The session was closed by a speech from the throne, on the SOth of May, in which his majesty, after express ing his satisfaction at the prosperous situation of the empire, and the general tranquillity of Europe, lamented the dissensions which unhappily prevailed among the states of the United Provinces.
Since the conclusion of the war with England, Hol land had been torn by internal dissensions. Involved, as she had been, in a quarrel with the Emperor of Ger from whose vengeance and rapacity she was with difficulty saved by the interference of France, the fac tion of the Louvestein and of the Prince of Orange came, in 1786, to actual civil war ; and the states of Holland took the violent resolution of suspending the stadtholder from his office of captain-general of the provinces. The new monarch of Prussia, Frederick William, whose sister was the Princess of Orange, feel ing for his relatives, and anxious to make a display of his power, interfered, through his ambassador, with the states general. They, more temperate in their views than the states of Holland, were unfortunately too feeble to overawe the latter, and were unable to settle the dis pute by the mediation of Prussia and Britain, although they wished to do so. The states of Holland, on the contrary, were in the interest of France, and solicited the court of Versailles to interpose their mediation. The French ambassador answered tardily, that his most Christian majesty would assist the Dutch, in case they were attacked by any foreign power. As soon as this declaration was known, it animated the court of Lon don to act with greater spirit and decision in support of the stadtholder, and the most vigorous naval pre parations were made to second the king of Prussia, in case France should oppose him by land. This promise was made by France in September ; but, in the mean time, an accidental circumstance having drawn the king of Prussia to change his remonstrances into actual hos tilities against the opponents of the stadtholder, decided the fate of Holland for the present, and afforded France an opportunity of evading her promise, since the in surgents were actually quelled before France could have interfered. The Princess of Orange, a bold and high spirited woman, had taken the resolution of going to the Hague and addressing the people, trusting to her own popularity and eloquence. She was, however, in sulted by the populace, and for some time kept a pri soner in their hands. This insult roused Frederick
William, who, at the head of 20,000 men, entered Hol land. The Dutch patriots fled every where before him. The cities most distinguished for democratical zeal surrendered almost as soon as summoned. On the 10th of October, Amsterdam opened its gates to the victor. Such was the event of Prussia's interference. In the mean time, the dignity of Mr Pitt's language, and the suddenness of his preparations, conspired, with the deranged state of the French finances, to intimidate that power from interfering farther, although very serious preparations by sea and land had followed her declaration of intending to succour the Dutch. In answer to the memorial of the Duke of Dorset, our ambassador at Paris, it was declared, that his most Christian majesty never had meant to interfere by force in the affairs of Holland, and that he agreed with plea sure to the proposal of his Britannic majesty for mutually disarming.
The present period of peace seemed to favour the growth of moral, as well as of physical prosperity in the country, and the session of 1788 was memorable for the first discussion that took place in parliament on the subject of abolishing the inhuman African slave trade. By the unfortunate indisposition of Mr Wilber force, the day appointed for that gentleman's motion for abolishing the traffic was passed, without his being able to fulfil his intention ; but, at the suggestion of Sir William Dolben, some regulations for restraining the cruelties practised aboard the slave-ships were enacted, which were confirmed and extended during the sub sequent year."' Perpetual disputes having arisen, as had been fore seen and foretold between the two Indian hoards of direction and controul, the minister thought proper to introduce his famous declaratory act, by which various new and important powers were conferred on the board of controul, under pretence of explaining the former. After this new act, not a doubt could remain, that the crown and the commissioners were invested even with superior powers of patronage over Indian affairs, to those which Mr Fox wished to have given to parlia ment in the bill which he proposed. The only dif ference was, that Mr Pitt had obtained for the crown an influence, which his opponent sought to gain to the representatives of the people, by a fair, single, and de cisive measure.