'Rather than sign the separation of thirteen provinces, like my brother George,' says Catherine II.

sweetly, 'I would have put a bullet through my head.' 'And rather than give in my resignation like my brother and brother-in-law, by convoking and assembling the nation to talk over abuses, I don't know what I wouldn't have done,' says Joseph II." Before the two allies could carry out their designs against Turkey, that ancient power, enfeebled as it was, had taken the offensive at the instigation of England; the King of Sweden, on his side, invaded Russia; war burst out in all directions.

The traditional influence of France remained powerless in the East to maintain peace; the long weakness of the government was everywhere bearing fruit.
Nowhere was this grievous impotence more painfully striking than in Holland.

Supported by England, whose slavish instrument he had been for so long, the stadtholder William V.was struggling, with the help of the mob, against the patriotic, independent, and proud patricians.

For the last sixty years the position of Holland had been constantly declining in Europe.