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chap, and did not fupport with {efficient vigilance thei,xv. difeipline of the troops which remained. When
i«7s. the ariftocratic party prevailed, it was thoughtprudent to difmifs many of the old experiencedofficers , who were devoted to the houfe ofOrange ; and their place was fupplied by rawyouths , the fons or kinfmen of burgomafters,by whofe intereft the party was fupported. Thefenew officers, relying on the credit of their friendsand family, neglected their military duty; andfome of them , it is faid, were even allowedto ferve by deputies, to whom they affigned afmall part of their pay. During the war withEngland, all the forces of that nation had beendifbanded: Lewis’s invafion of Flanders, followedby the triple league, occafioned the difmiffion ofthe French, regiments: And the place of thefetroops, which had ever had a chief ffiare in thehonor and fortune of all the wars in the LowCountries, had not been fupplied by any newlevies.
De Wit, fenfible of this dangerous fituation,and alarmed by the reports which came from allquarters, exerted himfelf to fupply thofe defedts,to which it was not eafy of a fudden to providea fuitable remedy. But every propofal, whichhe could make, met with oppofition from theOrange party, now become extremely formidable.The long and uncontrouled adminiftration ofthis ftatefman had begotten envy: The prefentincidents roufed up his enemies and opponents,who aferibed to his mifconduct alone the bad