illiam," were the first solitary
remarks made--the noise and hubbub increased. The small knots of people
gradually joined together, until they formed a large mob, all burning
with loyalty, and each individual wishing to give a practical evidence
of it--again were the cries of "Long live the king!" and "Death to
traitors!" to be heard, with loud huzzas. A confused din followed, and
the mob appeared, as if simultaneously, to be all impelled in one
direction. At last the word was given, which they all waited for. "To
his house--to his house--down with it--death to the traitor!" and the
loyal mob hastened on, each individual eager to be first to prove his
loyalty, by helping himself to Mynheer Krause's goods and chattels.

In the Low Countries, this species of loyalty always has been and is now
very much the fashion. In ten minutes, the gates were forced open--old
Koops knocked down, and trod under foot till he was dead--every article
of value that was portable was secured; chairs, tables, glasses, not
portable, were thrown out of the window; Wilhelmina's harp and
pianoforte battered to fragments; beds, bedding, everything flew about
in the air, and then the fragments of the furniture were set fire to,
and in less than an hour, Mynheer Krause's splendid house was burning
furiously, while the mob cheered and cried, "Long live King William!"

Before the courier could arrive from the Hague, all that was left of Mr
Krause's property was the bare walls. Merchandise, everything was
consumed, and part of the building had fallen into the canal and choked
it up, while fifteen schuyts, waiting to be discharged of their cargoes,
had been obliged to retreat from the fury of the flames, the phlegmatic
skippers looking on with their pipes in their mouths, and their hands in
their wide breeches-pockets.

The loyal mob, having effected their object, gradually retired. It is
singular that popular feeling is always expressed in the same way. Had
the mob collected for disloyal purposes, they would have shown their
disloyalty just in the like manner, only it would have been the Stadt
House instead of that of Mynheer Krause.

But now there was a fresh impetus given to the feelings of the mob. The
news had been spread like wildfire, that Mynheer the syndic had been
proved innocent, and ordered to be immediately liberated, and was sent
for by his majesty; upon which, the mob were undecided whether they
should prove their indignation,