TH HE year 1787 has not only been productive of very important events, but of fome in which the interefts of this nation were deeply concerned. The happy revolution which has taken place in Holland, the reftoration of the Stadtholder to his rights, and the recovery of that republic to its ancient fyftem of policy, by detaching it from the new connections it had formed with France, were matters in which Great Britain had not a greater share than an immediate political intereft, as well as a neighbourly and friendly concern; while the vigour and wisdom of her conduct in these transactions have effectually restored her to that high eminence among the nations of Europe from which she had fuffered no small derogation through the lofs of her colonies, and other ill confequences of the American war. But these objects, important as they are, cannot in any degree rank, with refpect to magnitude and general confideration, with those new profpects which have been opening upon us through the course of the present year. A fingular revolution feems to be taking place in the minds of men; and the spirit of liberty appears to be reviving with great energy, in countries where it had long been deemed nearly extinct. It has already produced fuch effects in France, and indicates others fo much greater, as to render that country (through caufes very different from thofe which drew the attention of mankind upon it during the laft two centuries) the grand theatre of political fpeculation. A fimilar fpirit is dawning in other places; while our Belgic neighbours have afforded a notable inftance that it never was totally extinct in them, by the ftruggle.which they have manfully fuftained against exuberant power, in the support of their ancient conftitution, and the prefervation of their civil and political rights. These three principal objects, the affairs of Holland, of France, and of the Low Countries, have engroffed our utmost attention in treating the hiftory of the prefent year: we have entered into the refpective fubjects with care and diligence, and trust the Public will not find themselves difappointed in the narrative of these affairs which we lay before them. The momentous war which has broken out between the great powers in the North and Eaft of Europe, was commenced too late in the year for the production of any confiderable military operation; thofe immediate caufes which accelerated that event will accordingly be the introduction to the narrative of their mutual hoftilities in our next volume. Other matters have, for the prefent, neceffarily given way to thofe of greater importance, and will form an article of future retrospect. Our domestic affairs have not been lefs carefully attended to, as we hope the difcuffion of the commercial treaty with France, and other fubjects of national importance, will fufficiently teftify. We have been informed by a gentleman not long arrived from Italy, of fome mifreprefentation and exaggeration of circumftances, in the account of the new cemetery near Florence, given in our laft volume. We have ever embraced with pleasure every occafion that offered of bestowing due praise upon the excellent government of the Grand Duke; and are too deeply impreffed with a regard for the humanity and beneficence of his character, to fuffer any thing derogatory from it to appear without concern; and this we teftified in the paffage alluded to, although we could not refuse stating facts which feemed perfectly authenticated. We are not, however, ignorant that fome of his reforms have, as well as the cemetery, been the caufe of much diffatisfaction and complaint among his fubjects; and that even his admirable code of penal law, notwithstanding the philanthropy and beneficence that breathe through every part of it, has not been received without diflike and cenfure, and has even been productive of much diftrefs to individuals; a confequence perhaps which no fyftem of general reform, haftily adopted, can ever be entirely free from. With refpect to the matter in queftion, if we have been impofed upon in the accounts which we received of the cemetery, we are not fingular in the impofition; for an English gentleman, whofe poetical and literary talents are well known, and who was immediately upon the fpot, published a very fevere fatire upon the fubject, from which it is evident, that it appeared to him in the fame light that it was afterwards represented to us. THE 1 THE ANNUAL REGISTER, For the YEAR 1787. THE HISTORY O F EUROPE. С НА Р. I. Mediation of France and Pruffia in the affairs of Holland. Reafons for doubting the fuccefs of that mediation confirmed by the event. Negociations carried on at Nimeguen and the Hague. Conditions laid down by the States of Holland as the basis of an accommodation with the Stadtholder. Caufes which rendered theje propofitions inadmiffible. M. de Rayneval fuddenly breaks off the negociation and returns to Paris. Count de Goertz receives a letter of recal, and returns to Berlin. Violent animofity and mutual recrimination of the contending parties on the failure of the negociation. The new form of government, eftablished in the city of Utrecht, confidered as a model of perfection by the democratical party in other places. Difficult fituation and temporizing conduct of the States of Holland, with refpect to the prevalent democratic fpirit. Sudden and 'unaccountable changes in the political conduct and principles of the party in opposition to the Stadtholder difplayed in various places. States of Frießand firft waver, and then, from being among the foremost in oppofition, appear decidedly in favour of the Prince. M. de Rendorp changes fides in Amfte dam, and carries over a majority of the fenate along with him. Immediate confequences of this change; great alarm spread by it among the republican party. Means purjued by the leaders to rem dy the defection of Amfterdam. Procure addreffes from several towns, with a view of gaining thereby a decided majority of votes in the affembly of provincial fates. VOL. XXIX. [4] Failing |