properly refused to obey. Neverthelefs, devoid of courage as of generofity and a fenfe of honour, confcious of guilt, and probably defirous withal of preferving the pillage he had obtained, he evacuated the citadel in the dead of the night, and marched off bag and baggage, having at his departure rendered himfelf, if poflible, ftill more infamous than before, by enormities committed in all the streets and houfes within the reach of the garrifon. When we thus contemplate the city and citadel of Ghent, poffeffed by a powerful and numerous garrifon of regular forces, reduced by a fmall party of raw infurgents, we are strongly excited to enquire into the cause or causes of fo wonderful an event. Allowing all that can poffibly be granted or demanded in favour of the enthusiasm of liberty, it is yet wholly incredible that a band of 700 men, who feemed to be loft in the magnitude of fo great a city, could have triumphed over a garrifon fo greatly fuperior in ftrength, number, and all military advantages, if they had not been feconded by the general voice and the active fupport of numbers of the inhabitants: a fupport which (though not fo much as once mentioned in the details published of that affair) we must conclude to have been afforded. Nor perhaps would the united efforts of the band of 700, and the patriotic citizens of Ghent, have been able to prevail, at least in fo fhort a time, over the citadel, if the nerves of its numerous defenders had not been un ftrung by a relaxation of difcipline and habits of vicious indulgence:evils not arifing merely from the proneness of human nature to fink, whenever an opportunity offers, into indulgence and the lap of pleafure, but which may be traced to the very mind of the restless, rash, and incorrigible Jofeph. It had been a maxim, long and closely preffed by the Emperor, on his commanders in the Netherlands, to render the duty of the foldiers as light and as pleafing to them as poffible; and particularly not to weary and difguft them, by an attention to the minutiae of difcipline. His object plainly was, to attach them to his fervice and perfon; and to make them faithful partizans in all difputes with the people:-an unwife and dangerous policy even to his own authority*. From this indulgence and the habits of trampling on (not to lay maffacring) a defencelefs people without danger or refiftance, the imperial troops feemed to have changed their nature as well as character; for as soon as they came to be engaged in real fervice, and compelled to face an enemy on equal terms, they fhewed themfelves to be as mean and daftardly as they were on other occafions cruel and profligate. It may allo be obferved, that the ftriking contempt for religion, which at this time fo flagrantly marked the conduct of the foldiery, and which was fo eminently prejudicial to the imperial caufe in the most religious country in Europe, had fprung up in the Auftrian armies, only under **Soldiers are never fo fondly attached to any military chief as to the rigid dif ciplinarian, provided he obferve the strict rules of difcipline to all, and fhew as great concern to provide for their wants and reward their merit, as to punish their faults and failure in duty: their attachment in this cafe being heightened by respect, esteem, and perhaps even by a degree of awe. the the aufpices of Jofeph II. for under the government of his predeceffors, and particularly of his mother, whatever their diforders might have been in other matters, they maintained the outward appearance at least of respect to christianity, and everything appertaining to religion. So certainly and quickly may the character of a fovereign prince be diffused among his fubjects! The reduction of Ghent was of the greatest confequence to the Flemish patriots; and the more efpecially that it enabled the states of Flanders to affemble in that capital of the province, for the purpofe of legalizing their public proceedings, giving a form to their intended new conftitution, and concluding a league and federal union with the other provinces. The Emperor, on receiving intelligence of this alarming fituation of affairs, defcended from his ufual pride and obftinacy, and endeavour. ed to reconcile the provinces by the fairest promises; although he could not entertain any lively hope that the people fo often deceived would be inclined to repose any confidence in his engagements. In what may be confidered a penitentiary declaration dated at Vienna on the 20th of November 1789, after expreffing great forrow at the prefent troubles, and fome furprize at the violent measures that had been purfued, he exhorted the malcontents to lay down their arms, and to truft for the redrefs of any real grievances to his clemency and paternal affection. He painted in frong colours the dreadful confequences that muft enfue, if they should compel him to relinquifh the great line of conqueft which he was now purfuing, and to pour in for their fuppreffion thofe numerous and conquering armies, which were now fo fucceff fully employed against a foreign enemy. He endeavoured partly to justify, and partly to explain several of the most offenfive parts of his conduct. He mentioned fome fteps he had already taken for their gratification, and offered to revoke all the edicts of which they complained, and to comply with every demand they had formerly made. In conclufion, he ordered that no perfon fhall be arrested for any caufe, or under any pretence whatever, but according to the exifting laws and establifhed ufages; and grants a general, full, and perpetual amnefty to all who fhould return to their duty within a specified but confiderable space of time, the leaders of the revolt alone excepted. But a cordial reconciliation on fuch grounds was now impracticable. And even before the Emperor's manifefto was known, although it be probable that it was expected, the ftates of Flanders on the fame day with the date of that piece, 20th November 1789, boldly feized the fovereign authority in their province, and in imitation of their Dutch neighbours, affumed the title of High and Mighty States. They paffed fix refolutions:-by the firit of which they declared, that the Emperor had forfeited all title to the fovereignty of Flanders: by the others they agreed immediately to raife an army of 20,000. men, including 1000 rífle-men, exclufively of the quotas voted to be furnished by the different towns in the province;-appointed commiffioners for raifing, organizing, and providing this army with all things neceflary for fubfiftence and for the field; refolved to unite them felves with the ftates of Brabant; and decreed that the council of Flanders fhould no longer be confidered as provincial, but fovereign. The military ardour and the rapid and fplendid fuccefs of the patriots in fo many parts of the Netherlands, feemed to the inhabitants of the capital of Brabant, the feat of government, to upbraid their inaction and tardiness in fupporting the common caufe. Ason the one hand they were indignant at the defpotifm and the haughty and harth manners of Daiton, fo on the other, they were encouraged to refift his tyranny by the vifible anxiety and depreffion of fpirits which had feized on that General, in confequence of the progrefs of the infurgents, and particularly by the reduction of Ghent. He had already, though for the first time, experienced a change in the countenance of his mafter, and in fome meafure fhared in the effects of his chagrin on the defeat of Schroeder, and knew not how to encounter his difpleafure a fecond time: fo dreadful an eclifpe of royal funfhine to an old favourite! nor yet to relate fo many unfortunate events in fuch a manner as to ward off all cenfure on his own judgment, conduct, and perhaps even his intentions. Confounded and overwhelmed with vexation and defpair, he fhut himfelf up in Bruffels, where for fome time the gates were thut, and frongly guarded by day as well as by night. But perceiving at length that this meafure was confidered as a proof of weaknefs and apprehenfior, and farther, that he had become a ftanding fubject of mirth and ridicule, he ordered the gates by day to be again opened. Yet even in these humiliating circumftances, he perfevered in the fame tone of manners and conduct which had rendered him already univerfally odious. In fuch circumftances, a choice band of the inhabitants of Bruffels, infpired with enthufiafm in the cause of freedom and a contempt for the minifter of oppreffion, formed the generous and gallant, though apparently teo daring defign of refcuing Bruffels from its prefent thraldom, or lofing their lives in the glorious attempt. It is afferted that their whole number did not exceed 500, while that of the Auftrians was ettimated at five or 6000: though it is to be obferved that thefe laft were difperfed in various pofts, at great diftances from each other in various parts of the city and fuburbs. No riot or tumult was made or pretended, in order to cover the real defign; nor was the attack, as ufual in fuch cafes, commenced by furprise or affaffination, About four o clock in the afternoon, December 9th 1789, this band of heroic, and as it feemed, felf-devoted citizens, marched boldly and openly to attack and feize the foldiers who were appointed to guard the mint, as well as those who were stationed or quartered in the different con. vents. In these enterprizes they fucceeded without difficulty; for General Dalton, who had for fome time, contrarily to his ufual difpofition, begun to entertain ideas, and to place his hopes in plans of peace and conciliation, did not chufe to exafperate matters for the present by an attack on the patriots. ceflation of arms took place for feveral hours, which were employed in a negotiation for an armiftice; a delay at all events favourable to the A patriotic patriotic band, as it afforded time to their fellow-citizens to collect their thoughts and refolution, and to determine the part which it was fit for them to take in the prefent crifis. It is not to be fuppofed, though the circumstance has not been mentioned, and was no doubt on purpofe omitted, but that the 500 original infurgents were joined during the paufe by great numbers, if not the greater part of their fellow-citizens. On the other hand, the Auftrians, during the fame paufe, received a reinforcement of 800 men, with two pieces of cannon; which they placed in the great fquare of Bruffels. -The negotiation for an armistice being broken off, General Dalton fent a ftrong detachment to deliver the officers and foldiers who had been made prifoners, and put in confinement in the lower town at the commencement of the infurrection. This movement ferved as a fignal for a general action to the patriots: who, having by an irrefiftible impetuofity routed the detachment on its way, and invested the great marketplace, which was used as a principal place of arms. Here, after a long and obftinate conflict, they drove every thing before them, became matters of the corps de garde, took two pieces of cannon, and made above 400 Auftrians prifoners. In the mean time, different engagements were carried on in every quarter of the city; and in a few hours, the infurgents gained poffeffion of the barracks and magazines, in which they found 2000 mufkets, befides a confiderable quantity of ammunition. By this time General Dalton, with what troops he could collect in the prefent confufion, had retired into the park and royal square with twelve pieces of cannon. After a defperate engagement, continued for about an hour, he was reduced to the mortification of defiring a capitulation; which was readily granted. Having obtained a fafe retreat for himself and his garrifon, he marched out within an hour, according to agreement, and in great diforder, as may readily be imagined, directing his courfe to Namur; where he remained but a fhort time. Quitting the town and province of Namur, he retired with his battled troops to Luxemburgh. Count Trautfmandorf, with other principal members of the late government, retired to Liege; the Governors General, the Archduchefs and her husband the Prince of Saxe Tefchen, had quitted Bruffels for fome time before; although, from the gentleness and humanity of their difpofitions, and their repeated applications to the court of Vienna in favour of the provinces, they were not in any danger of becoming objects of popular outrage among a people of fo moderate and equal a temper. It is impoffible in furveying these contefts in the Netherlands, not to mark the contrast between the manners of the Flemings and thofe of a neighbouring nation in fimilar circumftances. The animofities of contending parties, as in the civil wars of England, fpent their force in open debate, or the field of battle; not in maffacres, poifonings, and affaffinations. Not a man, af That the original infurgents were joined and fupported by great numbers of the other inhabitants of Bruffels, is clearly proved by this circumftance. ter victory had been declared on the fide of the patriots, in this engage. ment in the capital of Brabant, nor in that of Ghent or any other, was killed in cold blood; nor quarter refused by the Flemings to any who demanded it in the heat of action. Not a fingle houfe in Bruffels was burnt or plundered, although the owners who were inimical to the revolution were generally known; nor any injury offered to any perfon, except in fair and open encounters. The prifoners taken in the course of thefe various actions, of the 9th and 10th of December, and who were not included in the capitulation, amounted to no less than 3000. By the rapid fucceffes of the patriots, particularly the extraordinary victories in Ghent and Bruffels, the Auftrian dominion in the low countries feemed for the prefent to be almost annihilated; as there was no place now remaining in their poffeffion which they could hope long to retain, except the duchy of Luxemburg. The patriotism of the Belgic nation feemed now to be triumphant. The inhabitants of Bruffels, naturally elated with their fuccefs, expreffed their joy in various modes: but in the midst of their rejoicings, did not omit to celebrate the most folemn offices of religion, for the double purpose of returning thanks to the Supreme Difpofer of all events, for their happy delive, ance, and offering up their orifons for the fouls of those brave men who had fallen in the cause of their country. The ancient courts of justice were reftored; Gazettes were published, under the auspices of government; a new oath of allegiance was adminiftered to all officers of the ftate, as well as to all the deputies of the committee of the states of Brabant; tranquillity was established at once, together with the regular exercife of fovereign power. It would have been difficult for a ftranger newly arrived at Bruffels, to believe that it had been fo recently a scene of arms, and of political revolution. The states of Brabant being affembled at Bruffels on the laft day of the year 1789, bound themselves by oath in the prefence of the citizens, to preserve the rights, privileges, and conftitution of their country; and then proceeded to adminifter the fame oath to the members of the Sovereign Council of Brabant, amidst the general acclamations of the people. A few days thereafter, the states of Flanders concluded and published an act of union with thofe of Brabant, offenfive and defenfive; by which the contracting parties bound themfelves not to enter into any negociation or agreement whatever with any foreign ftate (particularly with their late Sovereign) without the 'approbation and confent of the other. This union was to compose a fovereignty of the two ftates, in fuch a manner that all the power and exercise of that fovereignty fhould be concentered in a congrefs which fhould be compofed of a prefcribed number of deputies from each party, according to articles and regulations hereafter to be agreed on. In cafe of differences arifing between two provinces, they were to be fettled by the intervention of the fovereign power, or the mediation of perfons appointed by the contending parties. It was pro vided however, that the powers of the congrefs fhould be restricted to mutual defence, the right of mak |