sfully
checked the Austrians, who after the reduction of Belgrade, undertook
the siege of Orsova.

Commotions every where prevailed. While the Austrian emperor was
prosecuting victories and conquests from which he could not hope to
derive any permanent advantages, he contrived to alienate from himself
the affections of the people of the Netherlands. This people consisted
of independent states, resembling each other in manner, character, and
constitution of government; their polity being composed of three orders,
clergy, nobles, and people, under the limited principality of one
personage, denominated Count. The Netherlander had shown an heroic
devotion to his mother, Maria Theresa, and were warmly attached to his
own person. Animated, however, by a restless spirit of innovation,
he dared to interfere with their ancient privileges and religion--two
objects of which they were particularly tenacious--and thus created a
spirit of disaffection throughout all the Low Countries. Under the plea
of reform he made innovations in their ecclesiastical establishments;
suppressed the most venerated judicial institutions; appointed new and
despotic tribunals; subverted the legislature, by abrogating the power
of the assembly of states, and instituted a general government, with a
court minister at its head; and finally attacked the clerical order,
by overthrowing those institutions which were the very nursery of its
priesthood. These sacrilegious acts roused the choler of the people;
open rebellion was the natural result; and the people were victorious.
The imperial troops committed many excesses throughout the Low
Countries, and dyed their swords in blood; but the Netherlander, strong
in the justice of their cause, finally triumphed. By the close of this
year the Flemings, the States of Brabant, and all the other provinces,
with the exception of Luxembourg, completely established their
independence.

It seems clear that the revolt of the Netherlander did not arise from
that democratic spirit which everywhere prevailed at this period,
but from the rapacity and usurpations of the Austrian emperor. It is
dangerous to touch ancient constitutions, and still more dangerous to
lay violent hands upon venerated religious establishments. But while the
Netherlander may be acquitted of being inflamed with the fierce passions
of democracy in their struggle with the Emperor of Austria, as much
cannot be said of other people and nations. At this ti