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136 REGNARD’S JOURNEY TO LAPLAND, &c,
the fovereignty even were he fortunate enough to acquire it. They argued that
Holland would be completely and fpeedily deftroyed, if it became the property of a
mafter, and ceafed to be a republic, and that on account of the great expence which
would be conftantly required for the prefervation of the country; that a prince would
be obliged to raife large fums upon his fubjects, which whillt they were indulged with
the title of freemen, they would pay with pleafure, as all they gave, was for the
general good ; it ison this account, that no country is more harrafled by taxes and
impofts than Holland ; and the people flatter themfelves, that, as it is they who im-
pofe them, they have it in their power to refufe them whenever they pleafe. ‘This
counfel, the moft prudent and politic, was followed by the Prince of Orange, who
found his account in it.
The States of Holland hold their fittings at the Hague, which is the chief caufe of
its magnificence. The houfes of fome individuals are very beautiful, but the palace of
the Prince has nothing in it remarkable. On the contrary it is furprifing to fee him fo
indifferently lodged, whilft fome merchants dwell in far grander manfions. We faw the
chambers of the States, one of which is handfome enough, and which M. Del
faid, he would undertake to gild for two thoufand crowns, though according to the
general calculation, it coft ‘more than ten thoufand crowns of gold; but, he added, he
underftood that they had furnifhed it for him. M. Davaux was here, at this time,
ambaflador. We faw him in mourning on account of the recent death of the
Chevalier M. Mefme, his brother-in-law. whom I have feen at Rome, and who had
been lately killed by the ftroke of a {tone.
On leaving the palace, we viewed a gate in the neighbourhood of the houfe of M.
De , the place where the murder of Penfionary De Witt happened, who was
deftroyed by the populace, at the commencement of the war. This took place at the
inftigation of the Prince of Orange, who was difpleafed with him for publifhing an
edict, which had been iffued a fhort time before, forbidding the people to recognife the
Prince as their Sovereign, which it was their with to do.
Prince William of Naffau, who was at the head of the patriots when they threw off
the Spanifh yoke, behaved fo generoufly during the whole of the war, that the Dutch,
after the Spaniards had been obliged to recognife them and their Republic as indepen-
dent ftates, were forced to reward his valour by conferring on him the title of Protector
of the States. ‘This title is enjoyed by his fucceflors. But the council of the pro-
vinces, and efpecially the De Witts, who compofed a particular faction, and who were
encouraged by many others, publifhed that perpetual law, by which it was declared
illegal ever to propofe the Prince of Orange as Sovereiga, and even obliged the prefent
Prince, while young to fign it. During thefe tranfaétions, war with France com-
menced; and the people dreading the French yoke, and believing, that, if they had
the Prince of Orange at their head, they would perform wonders, propofed him.
But being prevented by this perpetual edict, they broke out againft De Witt, the
general of the forces, and caufed him to be arrefted, accufing him of high treafon,
and of wifhing to overturn the government; but, finding no evidence fuflicient to
convict him, they contented themfelves with banifhing him, for the purpofe of fatisfy-
ing the people and the taction of the Prince of Orange. His brother penfionary at
the Hague for the aflairs of the province of Holland, demanded permiffion to vifit
him ; but, in endeavouring to enter the prifon, the people mutinied, fuffering with
impatience the fight of a man who oppofed their {chemes, fell upon him, and barba-
roufly aflaflinated him on the {pot. ‘They drew him to a little diftance, where they hung
him by the neck. Every body crowded to this fcene, and fo enraged were the people,
? I that
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