Page:A Tour Through the Batavian Republic.djvu/296

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284
TOUR THROUGH

distinguished for their attachment to French principles.

From the capture of Nimeguen, and the subsequent passage of the Waal, extreme consternation seems to have palsied all the movements of the stadtholderian party. The British and German auxiliaries, though labouring under unspeakable disadvantages; from the inferiority of their numbers, and the rigour of the season, which deprived Holland of its natural means of defence, made a gallant resistance on the frontiers of the republic; but far from receiving any support from the interior, it was dubious whether they would not have to sustain on one side the attacks of an enraged people, while on the other they were pressed by a victorious enemy. In vain the stadtholder and the hereditary prince issued proclamation after proclamation, exhorting the Dutch to rise in a mass for the defence of their dear country[1], their religion, liberties, and ancient<references>

  1. I borrow this expression from one of the proclamations to which I allude.