sibilité. Monsieur le Chevalier voudra bien recevoir aussi les expressions de la gratitude, et les sentimens d'estime et de consideration de son très devoué serviteur, Ce 1st Sept. 1787. S. A. Cte HEIDEN. 5.-COMMUNICATION FROM LIEUT.-GENERAL DE VANDER BORCK, REGARDING THE AGRICULTURE OF HOLLAND. MONSIEUR*, Je m'impresse de vous accuser la reception de la lettre, que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'adresser, pour me communi SIR, * Translation. Honsdork, near Breda, April 5. 1815. I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of the letter which you did me the honour to write me, acquainting me with the questions upon which you desire the necessary information, with a view to your ascertaining the state of agriculture' in this country. These questions would lead me into great detail, seeing the great variety of our soil, as well as of their produce, which depends upon the sun and different localities. But as this detail goes beyond the bounds of a letter, I intend to acquaint you with the distinctions, when I reply to your questions on this subject. If I can thus meet your wishes, I shall be delighted to be able to contribute in some way to your researches, which have so often excited my admiration, and merit, from the enthusiam they evince, the gratitude of all men who love the prosperity of their country. But I am sorry to think, that the picture I have to offer you, is any thing but satisfactory; for the history of our agriculture shows, that the misfortunes of the times in which we live, have totally ruined our farmers, and have made them abandon those operations which they had been enabled to carry on, by time being given them to pay their rents, and by the exemption from taxes, indulgences which the new Government have altogether done away with. I do not know if I can continue an undertaking I have myself in hand at this moment, namely, the taking in of a very extensive piece of uncultivated and sterile land which was of no utility, but which now actually gives life and nourishment to a population of 36 souls, and the produce of which affords sufficient food for 18 horned cattle, and 2 work- horses; without counting the amusement I derive from it, and the facilities it affords me for the culture of so many sorts of wood, which improve my estate, and embellish my avenues. But as it is now all burdened with enormous taxes, notwithstanding the exemption formerly granted, it is to be feared, that in the position in which unexpected events have thrown us, I may lose the fruit of thirty years of expense, and the useful observations which long experience has enabled me to make for posterity. If circumstances should permit me to do what I propose, viz. to make you acquainted with the particulars of our rural economy in this country, quer les demandes, sur lesquelles vous desirez les informations necessaires, afin de connoitre l'état où se trouve l'agriculture de ce païs. Ces questions exigent un assez grand detail, vu la grande varieté qui se trouve dans nos terres, ainsi que dans les productions qu'elles nous donnent, et qui tiennent au sol et aux localités. Mais comme ce detail passe les bornes d'une lettre, je me propose de vous faire connoitre ses distinctions, en répondant à vos questions à ce sujet. Si je puis remplir par-là votre but, je serois charmé d'avoir pu contribuer, en quelque façon, à vos recherches, qui ont souvent excité mon admiration, et dont le zèle doit vous meriter la reconnaissance de tout homme qui aime la prosperité de sa patrie. Mais ce qui me fait de la peine, c'est que la tableau, qui j'ai à vous offrir, n'est rien moins que recreatif, et que l'histoire de notre agriculture vous faire voir que les malheurs du tems où nous vivons ont totalement ruinés nos cultivateurs, et les a fait abandonner les defrichemens, qu'ils avoient entamés en faveur des remises et exemption des impots, qui leur avoient été accordés, mais que les usurpateurs n'ont pas respectés. J'ignore si je pourrois continuer mon entreprise, qui consiste dans un defrichement assez étendu d'une terre inculte et sterile, qui n'étoit d'aucun rapport, mais qui donne actuellement la vie et la nourriture à une population de 36 ames, et dont la produit suffit pour nourrir 18 bêtes à corne et 2 chevaux de labourage, sans compter ce qui sert à mon agrément en particulier, et la culture de plusieurs espèces de bois, qui ameliorent mon terrain, et embellissent mes avenues. Mais comme tout cela a été grevé des impots énormes, malgré les exemptions accordées, il est à craindre, que, dans la position où des evenemens inattendus nous ont jettés, je ne perds le fruit de trente années du depense, et les observations utiles qu'une I will have the honour, Sir, to transmit my paper to the address you gave me, or to any other which will reach you, if you quit your present abode. In the meantime, I beg you to accept my assurance of the very high regard with which I have the honour to be, Sir, your very humble and obedient ser. vant, L. W. P. VANDER BORCK. longue experience auroit pu me donner pour la posterité. Si les circonstances me permettent de travailler, à ce que je me propose, de vous faire connoitre de notre œconomie rurale dans ce païs, j'aurois l'honneur, Monsieur, de vous le faire passer à l'adresse que vous m'avez donné, ou à tel autre que vous trouverez bon de me faire parvenir, si vous quittez votre sejour actuel. En attendant, je vous prie d'agréer les assurances de la parfaite consideration avec laquelle j'ai l'honneur d'étre, Monsieur, votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur, L. W. P. VANDER BORCK. a Honsdork, près Breda, ce 5. April 1815. AND 6.-UNION OF HOLLAND And flanders, and the ERECTION OF THE NEW KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS. During my travels through Flanders and Holland, in 1815, the erection of the kingdom of the Netherlands, by the union of Holland and Flanders, was frequently the subject of discussion, and on various accounts it was maintained, that it would not be durable. The following reasons were assigned in support of that opinion: 1. The difference of religion, Calvinism being the established religion in Holland, and Popery in Belgium. The Roman Catholic clergy in Flanders, were thence decidedly inimical to the plan of a union, and viewed, with hostile eyes, any regulations favourable to the Protestant interest. 2. A commercial jealousy has long subsisted between Amsterdam and Antwerp; the former being convinced, that the shutting of the Scheldt was essential for its prosperity, and the latter, that if the navigation was re-established, Antwerp would soon regain its former commercial ascendancy. 3. The difficulty in fixing on a capital for the united kingdom;—the Hague, Brussels, Ghent, or Antwerp, all made pretensions to this honour. An attempt was made to surmount this difficulty, by making the Hague and Brussels alternately the seat of Government. But this ambulatory system did not work well. 4. The manufacturing interests of Belgium were extremely hostile to the union; for, while it was the interest of Holland to import British manufactures, and to send them into the interior of the Continent, the manufacturers of Flanders were anxious to prevent any such importation from other countries, and wished not only to supply themselves, but their neighbours with goods. 5. There was a great commerce between Belgium and France. The Belgians sent lace, cattle, and other agricultural productions to France, and in return took wine and millinery. The balance, it was said, was in favour of Belgium; hence the Belgians are anxious to avoid laying a foundation for a future dispute with France, which would annihilate so beneficial a branch of commerce. Besides, if a contest arose with France, Flanders would probably become the seat of war. On the whole, the separation of the two countries which has now taken place, was foreseen. It might have been avoided, if the King of the Netherlands had not trusted to the aid of his powerful allies,—had not run so much counter to the new ideas of liberty which had become so general,—and had shewn less partiality to his Dutch subjects, and paid more attention to the Belgians. It is evident that the latter, considered their interests to have been sacrificed to those of Holland, and were glad therefore, to emancipate themselves from so grievous a yoke. On the other hand, it must be admitted, that the Belgians, having a strong partiality for France, could not be depended on, (the generality of them speaking the language of that country, many of their principal nobility living during the winter season in Paris,—and many of the farmers finding a market in France for their productions), and that they had already entirely forgotten the tyranny to which they had been formerly subjected, under the government of Napoleon, when they were oppressed with heavy taxes, and their children were liable to all the horrors of a conscription. |