NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE closing of the ordinary session of the Dutch States General on the 13th, and their reopening on the 15th, have given to King WILLIAM an opportunity of making a speech on the state of the contest between Holland and Belgium, as well as of the exterior and interior relations of the former. He continues to talk of Bel- gium as if it were no more than a revolted province, and without an allusion even to its present constitutional status, or the recogni- tion of its independence by the Five Powers; and describes his • own patience and long-suffering as insulted, rather than those of his antagonist, by their protracted struggle- " During the hit months of your sitting, a strong hope more than once arose, that, by the opening of the present session, I might be ableto communicate to you the termination of the weighty difficulties in which our beloved country has been involved for upwards of two years, in consequence of the revolt in Bel- gium ; but my reasonable expectations have not been fulfilled. "The moderation evinced by the Northern Netherlands, and the sacrifices which I myself offered, instead of leading to a reasonable adjustment, have ulti- mately only produced an augmentation of the demands upon us. You will be convinced, from the communications which I shall lay before you respecting the state of the negotiations on my part, that on our side we have gone to the utmost bounds of condescension which were traced by the very existence and the honour and independence of the country." If we believe King WILLIAM, the language of the Conference and the assurances of its members must be very conflicting- " In the mean time, it is gratifying to me that I am enabled to inform you, that I receive from the Foreign Powers many proofs of the deep interest they take in our affairs."
There is not much appearance, in this language, of anticipated armaments, directed by those very Powers towards the extension of that condescension which has already gone to its utmost bounds.
The remainder of the speech describes the state of the Dutch warlike preparations, the tranquillity of their colonies, the pros- perous state of their commerce and shipping, the abundance of the harvest, the flourishing state of the arts and sciences [the puff na- tional], and the mildness of the cholera. In short, while all the world beside is in a state of unrest, the happy Hollow-land sits smiling in the bosom of the sea, rejoicing over its overflowing cup. For all this, a price, in the nature of things, was to be paid- " Heavy, however, are the burdens which the nation must yet bear, and the future remains still clouded."
"But," the document concludes-
" The sense of honour and patriotism which unanimously pervades the whole nation, makes her bear those burdens with a universal good-will, and contribute with enthusiasm to the maintenance and protection of her national character.
"Those feelings, High and Mighty Lords, must give us confidence. A nation who do not forget the glory of their ancestors, and who render themselves so eminent in the present day by their attachment to law and good order, has a claim to respect from foreign countries. In the unanimity, of the people, and in the justness of our cause, we find the strongest support ; and by a mutual par- ticipation in the exigencies of the state, we have the firmest hope, that, with full confidence in the Omnipotent Ruler of the world, in proper time we shall be enabled to let our fellow-countrymen reap the fruit of the noblest perseverance."
Of the fleet which is 'destined to put to the test the courage of King WILLIAM and his men, and which is announced 'for ren- dezvous on the 5th November, the following has been given as a correct list—. _ • The Talavera, 74; Wellesley, '74; Revenge, 76; Spartiate, 76; Donegal, 74; "Vernon, 50; Southampton, 50; Stag, 46; Castor, 36; Conway, 28; Volage, 28; Nimrod, IS ; Childers, 18; Rover, 18 ; Scout, 18; Satellite, 18; Larne, IS; Snake, 16; and the Rhadamanthus and Dee, steam-vessels. It would appear, however, from the note of Lord PALMERSTON to the Ministers of Prussia, Austria, and Russia, of which the Times a Wednesday gave the substance, that these three Powers are by oo means friendly to coei'cive Measures, thciugh they do not'object :th a blockade. We shall; we suppose; be left to vindicate the dignity of LEOPOLD'S Governmenf, and th'enforce the demands-of-the Con- ierence, to our unassisted efforts,--happy if at length we can -accomplish either. The icingof Holland has the Winter and its winds and fogs with him.
