the Regent the crying need of retrenchment.  Anne accepted their advice as to the means by which economies might be effected and a reduction of expenses be brought about.  Among these was the disbanding of some of the military forces, including a part of the body-guard.  To this the regent consented, though characteristically without consulting Brunswick.  The captain-general felt aggrieved, but allowed the reduction to be made without any formal opposition.  No measure, however, of a bold and comprehensive financial reform, like that of John de Witt a century earlier, was attempted.

The navy had at the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle been in an even worse condition than the army; and the stadholder, as admiral-general, had been urging the Admiralties to bestir themselves and to make the fleet more worthy of a maritime power.  But William’s premature death brought progress to a standstill; and it is noteworthy that such was the supineness of the States-General in 1752 that, while Brunswick was given the powers of captain-general, no admiral-general was appointed.  The losses sustained by the merchants and ship-owners through the audacity of the Algerian pirates roused public opinion, however; and in successive years squadrons were despatched to the Mediterranean to bring the sea-robbers to reason.  Admiral Boudaen in 1755 contented himself with the protection of the merchantmen, but Wassenaer in 1756 and 1757 was more aggressive and compelled the Dey of Algiers to make terms.

Meanwhile the rivalry between France and England on the one hand, and between Austria and Prussia on the other, led to the formation of new alliances, and placed the Dutch Republic in a difficult position.  The peace of Aix-la-Chapelle was but an armed truce.  The French lost no time in pushing forward ambitious schemes of colonial enterprise in North America and in India.  Their progress was watched with jealous eyes by the English; and in 1755 war broke out between the two powers.  The Republic was bound to Great Britain by ancient treaties; but the activities of the French ambassador, D’Affry, had been successful in winning over a number of influential Hollanders and also the court-cabal to be inclined to France and to favour strict neutrality.  The situation was immensely complicated by the alliance concluded between Austria and France on May 1, 1756.

This complete reversal of the policy, which from the early years of William III had grouped England, Austria and the States in alliance against French aggression, caused immense perturbation amongst the Dutch statesmen.  By a stroke of the pen the Barrier Treaty had ceased to exist, for the barrier fortresses were henceforth useless.  The English ambassador, Yorke, urged upon the Dutch government the treaty right of Great Britain to claim the assistance of 6000 men and twenty ships; Austria had the able advocacy of D’Affry in seeking to induce the States to become parties to the Franco-Austrian alliance.  The regent, though