10). The Belgian congress, on its assembly, appointed baron Surlet de Chokier provi sional regent, but on the 9th July elected prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg king, who entered Brussels on the 21st of the same month, and subscribed the laws of the constitu tion. This prince proved himself one of the wisest monarchs of modern times. He died in 1865, and was succeeded by his son, Leopold II., the present king of Belgium. Hol land refused to acknowledge the validity of the decision of the London congress, and declared war against 13., which was speedily terminated by France and England—Hol land securing that B. should annually pay 8,400,000 guilders as interest for its share in the national debt of Holland. The latter country, however, was still dissatisfied, and ventured to employ force. England and France were compelled to interfere. The block ade of the coast of Holland brought the Dutch to term's, and the dispute was closed by a treaty signed in London, May 21, 1833.
The monarchy of B. is hereditary, according to the law of primogeniture, but with a perpetual exclusion of females desceudants. The legislative power is vested in the king and two chambers; and the king has the power to dissolve either the senate or the house of representatives, or both. The number of deputies in 1809 was 116, sent by 41 electoral districts. Electors must be Belgians by birth or naturalization, must have attained 25 years of age, and pay taxes, each to the amount of £1 13s. 4d. Members of the chamber of representatives require no property qualification. The senate consists of half the number of representatives, and is elected by the same constituency, but for 8 years instead of 4. A senator must be 40 years of age, and must pay at least 1000 florins of direct taxes. The budget is annually voted by the chambers, and the contingent of the army is also subject to their annual vote.
In 1842, a law was carried in both chambers, by which it was enacted that the parishioners should be bound to provide elementary schools, according to the wants of the population, in all places where the want of education was not fully supplied by vol untary means. The main regulations for the universities were effected by the ministry of De Theux, 1835; but the organization of intermediate instruction (that is, between the ecules primaries and the universities) was postponed, as involving some delicate party interests, until 1850; and even then was not concluded in a way satisfactory to the Cath olic clergy.
In 1838, it seemed as if Holland and B. were likely to engage in war once more. According to the " twenty-four articles" of the "definitive treaty," B. was under obli gation to give up Limburg and a part of Luxemburg during the above-mentioned year. This it now refused to do, and put its army on a war-footing; but its obstinacy finally gave way to the unanimous decision of the five great powers.
After 1840, the opposition of the Catholic to the liberal party became more and more decided. The elections of June 8, 1841, were attended with great excitement, and it was a significant fact that the liberal candidates re-elected were everywhere returned by large majorities, while in the principal towns where Catholics were returned, only small majorities appeared. Meantime, however, commerce progressed undera wise and liberal policy.
In July, 1845, the liberal Van de Weyer, at the head of a new administration, endeav ored to confirm the so-called "union" of Catholics and liberals. But he had scarcely asserted the prerogative of the civil power in matters pertaining to the question of edu cation in the "intermediate schools," when he was forsaken by his colleagues, who acted under the influence of the Catholic priesthood. In Mar., 1846, a purely Catholic minis try was formed under the presidency of Dc Theux. This was an anachronism, for the elections of 184.5 had secured a victory for the liberals.
The elections of 1847 at last brought to a close the system of government in subser vience to the church. A new liberal ministry was formed by Borrier and others, whose programme of policy promised the maintenance of the independent civil authority in all its subordinate functionaries; a budget favorable to the public with regard to duties, on provisions; and measures to promote the interests of agriculture. The institution of numerous agricultural and commercial schools, normal ateliers, popular libraries, and other means used for raising the working-classes, were 'followed by most beneficial results. The revolutionary tempest of 1848, however, menaced the tranquillity of the country; but the king, at the outbreak of the catastrophe in France, promptly declared himself ready to retain or to surrender the crown of B., according to the decision of the people. This frank and ready declaration had a successful result in strengthening the party of order, while it disarmed even those most disaffected to the crown.
In July, 1848, the result of the elections was found to be a great strengthening of the liberal-constitutional party. In Nov., 1849, a new commercial treaty for 10 years was concluded with France, and the duration of the treaty with the German zollverein was lengthened. In 1850, the educational question was supposed to be settled on Soundly liberal principles; but since then there has been a keen struggle between the progressists and the ultramontanes. At present the question of liberal advance in education and reli gion in B. is, as it is in Prussia, France, and Italy, a question of very considerable interest.
Nothomb's Traraux Publics en Belgium (Bruss. 1839); Statistique de la B., bythe same author (1848); Juste, HLstoire de B. (5th ed., 1868); Popliment, La B. depuis Can 1830 (Bruss. 1850). . . . _ „