essity, withdrew the Dutch garrisons from
the barrier; and Joseph began to dismantle the fortresses and sell the
materials. He had scarcely begun this work, when the States-general
felt great apprehensions for the frontiers of their own provinces; and
measures were adopted for putting their own fortresses along the Scheldt
into a state of defence. At the same time, the people of Holland were
furiously excited by these events; and the Orange party pointed to the
open barrier and the rising port of Ostend, as proofs of the mischiefs
brought by the French party upon the country in renouncing the alliance
with Great Britain. Neither the return of peace with England nor the
mediation of Frederic the Great of Prussia could allay the animosities
existing between the two parties; and encouraged by them, the Emperor
Joseph advanced sundry new claims, and assumed a tone of haughty
dictation towards the States-general. Thus he claimed possession
and sovereignty to the city and country of Maestricht, and the free
navigation of the Scheldt; the latter of which claims was made in
order to re-elevate Antwerp to her ancient commercial importance. The
States-general, alarmed at his menacing attitude, during the year 1784,
sent two plenipotentiaries to Brussels, in order to treat with the
emperor's agents for an amicable arrangement; but the very night after
their arrival some Austrian troops entered the territories of the Dutch
republic, and took possession of Fort Lillo; while others crossed the
frontiers at another point, and pulled down the Dutch flag from the
custom-house. The Dutch were alarmed and enraged at these aggressions;
and troops were ordered to Maestricht and to the different garrisons of
the Scheldt, in order to protect them from the enemy. Fresh disputes,
however, arose between the states and the stadtholder concerning the
rights, or the limits of their respective powers, so that the movement
of these troops was greatly retarded. The only refuge which the Dutch
had seemed to be in the French; and they implored the mediation of Louis
XVI. between them and the emperor, who was his wife's brother. Louis
made a favourable reply to this request, but in the mean time the breach
had become wider. Finding that the navigation of the Scheldt was not
readily conceded, the emperor Joseph was resolved to bring the question
to issue. A vessel, manned by Flemings, was dispatched by him down that
river, with orders to pass the Dutch fort