In 1584, the Prince of Orange was assassinated by Balthazar Gerard, a Catholic fanatic:  the war was continued till 1609, when it was suspended by a truce of twelve years.  At the expiration of it, the war burst forth with fresh fury:  it was finally terminated by the peace of Munster, or Westphalia, in 1648, when the King of Spain acknowledged, in the fullest manner, the INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEVEN UNITED PROVINCES, and of all their possessions in Asia, Africa, and America.

V.4.

Their Constitution and principal Officers.

[Sidenote:  Constitution of the Netherlands.]

Thus the United Provinces became a confederacy of seven independent principalities, called in the aggregate the States General.  Several years elapsed before their constitution was finally settled.  Then, the supreme sovereignty of the whole was considered to be vested in the people of every province represented by the States.  These consisted of deputies appointed to them from the different provinces.  Each province might send to the assembly more than one deputy; but, whatever was the number of deputies sent by them, they had one vote only in the proceedings of the assembly.  The government of each province was vested in its states:  these were composed of two orders, the deputies from the towns, and those from the equestrian order.

Each province contained several independent republics.

The States General could not make war or peace, or enter into alliances, or raise money, without the consent of all the seven provinces; nor did the decrees of any one of the States bind the constituent parts of it, without their consent.

[Sidenote:  Constitution of the Netherlands.]

The Stadtholder was appointed by the States General, and held his office at their will.  The offices of captain-general and admiral were united in him:  thus he had the appointment of all military commands, both by sea and land; and had considerable influence and power in the nomination to civil offices.  Three officers,—­the treasurer, the conservator of the peace, and the grand pensionary, were appointed by the States General, and were immediately subject to their controul; they were wholly independent of the Stadtholder.  The grand pensionary was always supposed to be profoundly versed in civil, ecclesiastical, and consuetudinary law; and in foreign diplomacy.  All transactions between subjects or foreigners with the States General, passed through his hands.  He attended the deliberations of the States; he was not entitled to vote, but was expected to sum up the arguments on each side, and to deliver his opinion upon them.  Each province had its advocate, syndic or pensionary; a public officer who superintended their public concerns; and represented them, but only with a deliberative voice, in the assembly of the States.

[Sidenote:  Brief View of the History of the Netherlands.]