HOLLAND, the largeſt of the ſeven United Provinces, divided into South and North Holland, the latter of which is alſo called Weſt Frigland is bounded on the weſt by the German ocean, or North ſea; to the
Holland: the east by the Zuyder-see, the province of Utrecht, and part of Guelderland; to the south by Dutch Brabant and Zealand; and to the north by the Zuyder-see. Its greatest extent from north to south, including the island of Texel, is about 90 English miles; but from east to west its extent varies from 40 to 25. To defend it against the sea, dykes have been erected at an immense expense, and innumerable canals cut to drain it, as being naturally very low and marshy. Some parts of the province are very fruitful in corn; but the greater part consists of rich pastures, wherein are kept large herds of kine, which supply them with incredible quantities of butter and cheese. Of the latter, that of Edam, in North Holland, is highly esteemed. The many rivers and canals that intersect the province are of great advantage to its commerce, but contribute to render the air foggy and unwholesome. There is a communication by water betwixt almost every town and village. Towards the middle also of the province are great numbers of turf-pits. It is so populous, that the number of the inhabitants is computed at 1,200,000. In point of cleanliness no country surpasses, and few come up to it, especially in North Holland, and that even in the villages. From the counts of Holland this province devolved, in 1436, to the dukes of Burgundy, and from them to the house of Austria, along with the other provinces. The states of Holland and West Friesland are composed of the nobility and deputies of the towns; of the latter there are 18 that send deputies to the assembly of the states, which is held at the Hague. The grand pensionary is a person of great dignity and weight in this assembly, and his office requires extraordinary abilities. There are also two councils composed of deputies, one for South and another for North Holland, who have the cognizance of the revenue and military affairs. The whole province sends one deputy from among the nobility to the states-general, who takes precedence of all others, together with three or four more. There are two supreme courts of judicature for Holland and Zealand; viz. the great council of Holland and Zealand, and the house of court of Holland. To these appeals lie from the towns; but the causes of noblemen come before them in the first instance. With respect to the ecclesiastical government, there is a synod held annually both in South and North Holland, of which the former contains eleven classes, and the latter six; and the ministers of both together amount to 331. In the whole province are 37 towns, eight boroughs, and 400 villages.
Soon after the commencement of the French revolution, this ill-fated country became the theatre of war, the old government was subverted, and the stadtholder having fled to England for safety, the republican rulers of France imposed a political constitution upon it according to their pleasure. The infatuated people of Holland received their conquerors with apparent, perhaps with real satisfaction at first; but we believe that experience has fatally taught them the pernicious nature of the change. As the government of France changed from directorial to consular, and from consular to imperial, that of Holland also received various modifications, till at last it was converted into a monarchy under one of Bonaparte's brothers, who claims the title of king. Of all these changes the deluded people have
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been obliged to be the passive spectators; for what is it which may not be established at the point of the bayonet? For a copious detail of military transactions, and the political vicissitudes which Holland has experienced in consequence of the French revolution, see the article FRANCE; and for the history, see UNITED PROVINCES.