an English princess, was scarcely less zealous than were the council-pensionary Steyn, Brunswick and most of the leading burgher-regents in desiring to preserve strict neutrality.  To England the answer was made that naval and military help were not due except in case of invasion.  The French had meanwhile been offering the Dutch considerable commercial privileges in exchange for their neutrality, with the result that Dutch merchantmen were seized by the English cruisers and carried into English ports to be searched for contraband.

The princess had a very difficult part to play.  Delegations of merchants waited upon her urging her to exert her influence with the English government not to use their naval supremacy for the injury of Dutch trade.  Anne did her best, but without avail.  England was determined to stop all commercial intercourse between France and the West Indies.  Dutch merchantmen who attempted to supply the French with goods did so at their own risk.  Four deputations from Amsterdam and the maritime towns waited upon the princess, urging an increase of the fleet as a protection against England.  Other deputations came from the inland provinces, asking for an increase of the army against the danger of a French invasion.  The French were already in occupation of Ostend and Nieuport, and had threatening masses of troops on the Belgian frontier.  The regent, knowing on which side the peril to the security of the country was greatest, absolutely refused her consent to an increase of the fleet without an increase of the army.  The Estates of Holland refused to vote money for the army; and, having the power of the purse, matters were at a deadlock.  The Republic lay helpless and without defence should its enemies determine to attack it.  In the midst of all these difficulties and anxieties, surrounded by intrigues and counter-intrigues, sincerely patriotic and desirous to do her utmost for the country, but thwarted and distrusted on every side, the health of the regent, which had never been strong, gradually gave way.  On December 11, 1758, she went in person to the States-General, “with tottering steps and death in her face,” to endeavour to secure unity of action in the presence of the national danger, but without achieving her object.  The maritime provinces were obdurate.  Seeing death approaching, with the opening of the new year she made arrangements for the marriage of her daughter Caroline with Charles Christian, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg, and after committing her two children to the care of the Duke of Brunswick (with whom she had effected a reconciliation) and making him guardian of the young Prince of Orange, Anne expired on January 12, 1759, at the early age of forty-nine.