The reverses of the United Provinces continued, and the aggrandisement of the Stadtholderate increased proportionally.  As yet William IV. had no male issue.  In 1748, the Orange faction proposed that the Stadtholderate should be declared hereditary; and that, in default of males, females should be admitted into the succession.  After some opposition the measure was carried in all the provinces, except Frizeland and Groningen.  From this time the United Provinces ceased to be a republic, and became a monarchy, limited by the antient usages and institutions.  William IV. died in 1749.

XIV. 3.

From the Death of William IV. till the Erection of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

1749-1815.

At the death of William IV.  William, his son, and afterwards his successor in the Stadtholderate, was an infant, in very tender years.  His mother was named by the states Governess of the United Provinces.  She appointed the Duke of Brunswick to the command of their armies; thus, after all their exertions and sacrifices for liberty, the United Provinces became subject to the government of an English princess and a German prince; and an English party became predominant in their politics; William V. married a princess of Prussia, and thus the Orange party was strengthened by Prussian influence.

[Sidenote:  XIV. 3.  From the death of William IV. till the erection of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.]

These opposite, and conflicting interests, filled every province, with dissension; and, on some occasions, armed one body of citizens against another.  The English party, sided with the Orange faction; the French, with the republicans.  At first the latter prevailed; they led the states into measures, which forced England to declare war against them.  In 1782, they acknowledged the independence of the United States of America.  Still, the dissensions continued.  After a long conflict, the republican party acquired the ascendant; they suspended the Prince of Orange from his functions, and filled all the principal places of trust with their own adherents.  But the Orange party soon rallied; the Duke of Brunswick entered Holland at the head of a victorious army, and, in 1787, re-established the Stadtholderate.

[Sidenote:  CHAP.  XIV. 1749-1816.]

His victorious career, was soon terminated.  In 1799, the revolutionary army of France made themselves masters of the whole territory of the United States; and established The Batavian Republic.  It was successively governed, but always under the overpowering controul of France, by a Convention, a Directory, and a Consul, with the appellation of Grand Pensionary.  In 1806, even these forms of her antient government were abolished; Napoleon sending Louis, one of his brothers, to reign over the United Provinces, with the title and powers of royalty; but with an intimation, that France was entitled to his