CHAPTER VI.
CAPTURE OF ANTWERP AND LIBERATION OF BELGIUM—1832.
The history of Belgium as an independent state dates from its separation from the kingdom of the Netherlands in 1830. It had previously been under the domination of Spain, Austria, and France, and finally, in the general peace which followed the wars of Napoleon, it was united with Holland under Prince William Frederick of Orange-Nassau. The union was not to the taste of the Belgian people, who differed materially from the Dutch in language, religion, and occupations. In the union Holland, with 2,000,000 inhabitants, was to have an equal number of representatives with Belgium's 4,000,000; furthermore, the national debt of Belgium was only 4,000,000 florins, while Holland had a debt of 1,200,000,000; the consolidated debt was to be assumed by both countries, and would naturally be a severe and unjust burden upon Belgium with its superior population. In the convention which passed the constitution containing these objectionable provisions, the Belgians who dissented were in actual majority, but all absent Belgians were held to have assented, and so the vote was carried. The use of the French language in judicial and other proceedings was to be abolished, and there were other conditions equally objectionable.
Officials holding Belgian opinions were dismissed, a severe press law was enacted, and several persons ob-
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