devastations , have speedily returned to the bosom of their deserts , and forgot their dreams of dominion in the toils ofthe chace or the revellings of the rustic banquet . A people thus constituted ,-though its progress in arts , science , and civilization , will be incon siderable , has a better chance of escaping servitude , than one whose
population is immense , and whose industry is indefatigable ; but whose landed possessions are trifling , and whose means of supply are precarious , while their wants may be pressing and numerous . Among states of this description may be reckoned the ; United Provinces , the free towns of Germany , and the modern republics of Italy ; and , as their imperfeaions vtere similar , their fate has been the same . The virtue
which necessity produced , and which poverty fostered , which withstood the power of Philip , and arrested the arms of Louis , which checked the devastations of Attila , and frowned defiance upon the Ottoman Porte , sunk in the progress cf wealth , and is lost in the continued accumulation of riches . The well-filled warehouses of Amsterdam , the magnificent palaces of Genoa , a « d the lofty turrets