B. remained undisturbed by the seven years' war,, and during the long peace fol lowing the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, prosperity was restored. pecially during the mild reign of Maria Theresa of Austria, measures of public improvement were pro moted by prince Charles of Lorraine, governor of the Belgian provinces. The reign of Joseph if., son and successor of Maria Theresa, began in disputes with Holland. The latter country consented to the abolition of the harri?re-eontract, in consequence of which, several important fortresses were demolished, though the emperor failed in his endeavor to make free the navigation of the Scheldt. But the errors of his internal administration were the serious feature of his policy. By his innovations, he offended the religious sympathies of the people, and violated the legal privileges of the states, of which he had made the strict preservation a condition of obedience. In a short time, discontent openly manifested itself. The Austrian authorities were attacked; Brabant refused to pay taxes; while the more violent tied into Holland, and organized an armed expedition. Returning, they were joined by numbers of the inhabitants, defeated the' foreign troops, captured Brussels, and, in the beginning of 1790, declared their inde pendence. ln the course of the year, however, the Austrians succeeded in regaining possession of the country. The privileges of the state as they existed at the close of the reign of Maria Theresa were restored, and at the same time stringent measures were adopted to prevent any renewal of disturbances.. But this state of peace was soon interrupted by the obtbreak of the war of the French revolution. B. was conquered by Pie}tern in the campaign of 1794, and subsequently united to France by the treaties of Cainpo-Formio and Luneville. It now shared in the fortunes of France during the consulate and the empire; received the code Napoleon; and in all political relations was organized as a part of France. After the fall of Napoleon, it was united with Holland, and its boundaries defined by the congress of Vienna (May 31, 1815).
At the introduction of the new constitution, the want of national unity in language, faith, and manners was strikingly manifested by the two great parties—the Dutch Prot. estant population, with their commercial habits, on the one side, and the Catholic pop ulation; of agricultural and'manufacturing B., on the other. These natural and una voidable obstacles to the political harmony of the new kingdom, were further increased by the unfair treatment which B. experienced. All the more important provisions of the constitution had a regard chiefly to the interests of Holland. Repeated attempts were made to supersede the Belgian language by the Dutch in all affairsof administration and juris prudence, though the former were the more numerous people; the privileges of the Bel gian clergy were abridged; the poorer classes were severely taxed; while the govern ment was almost exclusively composed of Dutchmen. In 1830, among seven ministers, there was only one Belgian; among 117 functionaries of the ministry of the interior, only 11 Belgians; among 102 subordinates of the ministry at war, only 3 Belgians; and among 1573 officers of infantry, only 274 Belgians. B. was politically divided into two classes
—the Liberal and the Catholic. Both of these strongly resented and opposed the encroachments of Holland: the Liberals, from a desire to preserve the national secular institutions; the Catholics, from a desire to preserve the national church. The govern ment became alarmed at their increasing hostility; and ultimately, when their patriotic fusion rendered its position critical, it made several concessions; the supremacy of the Dutch language, and the taxes on the necessaries of life, were abolished. Efforts were also made to conciliate the Catholic priesthood. But these concessions came too late, and were, in consequence, only construed as signs of weakness. In 1828 and 1829, it was attempted to coerce and intimidate the opposition, by prosecuting the liberal or demo-. cratie leaders. This only fanned the fire of discontent, which was already burning fiercely in the hearts of the Belgians, and panting for an opportunity to break out into visible insurrection.
From 1830 to the present time.—The French revolution of 1830 afforded the desired occasion. On the king's birthday (Aug. 24, 1830), several riots occurred in various towns of Belgium. At this period, however, the idea of separation from Holland does not seem to have presented itself consciously to the Belgian mind; the deputies who were sent to the Hague to state the causes of the general dissatisfaction, merely insisted on its pos sessing a separate administration, with the redress of particular grievances. But the dilatory and obstructive conduct of the Dutch deputies in the states-general assembly at the Hague on the 13th Sept., exasperated the Belgian nation beyond measure. A new and more resolute insurrection immediately took place. In seven days, the people had deposed the old authorities, and appointed a provisional government. Prince Fred erick, the son of the sovereign, who commanded his father's troops, was compelled to retreat from Brussels to Antwerp, having suffered considerable loss. On the 4th Oct., B. was declared independent by the provisional government, composed of _Messieurs Rogier, D'Hooglivorst (commandant of the civic guard), Joly, an officer of engineers, and the secretaries Vanderlinden and De Coppin; count Felix de 316rode, Gendebien, an de Meyer, Nicola', and De Potter, the democratic leader. They also announced that a sketch of the new constitution was in course of preparation, and that a national congress of 200 deputies would shortly be called together. Freedom of education, of the press, of religious worship, etc., were proclaimed. Here and there, the new liberty showed a tendency to become anarchic; but its excesses were speedily suppressed; and at the national congress of the 10th Nov., out of 187 votes, only 13 were in favor of a democratic government. Meanwhile, the London congress had assembled, and after mature deliberation, reeogaited the the two kingdoms as a fait accompli (Dec.