Quadruple Alliance--General Peace of Europe--Wise Conduct of the Republic--Great Danger from the bad State of the Dikes--Death of the Emperor Charles VI.--Maria Theresa Empress--Her heroic Conduct--Battle of Dettingen--Louis XV. invades the Netherlands--Conferences for Peace at Breda--Battle of Fontenoy--William IV. Stadtholder and Captain-General--Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle--Death of the Stadtholder, who is succeeded by his Son William V.--War of Seven Years--State of the Republic--William V. Stadtholder--Dismemberment of Poland--Joseph II. Emperor--His attempted Reforms in Religion--War with England--Sea-Fight on the Doggerbank--Peace with England, 1784--Progress of Public Opinion in Europe, in Belgium, and Holland--Violent Opposition to the Stadtholder--Arrest of the Princess of Orange--Invasion of Holland by the Prussian Army--Agitation in Belgium--Vander Noot--Prince Albert of Saxe-Teschen and the Archduchess Maria Theresa joint Governors-General--Succeeded by Count Murray--Riots--Meetings of the Provisional States--General Insurrection--Vonckists--Vander Mersch--Takes the Command of the Insurgents--His Skilful Conduct--He gains the Battle of Turnhout--Takes Possession of Flanders--Confederation of the Belgian Provinces--Death of Joseph II.--Leopold Emperor--Arrest of Vander Mersch--Arrogance of the States-General of Belgium--The Austrians overrun the Country--Convention at The Hague--Death of Leopold--Battle of Jemmappes--General Dumouriez--Conquest of Belgium by the French--Recovered by the Austrians--The Archduke Charles Governor-General--War in the Netherlands--Duke of York--The Emperor Francis--The Battle of Fleurus--Incorporation of Belgium with the French Republic--Peace of Leoben--Treaty of Campo-Formio. CHAPTER XXII FROM THE INVASION OF HOLLAND BY THE FRENCH TO THE RETURN OF THE PRINCE OF ORANGE A.D. 1794--1818 Pichegru invades Holland--Winter Campaign--The Duke of York vainly resists the French Army--Abdication of the Stadtholder--Batavian Republic--War with England--Unfortunate Situation of Holland--Naval Fight--English Expedition to the Helder--Napoleon Bonaparte--Louis Bonaparte named King of Holland--His popular Conduct--He abdicates the Throne--Annexation of Holland to the French Empire--Ruinous to the Prosperity of the Republic--The people desire the Return of the Prince of Orange--Confederacy to effect this Purpose--The Allied Armies advance toward Holland--The Nation rises to throw off the Yoke of France--Count Styrum and his Associates lead on that Movement, and proclaim the Prince of Orange, who lands from England--His first Proclamation--His second Proclamation. CHAPTER XXIII FROM THE INSTALLATION OF WILLIAM I. AS PRINCE-SOVEREIGN OF THE NETHERLANDS TO THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO A.D. 1813--1815