ssador,
had taken his departure. Thus recommenced the struggle betwixt the
two rival nations of England and France: a struggle which, for the
inveteracy of its spirit and the variety of its fortunes, stands
unrivalled in the history of the world. Vast were the treasures spent,
and still more vast was the blood shed, before the sword thus drawn was
again sheathed.

{GEORGE III. 1801-1806}

WAR WITH HOLLAND.

As the proposal that French troops should be withdrawn from Holland was
refused, war was accordingly denounced against that unfortunate
State. On the 17th of June, the king announced by message, that he had
communicated to the Batavian republic his disposition to respect its
neutrality, provided only the French government would respect it, and
withdraw its forces from that country; but that, this proposition not
having been acceded to by France, his majesty judged it necessary to
recall his minister from the Hague, and to give order for the issuing
of letters of marque and reprisals against the Batavian republic.
Subsequently, the sum of L80,000, and a pension of L16,000 per annum was
granted to the ex-stadtholder of Holland, our late ally, the Prince of
Orange, who had by this event been despoiled, and left without a home,
and without any reliance, except on the generosity of this country.

MILITIA BILL, ETC.

A bill for rendering the militia as effective as possible was passed on
the 20th of May; but in consequence of a message from his majesty on the
18th of June, recommending more extensive measures, a proposition was
carried for embodying a new species of Militia, to be denominated "the
army of reserve." This body was to consist of 50,000 men for England,
and 10,000 for Ireland, and they were to be raised by ballot, but
allowed to volunteer into the regular army. This bill, however, was only
the precursor of one of greater magnitude--a bill which comprehended the
arming and training of the whole effective male population, and which
passed into a law on the 27th of July. This measure was proposed in case
of an invasion; and as the opposite coasts of France and Belgium were
lined with troops, and the French and Brussels papers were calculating
how many days it would take Napoleon to reach London, it met with very
general support. Fox himself offered his hearty concurrence to it,
because it was for the defence of the country, rather than for any
project of offensive war. It passed in the commons _