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But the Vonckists, as they were called, formed but a small minority compared with the besotted mass; and, overwhelmed by fanaticism on the one hand, and despotism on the other, they were unable to act effectually for the public good.
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.
When, on November 14th, he was offered the keys of Brussels by the magistrates, he refused them, saying: "Keep the keys yourselves and keep them carefully; let no foreigner rule you any more, for you are not made for such a fate." Greatly impressed by the warm reception given him in Mons and Brussels by the Vonckists, he did not realize that the country was far from being unanimous.
The violent party which now ruled at Brussels had ungratefully forgotten the eminent services of Vander Mersch, and accused him of treachery, merely from his attachment to the noble views and principles of the widely-increasing party of the Vonckists.
As a matter of fact, the Brabançonne revolution was far more conservative than progressive. The intellectual Vonckists, who had always been in a minority, were practically ignored on the morrow of the victory, and Van der Noot assumed power.
Any effort made by the Vonckists to infuse the new Constitution with the principles of the Rights of Man and popular sovereignty was not only resisted, but strongly resented, and soon a regular persecution of the progressive bourgeois and nobles was organized by the "statistes" led by Van der Noot.
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