Berkeley And Jefferson Intelligencer

HOLLAND.

Extract of a letter from the Hague, February 4, 1804.

"I will give you a proof of the public spirit in this country. Last Saturday a firing was distinctly heard here, at Rotterdam, at Leyden, every where in this vicinity; a report was circulated at the same time, that the Duke of York had landed with one hundred thousand men in two points, in Zealand and near the Texel. Immediately, every countenance almost bespoke satisfaction, and every heart rejoiced: congratulations were mutually given and received. Orange cockades again appeared in the windows of the Milliners, and on the bonnets of the ladies. Our French brothers were insulted, and our Gallic patriots trembling. Expresses were sent to Amsterdam and to Germany, to announce this joyful news. What made this report gain ground was, the visible anxiety of our Directors, and the surprising modest language of the French Generals, who, in four hours, sent six couriers to Zealand and to North Holland. From the want of patriotism however, in our ungrateful countrymen, they were so long detained on the road, that it was not until last Monday, we knew that the firing originated from Admiral Verneul, trying the strength of our gun boats, of which many broke to pieces, from carrying too heavy metal.

"At the return of the courier our French oppressors laughed in their turn. The Government archives, which had been packed up, were unpacked; the orange colours disappeared; a gloom of discontent was universally spread—and while one sex were sighing, the others were crying. Several of our citizens were arrested by orders of the Directory, the Batavian tools of our French tyrant. For forty-eight hours, nothing was talked of but hanging, guillotining, or shooting en masse. But General Victor, who arrived from his head-quarters, at Utrecht, last Wednesday, determined to let us feel the displeasure of the Great Nation in a more sensible manner by laying us under another severe and forced contribution; severe sans example. We have, however, one consolation, thanks to the continuance of French fraternity! we are unable to pay those enormous contributions already decreed."

[English pap.]