The people of the Netherlands, by their Constitution, are as much entitled to be called free as any nation upon earth. The Austrian government (until some wild attempts the Emperor Joseph made on the French principle, but which have been since abandoned by the court of Vienna) has been remarkably mild. No people were more at their ease than the Flemish subjects, particularly the lower classes. It is curious to hear this great oculist talk of couching the _cataract_ by which the Netherlands were _blinded_, and hindered from seeing in its proper colors the beautiful vision of the French republic, which he has himself painted with so masterly an hand. That people must needs be dull, blind, and brutalized by fifteen hundred years of superstition, (the time elapsed since the introduction of Christianity amongst them,) who could prefer their former state to the _present state of France_! The reader will remark, that the only difference between Brissot and his adversaries is in the _mode_ of bringing other nations into the pale of the French republic. _They_ would abolish the order and classes of society, and all religion, at a stroke: Brissot would have just the same thing done, but with more address and management.--TRANSLATOR. [9] See the correspondence of Dumouriez, especially the letter of the 12th of March. [10] They have not as yet proceeded farther with regard to the English dominions. Here we only see as yet _the good writings_ of Paine, and of his learned associates, and the labors of the _missionary clubs_, and other zealous instructors.--TRANSLATOR. [11] The same thing will happen in Savoy. The persecution of the clergy has soured people's minds. The commissaries represent them to us as good Frenchmen. I put them to the proof. Where are the legions? How! thirty thousand Savoyards,--are they not armed to defend, in concert with us, their liberty?--BRISSOT. [12] _Portefeuille_ is the word in the original. It signifies all movable property which may be represented in bonds, notes, bills, stocks, or any sort of public or private securities. I do not know of a single word in English that answers it: I have therefore substituted that of _Iron Chests_, as coming nearest to the idea.--TRANSLATOR. [13] In the original _les reduire à la sansculotterie_. A LETTER TO WILLIAM ELLIOT, ESQ., OCCASIONED BY THE ACCOUNT GIVEN IN A NEWSPAPER OF THE SPEECH MADE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS BY THE **** OF ******* IN THE DEBATE CONCERNING LORD FITZWILLIAM. 1795. LETTER. BEACONSFIELD, May 28,1795. My dear sir,--I have been told of the voluntary which, for the entertainment of the House of Lords, has been lately played by his Grace the **** of *******, a great deal at my expense, and a little at his own. I confess I should have liked the composition rather better, if it had been quite new. But every man has his taste, and his Grace is an admirer of ancient music.