no greater than that
of the latter, and in fact the Dutch were able all the while to
maintain in that body a small working majority. Administrative offices
were filled, in large part, by Dutchmen, and the attitude quite
commonly assumed (in a measure, without doubt, unconsciously) by the
public authorities strongly suggested that Holland was the
preponderating power and Belgium little more than so much subjugated
territory. The upshot was discontent and eventual rebellion. In 1828
the principal political parties of Belgium, the Catholics and the
Liberals, drew together in the "Union," the object of which was to
bring about the recognition of Belgian independence, or, in the event
that this should prove impossible of attainment, the establishment of
thoroughgoing Belgian autonomy, with no union with Holland save of a
purely personal character through the crown. Inspired by the success
of the July Revolution in France, and hopeful of obtaining French
assistance, the Belgians in August, 1830, broke into open revolt.
After a period of violence, a provisional government at Brussels,
October 4, 1830, proclaimed Belgium's independence and summoned a
national congress to which was committed the task of drawing up a
scheme of government. Aroused by the imminent loss of half of his
dominion, King William, after an ineffectual display of military
force, offered concessions; and the States-General went so far as to
authorize the establishment in the southern provinces of a separate
administrative system, such as at one time would have met the Belgian
demand. The day for compromise, however, had passed. The Belgian
congress voted overwhelmingly for the establishment of an independent
monarchy, adopted (February 7, 1831) a liberal constitution, and, (p. 521)
after offering the throne without avail to the Duke of Nemours, second
son of Louis Philippe of France, selected as king the German Prince
Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, who, under the title of Leopold I., was
crowned July 21 of the same year.

*573. The Independence of Belgium.*--These proceedings involved the
overturning of an arrangement which the Allies in 1815 had considered
essential to the security of Europe. Several considerations,
however,--among them the outbreak of insurrection in Poland,--induced
the powers to acquiesce with unexpected readiness in the dissolution
of the loose-jointed monarchy. December 20, 1830, a conference of the
five principal powers at London formall