A far more unpopular measure was the introduction of military and naval conscription in 1811.  There never had been any but voluntary service in Holland.  Indeed during the whole period of the Republic, though the fleet was wholly manned by Dutch seamen, the army always included a large proportion of foreign mercenaries.  By the law of 1811 all youths of twenty were liable to serve for five years either on land or sea; and the contingent required was filled by the drawing of lots.  Deep and strong resentment was felt throughout the country, the more so that the law was made retrospective to all who had reached the age of twenty in the three preceding years.  The battalions thus raised were treated as French troops, and were sent to take part in distant campaigns—­in Spain and in Russia.  Of the 15,000 men who marched with Napoleon into Russia in 1812 only a few hundreds returned.

The strict enforcement of the Continental System entailed great hardships upon the population.  To such an extent was the embargo carried that all English manufactured goods found in Holland were condemned to be burnt; and the value of what was actually consumed amounted to millions of florins.  A whole army of custom-house officers watched the coast, and every fishing smack that put to sea had one on board.  At the same time not till 1812 was the customs barrier with France removed.  In consequence of this prices rose enormously, industries were ruined, houses were given up and remained unoccupied, and thousands upon thousands were reduced to abject poverty.  Such was the state of the treasury that in 1812 the reformed preachers received no stipends, and officials of all kinds had to be content with reduced salaries.

Nor were these the only causes of discontent.  The police regulations and the censorship of the press were of the severest description, and the land swarmed with spies.  No newspaper was permitted to publish any article upon matters of State or any political news except such as was sanctioned by the government, and with a French translation of the Dutch original.  This applied even to advertisements.  All books had to be submitted for the censor’s imprimatur.  Every household was subject to the regular visitation of the police, who made the most minute inquisition into the character, the opinions, the occupations and means of subsistence of every member of the household.

Nevertheless the French domination, however oppressive, had good results in that for the first time in their history the Dutch provinces acquired a real unity.  All the old particularism disappeared with the burgher-aristocracies, and the party feuds of Orangists and patriots.  A true sense of nationality was developed.  All classes of the population enjoyed the same political rights and equality before the law.  Napoleon himself was not unpopular.  In the autumn of 1811 he, accompanied by Marie Louise, made a state-progress through this latest addition to his empire.  Almost every important place was visited, and in all parts of the country he was received with outward demonstrations of enthusiasm and almost servile obsequiency.  It is perhaps not surprising, as the great emperor was now at the very topmost height of his dazzling fortunes.