too weak for the execution of the important measures which they proposed, displayed the extent of their disappointment and indignation by the rigorous steps which they adopted towards the persons who had taken an active part respecting the petition. Visscher and his colleagues who presented the remonstrance were privately apprehended, and sentenced to six years' imprisonment in the Rasp-house, with felons and malefactors. This was the last vindictive measure which was executed by the ancient magistracy of Amsterdam.
The citizens, undismayed by the imprisonment of their leaders, and encouraged by the advances of the French, continued to assemble, and now, without molestation, though their object was notoriously hostile to the stadtholderian party, formed themselves into regular corps for the protection of the city of Amsterdam. The officers commanding these corps were for the most part men who had been active in their opposition to the stadtholder in 1787, or were
