n denominated it "an incipient and creeping
union," in which light it was looked upon, and hence abhorred, by the
Irish people. On its abandonment great joy was exhibited in Ireland;
public illuminations were held in all the populous towns, as though
the people had obtained some great victory. Thus this bill, which was
originally intended to communicate solid and lasting advantages to both
countries, had the effect of rousing commercial jealousies, awakening
national prejudices, and of greatly disturbing the public tranquillity;
a singular fate, and one which shows the folly and the madness of the
bad passions of human nature.

{GEORGE III. 1784-1786}

CONTINENTAL AFFAIRS.

At this time Holland was suffering greatly from the effects of the
American war. Its finances were embarrassed; its colonies were, for
the most part, in the hands of the French; and the country was torn to
pieces by intestine divisions. Encouraged by these circumstances, their
neighbours and rivals, the Belgians, sought to make Ostend the centre
of a great trade, and a place of export and import to and from the East
Indies. Seeing their helpless condition, indeed, the Emperor Joseph
threatened the very existence of the United Provinces as an independent
nation. Ever since the conclusion of the war of succession, the
fortresses of the Austrian Netherlands had been deposited in the
hands of the Dutch, and garrisoned by them, for the double purpose of
defending the Netherlands and Holland, and of forming a bulwark against
the inroads of the French. These were secured to them by the barrier
treaty; but as early as the year 1781, the Emperor Joseph had determined
to do away with this treaty, and to take possession of these fortresses;
alleging that the Dutch misapplied the money which he was bound to pay
for their support; that they had shamefully surrendered some in the war
of 1741, and were allowing the rest to fall into decay; and that they
left thin and defective garrisons in them. Accordingly, when the Dutch
had committed a sort of political suicide, by sacrificing their old
alliance with England, and uniting their forces with those of the House
of Bourbon in defence of the Americans, the Emperor Joseph, who was the
only real guardian of the barrier treaty, demanded precise accounts
of the revenues of the barrier, and of the sums expended on the
fortifications. This demand was accompanied with threats; and the
States-general, yielding to nec