Author: WILLIAM V of Orange.
Title: Missive van zyn hoogheid [aan de heeren Staten Generaal der Vereenigde Nederlanden. 24 mey 1784].[The Hague?,] 1784.With:(2) WILLIAM V of Orange. Missive van zyne hoogheid met een detail van de reedenen en motiven waarom niet voor de resolutie van den 7 deezer een groot aantal troupes naar de frontieren had gezonden. Commiss. 25 mey 1784.[The Hague?,] 1784.(3) [FORTIFICATION]. Rapport van gecommiteerdens nopens den staat van 's lands frontieren, magazynen en arzenaalen. Overgenoomen. 23 july 1784.[The Hague?,] 1784.(4) [FORTIFICATION]. Resolutie op het rapport nopens den staat van 'slands frontieren, magazynen en arzenaalen. 26 november 1784.[The Hague?,] 1784.(5) [FORTIFICATION]. Bylaagen gehorende tot het rapport van gecommiteerden nopens den staat van 's lands frontieren, magazynen en arsenaalen, ter vergadering van hun edele groot mog. Overgenoomen den 23 july 1784. Overgenoomen. 23 july 1784.[The Hague?,] 1784. With 7 folding tables.(6) [FORTIFICATION]. Extract uit het register der resolutien van de hoog mogende heeren Staaten Generaal der Vereenigde Nederlanden. Jovis den 25 november 1784Including: Memorie van consideratien en elucidatien van den Raade van Staate …, op het rapport …, nopens den staat van 's lands frontieren, magazynen en arsenalen …[The Hague?,] 1784.6 publications in 1 volume. Folio. Contemporary half sheepskin, gold-tooled spine.
Description: 10, [2 blank]; 5, [3 blank]; 63, [1]; 6, [1 blank], [1]; 288; 55, [1 blank] pp.Very rare collection of publications regarding the state of the fortifications in the Dutch Republic. When the Dutch Republic lost control of the so-called barrier fortresses in the Austrian Netherlands in 1781, the fortresses in the southern part of the Republic gained in importance. When three years later Austria demanded control of Maastricht and several territories in States Flanders as well as the reopening of the Scheldt, the States-General sent inspectors to the Dutch fortresses. Like the fleet during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War (1780-1784) the fortifications proved to be in dreadful condition. With tensions between political factions rising, the report (ad 3) was published anonymously in several octavo-editions with an introduction blaming Prince William V (1784-1806) for the weak state of the Dutch navy and fortifications. Due to the insulting character of this introduction, these publications were banned by several states and cities in the Republic. To make matters worse, it was revealed that the Prince of Orange had signed a contract, the Act of Advisership, with the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1718-1788) in 1766, giving the Duke all sorts of unofficial influence. With several prominent Dutchmen blaming the Duke for the Prince's mistakes, the Act was revealed and several of the states demanded an explanation from the Prince (ad 1), which ultimately led to the dismissal and subsequent deportation of the Duke.With ad 4 signed by Caspar Clotterbooke, secretary of the States of Holland. Binding worn at the extremities; ad 1 with small water stains and ad 6 with large water stains; nevertheless very good copies of rare publications.l Ad 1: Not in STCN; ad 2: unrecorded edition: cf. STCN 383738563 (1 copy of a different ed.); ad 3: STCN (1 copy); cf. Knuttel, Verboden boeken 337 & Pamfletten 20734-20735; ad 4: STCN (1 copy); ad 5: STCN (1 copy); Sloos 03169 (1 copy); ad 6: not in STCN; Sloos 02262 (1 incomplete copy).

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