We thus see there was little sympathy between the members of the national family.  The first glance at the geographical position of Holland and Belgium might lead to a belief that their interests were analogous.  But we have traced the anomalies in government and religion in the two countries, which led to totally different pursuits and feelings.  Holland had sacrificed manufactures to commerce.  The introduction, duty free, of grain from the northern parts of Europe, though checking the progress of agriculture, had not prevented it to flourish marvellously, considering this obstacle to culture; and, faithful to their traditional notions, the Dutch saw the elements of well-being only in that liberty of importation which had made their harbors the marts and magazines of Europe.  But the Belgian, to use the expressions of an acute and well-informed writer, “restricted in the thrall of a less liberal religion, is bounded in the narrow circle of his actual locality.  Concentrated in his home, he does not look beyond the limits of his native land, which he regards exclusively.  Incurious, and stationary in a happy existence, he has no interest in what passes beyond his own doors.”

Totally unaccustomed to the free principles of trade, so cherished by the Dutch, the Belgians had found under the protection of the French custom-house laws, an internal commerce and agricultural advantages which composed their peculiar prosperity.  They found a consumption for the produce of their well-cultivated lands, at high prices, in the neighboring provinces of France.  The webs woven by the Belgian peasantry, and generally all the manufactures of the country, met no rivalry from those of England, which were strictly prohibited; and being commonly superior to those of France, the sale was sure and the profit considerable.

Belgium was as naturally desirous of the state of things as Holland was indifferent to it; but in could only have been accomplished by the destruction of free trade, and the exclusive protection of internal manufactures.  Under such discrepancies as we have thus traced in religion, character, and local interests, the two countries were made one; and on the new monarch devolved the hard and delicate task of reconciling each party in the ill-assorted match, and inspiring them with sentiments of mutual moderation.

Under the title of governor-general of the Netherlands (for his intended elevation to the throne and the definitive junction of Holland and Belgium were still publicly unknown), the Prince of Orange repaired to his new state.  He arrived at Brussels in the month of August, 1814, and his first effort was to gain the hearts and the confidence of the people, though he saw the nobles and the higher orders of the inferior classes (with the exception of the merchants) intriguing all around him for the re-establishment of the Austrian power.  Petitions on this subject were printed and distributed; and the models of those anti-national documents may still be referred to in a work published at the time.[8]