France and to other places, the greatest number repaired to the frontier of the United Provinces: but principally to the Lordship and neighbourhood of Breda, in the province of Holland ;* which became their head quarters. The emigration from Brabant, which had at first been confined to the higher orders and people of property, was quickly increased in numbers, by an accession of active and resolute young men from all the provinces; which beheld in the fate of the constitution of Brabant the approaching fall of their own liberties.

The Austrian government were at first so far from taking any measures for putting a stop to emigration, that they considered it as rather a fortunate circumstance: and the country would thus be cleared of a great number of disaffected persons without any trouble. For the Emperor himself, he seems to have been well pleased with an opportunity of gratifying two darling passions: a rapacity for money, and an eagerness to humble and overthrow the clergy.t He issued a decree for the sequestration of all the abbeys of Brabant, and appointed civil officers for the administration of their revenues. He suppressed notless than 160 monas

tic establishments. The only precaution he appears to have used, was, that in this great suppression, the men were more favoured than the women.

Of the male convents only forty were sequestered: of the nunneries, 110. Such an arbitrary invasion of so much property in a country so long in the enjoyment of freedom, and that of ecclesiastical property in a country so devoted to the clergy, was considered in a most odious light, raised a general outcry, and prepared the minds of men, particularly the peasants (the most numerous and hardy class) for insurrection.

The Flemings, who had long brooded (according to their national character) over their injuries in sullen silence, which served only to render them more determined in their resolutions, and more implacable in their resentments, began now to form bold designs, and to give vent to the rancour that preyed on their minds, in action.

General d'Alton, the great tool of imperial tyranny in the Netherlands, drawing detachments from different garrisons, sent them to scour such parts of the country as were deemed most disaffected, with orders to take up all suspected persons, and all vagabonds. With this latitude of commission, the troops

were

were in fact left at liberty to take up whomsoever they pleased. Many disorders and much violence was committed. The prisons were filled with unhappy persons, who were cut off from all means and hopes of redress: and by the injustice and sacrilege of the Emperor, thus executed by them whom they regarded in no other light than that of military mercenary ruffians, the general odium against the Austrian government was carried to the highest pitch of abhorrence. A conspiracy which, from the nature of its design, must have consisted of a very great number of persons, was formed and carried on in the very seat of government and heart of the capital city of Brussels. It was resolved to undermine the house of Count Trautmandorf, the Emperor's civil engine of oppression, as well as that of his military tool General d'Alton, together with the guard-house; and to blow up those buildings, together with their possessors, into the air with gunpowder. The conspirators, during the confusion occasioned by this explosion, were to seize the arsenal with the city gates, and to admit several small bodies of emigrants, who were to be prepared, and at hand for the purpose. This gunpowder plot, which was laid in the month of August 1789, and speedily to be executed, being discovered, above twenty suspected persons were immediately taken up; and the number would have undoubtedly been much encreased, and a long succession of severe punishments have ensued, if the troubles now fast approaching had not put an end to this and similar prosecutions.

The numbers and the menacing aspect of emigrants and others dis

affected to government being daily increased, the plan of purging the country by emigration was changed. The magistrates were ordered not to grant passports: and the emigrated nobles and clergy were charged by proclamation to return, under pain of forfeiture. But the magistrates were themselves too much interested in the common cause, to lay any restraint that could possibly be avoided, on those who were disposed to take a more active part in its promotion; while the nobility and clergy laughed at the threat of forfeiture, which they well knew no compliance could avert, if ever it should be in the Emperor's power to inflict the penalty. The emigration was continued without interruption or diminution. Nothing less than a powerful army, with the advantage of numerous and well-chosen posts and garrisons, could have effectually restrained emigration from provinces so open onall sides, intersected by so many rivers and canals opening an easy and various communication with other countries, and in the near vicinity and uncommon variety of unconnected states. In addition to all these circumstances tending to facilitate emigration, the dangerous ambition, with the ever-restless and insidious policy of Joseph, had inspired all the neighbouring powers with a desire to embrace any opportunity that might occur for frustrating his designs, and humbling his pride. And while the ruling powers in the neighbouring states, were so favourably disposed towards the Flemings from motives of policy, their subjects, from ties of affinity and blood, long habits of commercial intercourse, private friendship, and above all, a general commiseration

of

of the injuries done them, were much more sincerely and deeply interested in their behalf, and generously afforded them all possible assistance and protection.

The Duke of Ursel and the Prince of Aremberg, Count of la Marck, his son, with the other nobles who had retired to Breda, being joined by the Archbishop of Malines or Mechlin, primate of the Catholic provinces of the Netherlands, and by most if not all the states of Brabant, both civil and ecclesiastical,-about the middle of September 1789, constituted and declared themselves to be the regular and legal Assembly of the states of that province. In that character they unanimously passed a remonstrance to the Emperor, which might be considered as a declaration of rights, and at the same time, of a firm determination to maintain them. In this manifesto, which was sent express to Vienna, after lamenting the sad necessity which had compelled them to assemble in a foreign land, under the deplorable character of a banished legislature, they entered with the utmost freedom into the most rigid examination of his Majesty's conduct. They stated the rights and privileges which the province of Brabant had enjoyed from the most remote times; and ratified and extended by a long succession of sovereigns. They reminded him of the solemn oaths by which he was himself bound to maintain and defend them; and then represented the wanton and oppressive infractions of them which had taken place during his reign, and, to complete the full measure of oppression, the lawless and shameless subversion of their constitution. They concluded by declaring, that, although

they were ready to sacrifice their lives and fortunes for the prosperity and glory of their sovereign, they were not prepared for a pusillanimous and perfidious surrender of those rights which they held in trust for their fellow citizens, and for posterity. They therefore adjured hin, by an immediate revocation of his illegal edicts, and restoration of the rights of the province, to spare them the cruel necessity of appealing to God and their swords.

Sometime after this, which may be considered as the prelude, but before the commencement of actual hostilities, the Cardinal Archbishop of Malines, sent a letter containing some particulars relative to the conduct of the Emperor and the present posture of affairs in the low countries, to the Pope. The Cardinal assured his Holiness that every effort had been used by the bishops and the other clergy for the preservation of tranquillity and the prevention of a revolution. But that matters had been precipitated into their present position by the fluctuating counsels, the unsteady measures, and a general inconsistency in the conduct of his Imperial Majesty. That his laws and decrees, which were perpetually succeeding, and in continual variation with one another, were consistent only in this, that they had all of them an immediate tendency not only to overthrow the discipline of the church, and to efface from the minds of the people every trace of their native piety and religion, but likewise to annihilate the national customs and usages, the privileges of the cities, and the liberties of the citizens. The declaration of the states of Brabant was little calculated to make any impression in their favour on the mind of the Emperor; jea

lousy

lousy and resentment increased on both sides, burst into acts of open hostility but the first blow was struck by the injured and oppressed party.

A body of insurgents, towards the end of October 1789, without much resistance, took the two small forts of Lillo and Liefenshock, which had been originally constructed by the Dutch, to prevent all intercourse between the sea and Antwerp; but which, being of little importance, had been given up to the vanity of the Emperor, in the adjustment of the late differences respecting the navigation of the Scheldt. In Fort Lillo, besides the military stores, they found a considerable sum of money. They likewise seized a frigate, which had been stationed off Lillo, in the vain parade of appearing to protect a trade that was not permitted to exist, or perhaps as a kind of protest that the dominion over the Scheldt belonged to the Imperialists. General d'Alton sent General Schroeder against the invaders, atthe head of 4,000 troops, well disciplined. On the advance of this force the insurgents abandoned the two forts, and retreated towards Turnhout, a small town situated about eight miles to the north-east of the forts. The Imperialists pursued them closely: but with all their expedition they could only obtain sight of a small party who brought up their rear, and who were immediately received within the gates before they could come up with them. The gates were instantly shut; but soon forced by the Imperialists, who made good

their way into the town. The Brabanters, as they retreated along the main street, which they did in good order, maintained a hot fire,not without considerable execution on their pursuers. In this manner the Imperialists were drawn farther and farther into the town, until Schroeder, with his whole force in a compact body, arrived at the marketplace. Here he was saluted with a roar of artillery from different openings: while a fire of small arms deliberately pointed, still more tremendous, incessantly poured from the roofs and windows of all the surrounding houses. The number and compacted order of the assailants, which in other circumstances might have been their strength, was now their weakness. Schroeder, caught in the toils of crossstreets, houses, lanes, and unknown passages,laboured for extrication by the greatest presence of mind and personal courage in vain. Two horses were shot under him, and he was severely wounded. His troops, to withstand the intolerable fire that streamed upon them in every direction, fell into immediate confusion, and made a very disorderly retreat out of Turnhout, by the gate at which they entered. Their loss was computed at no less than 700 men, besides at least two pieces of cannon. The date of this event is October 27th, 1789.* The rage of the Austrians at this unexpected defeat and disaster, was vented in the most frightful massacres.

The indignation of the Emperor at this "shameful affair," as he considered

VOL. XXXIII.

sidered it and pronounced it to be, was extreme. Schroeder was stripped of all his military commands, and ordered to return to Germany. The misfortune of Count Schroeder, who had enjoyed a considerable military reputation, evidently arose from the contempt in which he held raw and undisciplined troops; and the eagerness with which he grasped at the glory of crushing at once the insurrection, and restoring the provinces to their wonted obedience; for there were two other columns of troops on their march to join him: so that by only enclosing the insurgents in the town, they must have been compelled to surrender in a few days for want of provisions.

The success at Turnhout awakened by hope all the passions that warmed the breasts of the Belgian patriots into an ardent flame. The emigrants assuming the name of patriotic troops and patriotic army, penetrated the open frontiers, in more or less numerous bands, on every quarter. The peasants in Brabant, Flanders, Namur, Hainault, and other provinces, embodied themselves wherever the immediate presence of the Austrians did not restrain their motions. All ranks of men burned with impatience to join their countrymen in the field, so that they might be entitled to some share of the praise due for the deliverance of their country from foreign tyrants.

The action at Turnhout was followed in a few days by another, in some points of a similar nature, at Tirlemont, a large town in Brabant, on the river Geet, nine miles southeast from Louvain. A small body of patriots,closely pursued by General Bender, just arrived with his

pro

regiment from Luxemburgh, had taken refuge in that place; but into which, being an open town, Bender forced his way sword in hand. The inhabitants of Tirlemont, though they had no artillery, and were but badly provided with small arms and ammunition, immediately and universally took part with their countrymen, determined to afford them protection, or to perish in the attempt. The small band of patriots, mingling and supported by those generous citizens, kept up as constant a fire from the roofs and windows of the houses as their vision of arms and ammunition could possibly supply,and defended every house, street, and avenue, with the utmost intrepidity. On the other hand, the Austrians penetrating into many houses and even churches, perpetrated such massacres as had been committed by their countrymen in their retreat from Turnhout, and which we shudder to relate. The conflict was continued with unabated fury and obstinacy on both sides, till the ap proach of night compelled General Bender to relinquish his enterprize and withdraw his troops. In this paltry and disgraceful affair, the loss of lives on both sides, including in that number both sexes and all ages and conditions, was said to amount to 1300. It was stated by the patriots, that in General Bender's retreat from Tirlemont in the night, he met General d'Alton full in his way, at the head of a strong detachment to his assistance; and that each party fired on the other, under the double mistake of their being mutually enemies; and that several hundreds were killed and wounded on both sides before the

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