Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

INSURRECTION IN THE NETHERLANDS.

We have before had occasion to lament, that the brave people of Brabant, struggling for the recovery of their ancient liberties, should, like the Swiss, in the defence of theirs, remain unsupported by those whose interest is so intimately connected with their success. Without assistance, it would be vain to expect that peasants without arms and knowledge of war, should conquer troops of the line, completely armed and inured to all the dangers of war, and hardened against every sentiment of humanity. Placed between two chains of fortresses, sequestered from the whole world by the sea and the Rhine, divided by the Meuse into two distinct parts, and unable to combine their operations, we fear that the inhabitants of the Netherlands will not long keep the field, unless they are supported by foreign assistance.

They are without artillery as well as without a chief, and have no fortresses to retire into after a defeat: while the enemy have every where strong places to receive them in case of a disaster.

The example of La Vendee is by no means conclusive in regard to Belgium. The war in La Vendee was a civil war, and the Vendeans had numerous partizans among the troops sent against them. But the insurrection in Belgium is the revolt of a conquered country against the conquering nation; it is the struggle of despair against the pride of foreign soldiers, anxious to assert the splendor of their triumphs. Had a similar insurrection broken out in any part of the ancient possessions of France, most of the troops would have refused to fight, and the revolt, originating from a general cause, would have spread all over France.

There is only one power able to give the insurgents in the Netherlands an efficacious assistance, and to strike a decisive blow against the Directory. If 6000 foot, 2000 horse, arms, and artillery were to penetrate from the side of Wesel in the heart of the revolted provinces, the whole country extending from the Rhine to the sea, between ancient France and Holland would rise upon the French, and the sovereignty over Belgium would perhaps become the reward of its deliverer. The power to which we allude is obviously the king of Prussia; but here a question must arise, whether the emperor, the former sovereign of Belgium, could look upon such a movement with indifference; and it is perhaps in this mutual jealousy, existing between the Houses of Austria and Brandenburg, that the fatal delay of which we complain, originates, and which, if not speedily superseded by a more liberal policy, it will be in vain to attempt the DELIVERANCE of Europe.