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THE BATAVIAN REPUBLIC
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take an oath of hatred to the stadtholder. Delicacy, and a fine sense of religion and honour, would doubtless have prevented many persons from deriving advantage from this national liberality, had conditions been required of them which they could not in conscience submit; to the compassion of the government which provided for their wants, with a tender regard at the same time for their scruples, cannot therefore be sufficiently admired and praised.

Whatever change takes place in the government of Holland, it must first receive the approbation of the rulers of France; but it is not probable that any alteration will be attempted, which shall assimilate the executive administration of the Batavian to that of the French republic. The consular government, as it at present exists in France, is entirely repugnant to the cautious and reserved genius of the Dutch nation, and would be highly offensive to the patriotic party. On the dissolution of the present constitution of the Batavian republic, which can scarcely fail to happen in the course of