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salting herrings。 The best mode of catching and of 'b鯿kelling'
these fish （the latter term derived from the inventor） remained for
a long period a secret known only to the Dutch； by which they knew
how to prepare their herrings with a peculiar excellence surpassing
those of all other persons engaged in sea fishery； and secured for
themselves a preference in the markets as well as better
prices。（2*） Anderson alleges that after the lapse of centuries from
the date of these inventions in Holland； the English and Scotch
fishermen； notwithstanding their enjoyment of a considerable bounty
on export； could not find purchasers for their herrings in foreign
markets； eves at much lower prices； in competition with the Dutch。
If we bear in mind how great was the consumption of sea fish in all
countries before the Reformation； we can well give credit to the
fact that at a time when the Hanseatic shipping trade had already
begun to decline； the Dutch found occasion for building 2；000 new
vessels annually。
From the period when all the Belgian and Batavian provinces
were united under the dominion of the House of Burgundy； these
countries partly acquired the great benefit of national unity； a
circumstance which must not be left out of sight in connection with
Holland's success in maritime trade in competition with the cities
of Northern Germany。 Under the Emperor Charles V the United
Netherlands constituted a mass of power and capacity which would
have insured to their imperial ruler supremacy over the world； both
by land and at sea； far more effectually than all the gold mines on
earth and all the papal favours and bulls could have done； had he
only comprehended the nature of those powers and known how to
direct and to make use of them。
Had Charles V cast away from him the crown of Spain as a man
casts away a burdensome stone which threatens to drag him down a
precipice； how different would have been the destiny of the Dutch
and the German peoples！ As Ruler of the United Netherlands； as
Emperor of Germany； and as Head of the Reformation； Charles
possessed all the requisite means； both material and intellectual；
for establishing the mightiest industrial and commercial empire；
the greatest military and naval power which had ever existed a
maritime power which would have united under one flag all the
shipping from Dunkirk as far as Riga。
The conception of but one idea； the exercise of but one man's
will； were all that were seeded to have raised Germany to the
position of the wealthiest and mightiest empire in the world； to
have extended her manufacturing and commercial supremacy over every
quarter of the globe； and probably to have maintained it thus for
many centuries。
Charles V and his morose son followed the exactly opposite
policy。 Placing themselves at the head of the fanatical party； they
made it their chief object to hispanicise the Netherlands。 The
result of that policy is matter of history。 The northern Dutch
provinces； strong by means of the element over which they were
supreme； conquered their independence。 In the southern provinces
industry； the arts； and commerce； perished under the hand of the
executioner； save only where they managed to escape that fate by
emigrating to other countries。 Amsterdam became the central point
of the world's commerce instead of Antwerp。 The cities of Holland；
which already at an earlier period； in consequence of the
disturbances in Brabant； had attracted a great number of Belgian
woollen weavers； had now not room enough to afford refuge to all
the Belgian fugitives； of whom a great number were consequently
compelled to emigrate to England and to Saxony。
The struggle for liberty begot in Holland an heroic spirit at
sea； to which nothing appeared too difficult or too adventurous；
while on the contrary the spirit of fanaticism enfeebled the very
nerves of Spain。 Holland enriched herself principally by
privateering against Spain； especially by the capture of the
Spanish treasure fleets。 By that means she carried on an enormous
contraband trade with the Peninsula and with Belgium。 After the
union of Portugal with Spain； Holland became possessed of the most
important Portuguese colonies in the East indies； and acquired a
part of Brazil。 Up to the first half of the seventeenth century the
Dutch surpassed the English in respect of manufactures and of
colonial possessions； of commerce and of navigation； as greatly as
in our times the English have surpassed the French in these
respects。 But with the English Revolution a mighty change developed
itself。 The spirit of freedom had become only a citizen spirit in
Holland。 As in all mere mercantile aristocracies； all went on well
for a time； so long as the preservation of life and limbs and of
property； and mere material advantages； were the objects clearly in
view； they showed themselves capable of great deeds。 But
statesmanship of a more profound character was beyond their ken。
They did not perceive that the supremacy which they had won； could
only be maintained if it were based on a great nationality and
supported by a mighty national spirit。 On the other hand； those
states which had developed their nationality on a large scale by
means of monarchy； but which were yet behindhand in respect of
commerce and industry； became animated by a sentiment of shame that
so small a country as Holland should act the part of master over
them in manufactures and commerce； in fisheries； and naval power。
In England this sentiment was accompanied by all the energy of the
new…born Republic。 The Navigation Laws were the challenge glove
which the rising supremacy of England cast into the face of the
reigning supremacy of Holland。 And when the conflict came； it
became evident that the English nationality was of far larger
calibre than that of the Dutch。 The result could not remain
doubtful。
The example of England was followed by France。 Colbert had
estimated that the entire marine transport trade employed about
20；000 vessels； of which 16；000 were owned by the Dutch a number
altogether out of proportion for so small a nation。 In consequence
of the succession of the Bourbons to the Spanish throne； France was
enabled to extend her trade over the Peninsula （to the great
disadvantage of the Dutch）； and equally so in the Levant。
Simultaneously the protection by France of her native manufactures；
navigation； and fisheries； made immense inroads on the industry and
commerce of Holland。
England had gained from Holland the greater part of the trade
of the latter with the northern European states； her contraband
trade with Spain and the Spanish colonies； and the greater part of
her trade with the East and West Indies； and of her fisheries。 But
the most serious blow was inflicted on her by the Methuen Treaty of
1703。 From that the commerce of Holland with Portugal； the
Portuguese colonies； and the East indies； received a deadly wound。
When Holland thus commenced to lose so large a portion of her
foreign trade； the same result took place which had previously been
experienced by the Hanseatic cities and by Venice ： the material
and mental capital which could now find no employment in Holland；
was diverted by emigration or in the shape of loans to those
countries which had acquired the supremacy from Holland which she
had previously possessed。
If Holland in union with Belgium； with the Rhenish districts；
and with North Germany； had constituted one national territory； it
would have been difficult for England and France to have weakened
her naval power； her foreign commerce； and her internal industry by
wars and by commercial policy； as they succeeded in doing。 A nation
such as that would have been； could have placed in competition with
the commercial systems of other nations a commercial system of her
own。 And if owing to the development of the manufactures of those
other nations her industry suffered some injury； her own internal
resources； aided by founding colonies abroad； would have abundantly
made good that loss。 Holland suffered decline because she； a mere
strip of sea coast； inhabited by a small population of German
fishermen； sailors； merchants； and dairy farmers； endeavoured to
constitute herself a national power； while she considered and acted
towards the inland territory at her back （of which she properly
formed a part） as a foreign land。