Page:A Tour Through the Batavian Republic.djvu/383

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THE BATAVIAN REPUBLIC
371

or act of forbearance, he levied a contribution of two hundred thousand pounds on the inhabitants of the place.

In 1787 Utrecht surrendered to the arms of Prussia without making any resistance, though the regular forces in the town amounted to seven thousand men, and its inhabitants were animated with the most violent animosity against the Prince of Orange, whose cause the Prussian army supported. On this occasion, treachery was imputed to the governor, the rhingrave of Salm; for though it was not supposed that the town could have held out long against the Prussian forces, it was contended that, with the strength which it contained, and the disposition of the inhabitants, it was base and cowardly to surrender the place without some opposition. The character of the prince who commanded the garrison justified the suspicions of his treachery.

On the approach of the French army in 1795, the city of Utrecht threw open its gates, and the republican troops were received as friends and deliverers. No-where