an event. On every steeple the tri-coloured flag was displayed; salutes of artillery were fired from the men-of-war and bastions, and all the clocks of the city chimed patriotic airs[1]. In the evening the town was illuminated, and in the square before the stadthouse fire-works were exhibited. — The representatives of the French people on this occasion re-assured the Dutch of their independence.
By resigning almost entirely into the hands of the Dutch the management of their own affairs, the French representatives and generals during this period of revolutionary movement occupied comparatively but an inconsiderable proportion of the public attention. Of the representatives I learnt no particulars which deserve to be preserved; but General Pichegru, notwithstanding the<references>
- ↑ The Dutch patriotic airs possess much of that plaintiveness for which the Irish melodies are distinguished. — I cannot refrain from mentioning in this place, that when the British army entered Alkmaer, the carillons or chimes of that town regaled the ears of the troops with "God save the king."
