CHAPTER XXI.
FROM THE PEACE OF UTRECHT TO THE INCORPORATION OF BELGIUM WITH THE FRENCH REPUBLIC A.D.

1713--1794 Quadruple Alliance--General Peace of Europe--Wise Conduct of the Republic--Great Danger from the bad State of the Dikes--Death of the Emperor Charles VI .-- Maria Theresa Empress--Her heroic Conduct--Battle of Dettingen--Louis XV.

invades the Netherlands--Conferences for Peace at Breda--Battle of Fontenoy--William IV.

Stadtholder and Captain-General--Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle--Death of the Stadtholder, who is succeeded by his Son William V .-- War of Seven Years--State of the Republic--William V.Stadtholder--Dismemberment of Poland--Joseph II.

Emperor--His attempted Reforms in Religion--War with England--Sea-Fight on the Doggerbank--Peace with England, 1784--Progress of Public Opinion in Europe, in Belgium, and Holland--Violent Opposition to the Stadtholder--Arrest of the Princess of Orange--Invasion of Holland by the Prussian Army--Agitation in Belgium--Vander Noot--Prince Albert of Saxe-Teschen and the Archduchess Maria Theresa joint Governors-General--Succeeded by Count Murray--Riots--Meetings of the Provisional States--General Insurrection--Vonckists--Vander Mersch--Takes the Command of the Insurgents--His Skilful Conduct--He gains the Battle of Turnhout--Takes Possession of Flanders--Confederation of the Belgian Provinces--Death of Joseph II .-- Leopold Emperor--Arrest of Vander Mersch--Arrogance of the States-General of Belgium--The Austrians overrun the Country--Convention at The Hague--Death of Leopold--Battle of Jemmappes--General Dumouriez--Conquest of Belgium by the French--Recovered by the Austrians--The Archduke Charles Governor-General--War in the Netherlands--Duke of York--The Emperor Francis--The Battle of Fleurus--Incorporation of Belgium with the French Republic--Peace of Leoben--Treaty of Campo-Formio..