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The Potato Blight in the Netherlands and its Social Consequences (1845–1847)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2008

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The potato blight which in the 1840s became so destructive in Ireland as to cause wide-spread distress and much loss of life also brought the Netherlands to the verge of famine. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the extent of the damage to the Dutch potato crops in the “hungry forties” and to consider some of its consequences: the rise of the food prices, the spread of pauperism, social unrest, the attitudes of the population and the measures taken by the Government.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis 1967

References

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page 391 note 3 Verslag aan de Staten van Friesland over 1848, Annex C.

page 391 note 4 Agricultural Commission in Friesland to the Governor of Friesland, September 26, 1845Google Scholar, Copy No 17, Algemeen Rijksarchief, The Hague, Ministerie van Bin-nenlandse Zaken (henceforth abbreviated ARA, BZ), Het verbaal van het verhandelde, 14 October 1845, no. 14, 2e afd.

page 391 note 5 Annual Report over 1846 from the Governor of South Holland to the King. All the annual reports from the Governors of the provinces used for this article are to be found in the Algemeen Rijks-Archief, The Hague, Afdeling Kabinet des Konings (henceforth abbreviated ARA, KdK), nos. 4473, 4474, 4475, 4476, 4477, 4478. These numbers will not be repeated below; the relevant annual reports will be cited as Annual Report Governor (Province, year).

page 391 note 6 V[issering], S., Eenige opmerkingen ter zake der aardappelziekte, Amsterdam 1845, pp. 912.Google Scholar

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page 393 note 7 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, pp. 387, 447.Google Scholar

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page 394 note 1 Saltet, R. H., De aardappelziekte en het merkwaardige jaar 1847, in: Vragen van den Dag, XXXII (1917), p. 459.Google Scholar

page 394 note 2 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, pp. 412, 441.Google Scholar

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page 394 note 4 Vissering, op. cit., pp. 11, 12, 15.

page 394 note 5 Staatscourant, , December 12, 1845.Google Scholar

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page 395 note 2 Verbalen Commissie van Landbouw in Vriesland, pp. 166169Google Scholar.

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page 395 note 4 Annual Report Governor Drente, 1846Google Scholar.

page 395 note 5 Annual Reports Governors South Holland and Zealand, 1846Google Scholar; de Gouverneurs, Rapportenvan III, p. 476Google Scholar. Zealand had 4,686 ha. of potatoes in 1845, but 2,900 ha. in 1846.

page 395 note 6 Annual Reports Governors Groningen, Zealand, Utrecht, South Holland and North Brabant, 1846Google Scholar.

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page 395 note 8 Jacquemyns, G., Histoire de la crise économique des Flandres (1845–1850), in: Memoires de l'Académie Royale de Belgique, Second series, XXVI (1929), p. 256.Google Scholar

page 395 note 9 Report from the Governor of North Holland to the King, March 16, 1846Google Scholar. The Governors of the provinces were obliged to write – personally – a report to the King every two weeks. These reports are to be found in ARA, KdK, no. 4481; henceforth they will be cited as Governor's Report. References to the mild winter of 1845–46 are very numerous. It made provision of employment on a large scale possible.

page 397 note 1 van de gouverneurs, Rapporten III, p. 552Google Scholar; Verslag nopens den staat der provincie Noord-Braband en de zaken van algemeen belang, voorgekomen bij den staatsraad gouverneur en de gedeputeerde Staten der provincie, Verslag over 1844, n.p., n.d., p. 20; Idem, Verslag over 1846, pp. 22–23; Idem, Verslag over 1847, p. 23. All the reports on the condition of the province of North Bra bant from 1843 to 1852 were consulted; after 1849 they are called Verslag van den toestand der provincie Noordbrabant aan de Staten der provincie; henceforth they will be cited as Verslag nopens Noord-Braband over [year].

page 397 note 2 Governor of Friesland to the Minister of the Interior, January 3, 1848Google Scholar, Archief van de Provinciate Griffie van Friesland (henceforth abbreviated APGF), 1e afd., no. 3679.

page 398 note 1 Governor's Report North Holland, May 10, 1847Google Scholar.

page 398 note 2 Annual Report Governor Groningen, 1847Google Scholar; Groninger Courant, July 2, 1847Google Scholar.

page 398 note 3 See pp. 423–424.

page 398 note 4 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, pp. 494, 500, 502.Google Scholar

page 398 note 5 Annual Report Governor Groningen, 1846Google Scholar.

page 398 note 6 Governor's Report North Holland, March 16, 1846Google Scholar.

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page 399 note 1 Annual Report Governor North Brabant, 1847Google Scholar.

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page 399 note 4 Annex to the meeting of the Municipal Council of the City of Leyden of September 24, 1845, No 268, September 20, 1845, Register der Deliberatiën van den Raad der Stad Leyden, Gemeentearchief Leyden.

page 399 note 5 Petition from the Mayors of Goeree and Overflakkee to the King, September 22, 1845Google Scholar, ARA, BZ, Het verbaal van het verhandelde, 29 September 1845, no. 28, 2e afd.

page 399 note 6 Leydsche Courant, May 14, 1847Google Scholar.

page 400 note 1 Minister of the Interior to the Governors, March 9, 1847Google Scholar, No 30 (secret), ARA, BZ, Geheim archief.

page 400 note 2 Annual Report Governor Overijsel, 1847Google Scholar; Governor of Overijsel to Minister of the Interior, March 11, 1847Google Scholar, No 1708/1686 (secret), ARA, BZ, Geheim archief.

page 400 note 3 Annual Report Governor Overijsel, 1847Google Scholar; Annual Report Governor Utrecht, 1846Google Scholar.

page 400 note 4 Governor's Report North Brabant, April 17, 1847Google Scholar; van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, pp. 503, 554–555.Google Scholar

page 400 note 5 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, pp. 523, 535Google Scholar; Annual Report Governor Zealand, 1846Google Scholar; Governor's Report North Brabant, Febr. 1, 1846Google Scholar.

page 400 note 6 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, p. 525Google Scholar; Annual Reports Governors Drente and North Holland, 1846Google Scholar.

page 400 note 7 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, pp. 522523, 554Google Scholar; Annual Reports Governors Groningen and North Holland, 1846Google Scholar.

page 400 note 8 Annual Reports Governor Utrecht, 18451848Google Scholar.

page 400 note 9 Annual Report Governor Zealand, 1846Google Scholar; Governor's report North Brabant, April 17, 1847Google Scholar; Rapporten van de Gouverneurs, III, pp. 522523, 535Google Scholar.

page 400 note 10 Hooyer, C., De groote nood des hongers in en bij Den Boemelerwaard. Een waar verslag voor alle menschenvrienden in ons Vaderland, 2nd printing, Zaltbommel 1847.Google Scholar

page 401 note 1 Courant, Leydsche, April 28, 1847.Google Scholar

page 401 note 2 Governor's Report Drente, April 9, 1847Google Scholar.

page 401 note 3 Courant, Leydsche, May 24, 1847.Google Scholar

page 401 note 4 Courant, Leydsche, May 14, 1847.Google Scholar

page 401 note 5 Courant, Groninger, July 2, 1847.Google Scholar

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page 401 note 7 Heldring, O. G., De nood en hulp der armen, in betrekking tot de arbeid, de weelde en het medelijden. Eenige praktische blikken in den toestand onzes Volks, Amsterdam 1845, p. 28Google Scholar. Heldring, O. G., minister of the church in Hemmen and Zetten, born at Zevenaar, May 17, 1804Google Scholar, died at Marienbad, July 11, 1876. He was a philanthropist and founded, e.g., institutions for “penitent and fallen women” and neglected girls. He also founded a training school for Christian female teachers. His institutions were intended to be “not houses of correction, but institutions where the strength of the gospel was to penetrate the hearts.” The administrators of these centres were mostly men from Réveil circles. Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek, IV, col. 721–725.

page 402 note 1 Brugmans, op. cit., pp. 117–140.

page 402 note 2 Saltet, loc.cit., pp. 454–455.

page 402 note 3 de Bosch Kemper, J., Geschiedkundig onderzoek naar de armoede in ons vaderland, hare oorzaken en de middelen die tot hare vermindering zouden kunnen worden aangewend, Haarlem 1851Google Scholar, tables XII, XIII, XIV.

page 403 note 1 Verslag aan de Staten van Friesland over 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, passim.

page 403 note 2 Annual Reports Governor Utrecht, 18431847Google Scholar.

page 403 note 3 Annual Reports Governor Groningen, 18421844, 1846–1847Google Scholar.

page 403 note 4 Hooyer, op. cit., pp. 30–33; J. de Bosch Kemper, op. cit., 2nd ed., Haarlem 1860, p. 18.

page 403 note 5 Annual Reports Governor North Brabant, 18461847Google Scholar.

page 403 note 6 Annual Report Governor Drente, 1847Google Scholar.

page 403 note 7 Annual Reports Governors South Holland, Utrecht and North Holland, 1846Google Scholar.

page 403 note 8 Annual Report Mayor and Aldermen of Amsterdam to the Governor of North Holland, March 27, 1847Google Scholar, annex Annual Report Governor North Holland, 1846.

page 404 note 1 Annual Reports Governors Utrecht and North Brabant, 1847Google Scholar; Annual Report Governor Utrecht, 1846Google Scholar.

page 404 note 2 Annual Report Governor North Holland, 1848Google Scholar.

page 404 note 3 Courant, Leydsche, June 29, 1846.Google Scholar

page 404 note 4 J. de Bosch Kemper, op. cit., 2nd ed., pp. 18–19.

page 406 note 1 Weekblad van het Regt, January 26 and September-November 1846Google Scholar; Courant, Leydsche, September 22, 1845Google Scholar; Reports from the Director of Police in The Hague to the King, September 23, 24 and 26, 1845Google Scholar, ARA, KdK, no. 4179, La Q 32, geh., Y 42, geh., G 33, geh. Robijns, op. cit., pp. 183–184 also mentions for 1845 some riots in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. These riots were, in my opinion, of little importance and should be regarded as slight disturbances. I think Robijns tends to give too much relief to the riots in The Hague. He rightly points out that the instigators of these riots should not be sought in the pauper districts, where the King was popular, but in the district of public-houses and brothels of dark The Hague.

page 406 note 2 Weekblad van het Regt, October 5, 1846Google Scholar.

page 406 note 3 Courant, Leydsche, October 1, 1845Google Scholar; Anon., Geen hongersnood of het middel uitgevonden om geruster den winter te gemoet te zien en door te komen, Amersfoort 1845Google Scholar; Anon., Geen oproer, geen hongersnood, Schoonhoven 1845Google Scholar; van Houten, W., Een hartelijk woord aan mijne landgenoten ten einde hen gerust te stellen tegen roekelooze voorspellingen van hongersnood, ten gevolge van het mislukken van den aardappel-oogst, 2nd printing, Rotterdam 1845Google Scholar.

page 406 note 4 Weekblad van het Regt, October 19, 1845Google Scholar.

page 406 note 5 As in England, printed matter of a very small format was free of newspaper stamp duty, which made it much cheaper. In the English summary of his book Robijns writes that the Radicals adopted several of their ideas from foreign democrats, especially those in France and Belgium. “In spite of the great attention they paid to the needs of the lower classes, their remedial suggestions were somewhat ineffective. In their papers they wrote some very sharp and revo lutionary articles, they stormed violently at aristocrats and capitalists while glorifying the suffering poor, but they paid more attention to the symptoms of social evil than to its causes; and they tended to indulge in personal attacks.“ In contrast to the foreign democrats they did not dissociate themselves completely from the liberals. ”They tried to activate the lower-middle-classes and the lower classes to demand a drastic democratization of state institutions; they also fought for the cultural and social elevation of the people. Many evils were strongly criticized: the prosecution system, the bad conditions both in the prisons and in the army, and the system of poor relief. One finds articles demanding absolute freedom of press, abolition of duty on primary necessities, and the introduction of a progressive income-tax. They also fought for the emancipation of women, for better medical care, better education, and an active government policy to encourage literature and dramatic art. They even already raised the colonial problem. About wider social measures, however, hesitation and uncertainty persisted.” (Robijns, op. cit., pp. 336–337).

page 407 note 1 E. Meeter, journalist and demagogue, born on March 3, 1818 at Oude Pekela, “of humble descent” (Robijns, op. cit., p. 336), died on April 7, 1862, at Britonferry, England. In 1833 he entered the Dutch army and in 1837 he was in garrison in Groningen, where he tried to qualify for the officers' examination by his own studies. He did not become an officer. From 1840 to 1841 (Robijns, op. cit., p. 341) he was an editor of the news-sheet De Tolk der Vrijheid in Groningen. For incitement to rebellious movements – in my opinion for the fierce personal attacks on authorities and for his anti-monarchist ideas – he was repeatedly convicted. In November 1846 he went abroad on a grant from King William II (Robijns, op. cit., p. 188), but in 1849 he was in Nijmegen, where he published De Star der Hoop. In 1851 he was in Rotterdam as an editor of the Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode and was convicted to five years' imprisonment and fined fl. 5,r t. He then departed to England for good. Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek, V, col. 340.

page 407 note 2 Rogier, L. J., Katholieke herleving: Geschiedenis van Katholiek Nederland sinds 1853, The Hague, Antwerp 1956, pp. 2728, 121Google Scholar; cf. id., Terugblik en uitzicht, Hilversum, Antwerp 19641965, II, pp. 158159Google Scholar. Robijns points out that many Radicals – as did Meeter – belonged to an intellectual proletariate which in the backward Netherlands was fairly large and whose members could not enter upon a career for lack of connections and capital. “They were partly members of the higher classes now in reduced circumstances, partly born from the lower-middle-class, but all of them frustrated by the unfavourable social circumstances, which they resisted.” In his first period as a journalist in Groningen Meeter was still something of an idealist, but after he had tried in vain to curry favour with William II, “a cynical attitude soon became predominant”. He had arrived at the conclusion that in one respect he was feared, viz., as an editor of an opposition paper. In this way he hoped to force money or an official position from the King. Then he tried to blackmail the King with scandals and play upon William's fear of opposition sheets. He was in touch with the under world and consequently became an underworld figure (Robijns, op. cit., pp. 62–64, 170–191, 329, 336, 338).

page 408 note 1 Leeuw, De Ontwaakte, September 22, 1845.Google Scholar

page 408 note 2 Weekblad van het Regt, September-November 1846Google Scholar.

page 408 note 3 Meeter, E., Holland, its institutions; its press, kings and prisons, London 1857, p. 336.Google Scholar

page 408 note 4 Robijns writes: “In about 1840, when it was still very difficult, if not actually impossible, to induce the Dutch lower classes to political activity…” (op. cit. pp. 335–336).

page 409 note 1 Director of Police in The Hague to the King, September 26, 1845Google Scholar, ARA, KdK, no. 4179, La G 33, geh.

page 409 note 2 Weekblad van het Regt, November 2, 1846Google Scholar. Although in the Netherlands freedom of the press was official, the Government often used the weapon of press persecutions against the lilliput press. The Judicature, however, was independent (Robijns, op. cit., pp. 78–79), but much could be achieved by means of a long detention.

page 409 note 3 Cramer, N., Parlement en pers in verhouding tot de overheid, Tilburg 1958Google Scholar; Robijns, op. cit., p. 193.

page 409 note 4 van Gorcum, A. H. to the King, November 1, 1846, ARA, KdK, no. 4503Google Scholar; E. Meeter, op. cit.; Robijns, op. cit., p. 188. Bribing or buying off newspaper editors were the means of the Government when the press trials failed (Robijns, op. cit., pp. 78–79).

page 409 note 5 Courant, Leydsche, June 30, 1847.Google Scholar

page 410 note 1 F. de Haan Fzn., Het broodoproer van den 25 Juni 1847 door een ooggetuige beschreven, Gemeentearchief, Leeuwarden, no. C25a; Mayor and Alderman of Leeuwarden to the Governor, June 25, 1847Google Scholar, No 77/820, APGF, le afd., no. 1775.

page 410 note 2 Municipality of Dokkum to the Governor, June 25, 1847Google Scholar; Grietman of Leeuwar den to the Governor, June 26, 1847Google Scholar; Municipality of Workum to the Governor, June 28, 1847Google Scholar; Grietman of Tietjerksteradeel to the Governor, June 29, 1847Google Scholar; Grietman of Schoterland to the Governor, June 30, 1847Google Scholar, APGF, le afd., nos. 1651, 1701, 1711, 2232, 1748; Weekblad van het Regt, February 28, 1848Google Scholar.

page 410 note 3 Courant, Groninger, July 2, 1847Google Scholar; Governor of Groningen to the Ministers of the Interior and War, June 29, 1847Google Scholar (confidential), Rijksarchief Groningen (henceforth abbreviated RAG), Kab. no. 2131-b. Robijns (op. cit., pp. 93–133) deals extensively with the situation in the province of Groningen about 1840. He points out that it had been in a state of unrest for a long time on account of the active resistance of the farmers, although in Groningen these were prosperous. Radicals and farmers collaborated for a time there. Hence the touchiness of the authorities on the subject of unrest.

page 411 note 1 Mayor of Appingedam to the Governor, July 1, 1847Google Scholar, RAG, Kab. no. 2136.

page 411 note 2 Reinders, G. to the Governor of Groningen, July 3, 1847, RAG, Kab. no. 2139.Google Scholar

page 411 note 3 Mayor of Hoogezand to the Governor, June 30, 1847Google Scholar; Governor of Drente to the Provincial Commander in Friesland, Groningen and Drente, June 29, 1847Google Scholar; Mayor of Leek to the Governor, July 1, 1847Google Scholar; Mayor of Marum to the Governor, July 5, 1847Google Scholar: RAG, Kab. no. 2132, 2135, 2137, 2144c.

page 411 note 4 Report from the Grietman of Schoterland to the Governor, June 29, 1847; Report from the Grietman of Ooststellingwerf to the Governor, July 2, 1847: APGF, le afd., no. 2232.

page 411 note 5 Governor of Overijsel to the Minister of the Interior (with, i.a., a report from the Mayor of Deventer appended), June 29, 1847, Nos 1752 and 1780/1751, ARA, KdK, July 2“1847, La P 23 geh.; Mayor of Nijmegen to the Deputy Governor of Guelderland, July 20, 1847, ARA, KdK, La B 27 geh.; Minister of Justice to the King, July 29, 1847Google Scholar, No. 11, ARA, KdK, July 30, 1847, no. 4; Leydsche Courant, July 23 and 30, August 9, 1847Google Scholar.

page 411 note 6 See de Haan, F., Ooggetuigeverslag, mentioned on p. 410, n. 1.Google Scholar

page 412 note 1 Annual Report Governor South Holland, 1846Google Scholar; Leydsche Courant, October 7 and 19, December 23, 1846 and March 1, 1847Google Scholar.

page 412 note 2 See p. 411, n. 5.

page 412 note 3 Director of Police in The Hague to the King, September 24, 1845Google Scholar ARA, KdK, no. 4179, La Y 42 geh.

page 412 note 4 Annual Report Governor Groningen, 1847Google Scholar.

page 412 note 5 A Cabinet Council is a meeting of the Council of Ministers in the presence of the King. Leydsche Courant, June 30, 1847Google Scholar; Groninger Courant, July 2, 1847Google Scholar.

page 412 note 6 Minister of War, Personnel Department to the Governor of Friesland, June 28, 1847, No 1B, APGF, 1e afd., no. 1719Google Scholar; Report from the Commander of the Detachment of the Third Regiment of Dragoons to the Governor of Friesland, APGF, le afd., no. 1888.

page 412 note 7 Replies from the Municipalities in Friesland to the Governor to a circular order from the Governor, June 27, 1847, concerning the taking of measures for the maintenance of peace and order, APGF, le afd., no. 2232.

page 413 note 1 de Bosch Kemper, J., Geschiedenis van Nederland na 1830, Amsterdam 1873–1882, V, pp. 126127Google Scholar; Weekblad van het Regt, October 14, 1847.

page 413 note 2 Weekblad van het Regt, October 11 and 25, 1847Google Scholar; February 28, March 2, May 11 and 22, 1848.

page 413 note 3 Salaman, op. cit., p. 314.

page 413 note 4 Anon., Geen hongersnood etc., op. cit., pp. 13, 4, 5–8.

page 414 note 1 Anon., Dichtregelen ter bemoediging van mijne landgenoten in den tegenwoordige tijd, Amsterdam 1845, pp. 56.Google Scholar

page 414 note 2 C. Hooyer, op. cit., p. 13.

page 414 note 3 Heldring, O. G., Wat te denken van en wat te doen in den aardappelnood, Amsterdam, 1845, pp. 78, 11–28.Google Scholar

page 415 note 1 Anon., Eenvoudig gesprek met behoeftigen over de mislukte aardappelteelt, 2nd printing, Amsterdam 1845, pp. 4, 8, 10–11, 16.Google Scholar

page 415 note 2 Een aardappelpreek op de biddag van 2 Mei 1847, Provinciate Bibliotheek, Leeuwarden, no. 760.

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page 416 note 1 Anon., 's Gravenhagen, Haarlem, Delft. Een blik op de wanordelijkheden aldaar gepleegd. Met eenen toespraak aan den gegoeden burger, een woord aan den gemeenen man, een bede aan de regeering, Gorinchem 1845, pp. 1215.Google Scholar

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page 416 note 3 See p. 412, n. 7.

page 416 note 4 Courant, Groninger, July 2, 1847.Google Scholar

page 416 note 5 Governor's Report Limburg, May 15, 1847Google Scholar.

page 416 note 6 Annual Report Governor Utrecht, 1846Google Scholar; Governor's Report North Brabant, April 17, 1847Google Scholar; Governor's Report Zealand, May 20, 1847Google Scholar; van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, p. 525.Google Scholar

page 416 note 7 Courant, Leydsche, May 21, 1847.Google Scholar

page 416 note 8 Hooyer, op. cit., p. 27.

page 417 note 1 Brugmans, op. cit., pp. 177, 181–182.

page 417 note 2 van Hall, F. A. was born in Amsterdam on May 15, 1791Google Scholar, and died in The Hague on March 29, 1866. He studied law at the Athenaeum in Amsterdam and took his degree at Leyden University. In 1842 he was appointed Minister of Justice and in 1843 Minister of Finance. He succeeded in preventing a bankruptcy by issuing a voluntary loan of 127 million guilders at 3%. With these millions he was able to discharge loans with higher interests. Although the loan was voluntary there was a threat attached: if this unattractive loan was undersubscribed, special taxes would be levied. In 1847 Van Hall resigned as a Minister; after he twice went into office again. Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek, VII, col. 517–518.

page 417 note 3 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, p. 473.Google Scholar

page 417 note 4 Verslag der Handelingen van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, gedurende de zitting van 1846–1847 (Bijblad tot de Nederlandsche Staats-Courant), The Hague 1859 (henceforth cited as Handelingen 1846–1847), p. 487.

page 417 note 5 Vissering, op. cit., p. 56.

page 417 note 6 Courant, Leydsche, October 1, 1845.Google Scholar

page 417 note 7 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, p. 395.Google Scholar

page 418 note 1 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, pp. 388393Google Scholar, 457, 451, 461–462, 488, 491, 493, 496, 498, 499.

page 418 note 2 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, p. 394.Google Scholar

page 418 note 3 Collison Black, op. cit., p. 117.

page 418 note 4 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, pp. 473474Google Scholar; For the import of foodstuffs see Courant, Leydsche, October 28, 1846.Google Scholar

page 418 note 5 Bijlagen van het verslag der Handelingen van de Tweede Kamer van de Staten-Generaal, 1846–1847 (henceforth cited as Bijlagen Handelingen 1846–1847), pp. 461–484. From these annexes it may be concluded that the rye price, which automatically caused the minimum, was roughly fl. 6.50.

page 419 note 1 See, e.g., Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant, Algemeen Handelsblad, Leydsche Courant, September 10, 15 and 26, October 22, 1845Google Scholar; Vissering, op. cit.; speech of den Tex, C. A. in Courant, Leydsche, December 16 and 23, 1846.Google Scholar

page 419 note 2 Bijlagen Handelingen 1846–1847, pp. 461466Google Scholar.

page 419 note 3 See p. 418, n. 5.

page 419 note 4 Heldring, O. G., Noodkreet over de belasting op het gemaal en den hoogen prijs van het brood, Amsterdam 1846Google Scholar; Annual Reports Governor Drente, 18461847Google Scholar; Annual Report Governor North Holland, 1846Google Scholar; Leydsche Courant, May 14 and March 31, 1847Google Scholar.

page 419 note 5 Courant, Leydsche, January 22, 1847Google Scholar; Annual Report Governor South Holland, 1846Google Scholar.

page 419 note 6 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, p. 470.Google Scholar

page 419 note 7 Heldring, De nood en hulp der armen etc., op. cit., p. 29.

page 419 note 8 See n. 4.

page 420 note 1 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, p. 472.Google Scholar

page 420 note 2 Bijlagen Handelingen 1846–1847, pp. 552556Google Scholar. Handelingen 1846–1847, pp. 491492Google Scholar.

page 420 note 3 Draft minutes of the Council of Ministers, May 12, 1847Google Scholar, ARA, Notulen Raad van Ministers en Bijlagen bij de notulen van de Raad van Ministers.

page 421 note 1 Bijlagen Handelingen 1846–1847, pp. 552558Google Scholar; Handelingen 1846–1847, pp. 482500Google Scholar.

page 421 note 2 Report of the Council of Ministers to the King, December 31, 1845Google Scholar, ARA, Bijlagen bij de notulen van de Ministerraad; Annual Reports Governors North Holland, Utrecht and South Holland, 1846, Governor Utrecht, 1847. In the Verbalen Commissie van Landbouw in Vriesland the results of these experiments often come up for discussion, see pp. 93–97, 103, 152–154, 187–188, 192–198, 504–505.

page 421 note 3 Courant, Leydsche, April 20, 1846Google Scholar. In the first three months of 1846 excises and import and export tariffs yielded roughly fl. 689,In more than in the first months of 1845. The total revenues of the Government in 1846 were fl. 54,446,067.

page 421 note 4 Collison Black, op. cit., pp. 113–117.

page 422 note 1 Governor of Guelderland to the Minister of the Interior, September 26, 1845Google Scholar, ARA, BZ, Het verbaal van het verhandelde, 28 September 1845, no. 2a, 2e afd.

page 422 note 2 Minister of the Interior to the King, September 28, 1845Google Scholar, ARA, BZ, Het verbaal van het verhandelde, 30 September 1845, no. 61, 2e afd.

page 422 note 3 The Governor of Guelderland to the Minister of the Interior, November 29, 1845 (secret), ARA, BZ, Geheim archief, 12 December 1845, no. 151, geh.; Minister of the Interior to the Governor of Guelderland, December 1, 1845 (secret), ARA, BZ, Geheim archief, 4 December 1845, no. 154 geh.

page 422 note 4 Collison Black, op. cit., pp. 91–92.

page 423 note 1 Minister of the Interior to the Governors, September 19, 1845Google Scholar, ARA, BZ, Het verbaal van het verhandelde, 19 September 1845, no. 173, 2e afd.

page 424 note 1 Replies from the Governors of Guelderland, South Holland, North Holland, Utrecht, Groningen, Overijsel, North Brabant, Zealand and Drente, September 23, 23, 22, 24, 24, 24, 28, 27 and 22, 1845, ARA, BZ, Het verbaal van het verhandelde, 26 September 1845, no. 14, 2e afd.; no. 18, 2e afd.; no. 19, 2e afd.; no. 20, 2e afd.; no. 21, 2e afd.; 27 September 1845, no. 19, 2e afd.; 29 September 1845, no. 39, 2e afd.; 1 October 1845, no. 13, 2e afd.; 28 September 1845, no. LaB, 2e afd.

page 425 note 1 Minister of the Interior to the Cabinet of the King, October 8, 1845Google Scholar, with reference to a request from the Municipality of Kethel en Spaland, ARA, BZ, Het verbaal van het verhandelde, 8 October 1845, no. 19, 2e afd. In 1846, the increases of the municipal, direct taxes were allowed, however.

page 425 note 2 Deputies of the States of Zealand to the Minister of the Interior, September 19, 1845Google Scholar; Deputies of the States of South Holland to the Minister of the Interior, September 26/30, 1845, and the reply to this letter from the Minister to the Governor of South Holland; Deputies of the States of Zealand to the Minister of the Interior, September 26, 1845, and the advice given by the Minister to the King on this request: ARA, BZ, Het verbaal van het verhandelde, 23 September 1845, no. 19, 2e afd.; 30 September 1845, no. 12, 2e afd.; no. 13, 2e afd. In 1846, however, the provincial councils were allowed to authorize the municipalities to contract loans.

page 426 note 1 In the period of September 13 – October 25, 1845, about 50 municipalities made requests to the Minister of the Interior to be allowed to take certain measures needing the Minister's approval against the consequences of the potato blight. They often included a description of their plans in their requests, ARA, BZ, Het verbaal van het verhandelde, September-October 1845, 2e afd.

page 426 note 2 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, pp. 521522.Google Scholar

page 426 note 3 Ibid., Ill, p. 555.

page 426 note 4 Ibid., III, p. 549.

page 426 note 5 Brugmans, op. cit., pp. 72–73; Robijns, op. cit., pp. 67–69, 335: “In the Netherlands the social misery was not caused by an industrial revolution; it was the outcome of a process of economic and social fossilization which had been going on for more than a century.”

page 426 note 6 Annual Reports of Mayor and Aldermen of Amsterdam to the Governor, March 27, 1847Google Scholar, and March 26, 1849, annexes Annual Reports Governor North Holland, 1846 and 1848Google Scholar; Annual Reports Governors North Holland and South Holland, 1846Google Scholar.

page 426 note 7 Annual Reports Governors Zealand and North Holland, 1846Google Scholar.

page 426 note 8 Annual Report Governor Groningen, 1846Google Scholar; Governor's Report North Holland, March 16, 1846Google Scholar.

page 427 note 1 Annual Report Governor Zealand, 1846Google Scholar.

page 427 note 2 van de Gouverneurs, Rapporten III, p. 522.Google Scholar

page 427 note 3 Annual Report Governor Utrecht, 1846Google Scholar.

page 427 note 4 Annual Report Governor North Holland, 1846Google Scholar.

page 427 note 5 Jacquemyns, loc. cit., pp. 321–334, 355; Aspects de la crise et de la dépression de l'economie Française au milieu du XIXe siècle, 1846–1851, La Roche-sur-Yon 1956Google Scholar.

page 427 note 6 Verslag aan de Staten van Friesland over 1847, p. 30.Google Scholar

page 428 note 1 Collison Black, op. cit., p. 130.

page 428 note 2 Collison Black, op. cit., p. 114.

page 428 note 3 Collison Black, op. cit., pp. 112–117; Salaman, op. cit., pp. 296–297.

page 429 note 1 Plan for the foundation of a savings bank, annex to Governor's Report North Holland, May 10, 1847Google Scholar.

page 429 note 2 Verslag aan de Staten van Friesland over 1853, p. 337.Google Scholar

page 429 note 3 Jac. Moleschott and E. H. von Baumhauer, Het wezen der aardappelziekte en de middelen ter voorkoming en genezing van dezelve, Utrecht 1845.

page 430 note 1 Annual Report Governor Zealand, 1848Google Scholar.

page 430 note 2 Verslag aan de Staten van Friesland over 1844, 1845, 1848, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, passim.

page 430 note 3 Verslag nopens Noord-Braband over 1846, 1847, 1850, 1851, 1852, passim.

page 430 note 4 See p. 396, n. 2.

page 430 note 5 Verslag aan de Staten van Friesland over 1848, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, passim.

page 430 note 6 Verslag nopens Noord-Braband over 1844, 1851, 1852, passim.

page 431 note 1 Verslag aan de Staten van Friesland over 1845, 1852, passim; Verslag nopens Noord-Braband over 1846, 1852, passim.