ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE NETHERLANDS.
DEAR SPECTATOR, Pays Bays, October 5th 1830.
THE Daily Papers have doubtless interested the sensitive public of Great Britain with ample details of the horrors committed in the attack upon Brussels—not one-tenth part of which are, how ever, true. Great evils have undoubtedly befallen the place, and a great deal of blood has been shed ; but the Belgian invention, though perhaps not equal to the production of an epic, is most prolific in lies—it is impossible to believe the narration of what takes place in the next street, and the story increases in intensity • directly as a very high power of the distance. The Bruxellois have fought well and long ; the Dutch have also run away—nevertheless, without committing more atrocities at a stroke than all their bloody ancestors ever did in the East. The Revolution may be said to be secure, though it is still most difficult to say what exact form it will now take. A Provisional Government has, as you know, been now established more than a week ; at the head of which is DE POTTER, who a few months ago was tried for his life, and the advocate who defended him in the case, SYLVAIN VANDER WEYER, together with some other persons of various note. This Government is in full activity, and every day turns out old functionaries and appoints new ones, in the most orderly manner in the world. The newly-appointed governors (or prefects) of provinces seem as yet shy of acceptance. M. DE MauLENAEaz and M. VILAIN XIV., who have been respectively appointed to East and West Flanders, whose capitals are Ghent and Bruges, have both refused, though both are Liberals of the first water : they are in fact men of high name and influence, and probably wish to be asked again a few days hence, when events may take a somewhat more decided turn, and honour may be had with less danger. In the mean time, justice is administered in the name of the Provisional Government, and in Belgium no one is heard to lift a voice of discontent. The Journal de Gand, one of the most able and the most violent of the Ministerial journals, has just:published a sort of recantation, preaching order, and philosophizing upon the necessity of resignation—declaring at the same time, that it always has been a constitutional paper, and will continue to be constitutional—i. e. whatever the constitution may be. You, out of the country, and not familiar with the former tone and consequence of this journal, will not be able to perceive the laughableness Of this, and its importance as a sign of the times. Belgium is without a soldier at this moment. The way in which the numerous fortresses have fallen into the hands of the people is curious. The soldiers ran away by twos and threes, till the few Dutch that remained were obliged to ask leave to follow them. Every man of them is now at home, wearinc, his regimentals and a great revolutionary cockade. They are about, however, to be recognized by the new Government; in the mean time, the behests of the Government are backed by strong Free Companies of Va. lunteers, commanded by old soldiers. All this time, WILLIAM and the States are going on _ J nothing had happened. They have just come toao:%* e-• the two countries aught to be separated. and a c pointed to deliberate on the means, at the very time that the King's forces are flying the country, and a new Government is in full force !
The King has put up a proclamation in Brussels, which was immediately torn down, promising the Belgians all they want, and more than they want—for he offers them his son the Prince of Orange for a Viceroy. It is too late—they will have no more of the Nassaus ; and hence, I fear, new quarrels and new obstacles to a settlement will arise.
Revolutions have their comic as well as tragic side. I assure you, there is a great deal here to laugh at as well as to cry at.
Yours, O'HIGGINS.
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