CHAPTER IV

THE COERCION OF HOLLAND

The Reform Bill and the House of Lords--Death of Casimir Périer--A Republican insurrection in Paris and a Royalist rebellion in La Vendée--Death of the Duc de Reichstadt--The Belgian treaty--Durham at St. Petersburg--Palmerston's proposals to the Court of the Hague--Stockmar's advice to Leopold--France and England resolved to coerce the King of the Netherlands--The absolute Courts--London Conference breaks up--Scene between Louis Philippe and M. Dupin--The _Doctrinaires_--Broglie's conditions--The position in England--The Tories--King William IV.--Granville's warning--Attitude of the Northern Courts--The Convention of October 22nd, 1832--Claim put forward by French minister at Brussels--Siege of Antwerp--Sympathies of the Tories with the Dutch--Proposal made to Prussia by France and England--Capitulation of Antwerp--Convention of May 21, 1833--Palmerston's skilful conduct of the negotiations--Talleyrand 118-144