ABSTRACT
A large number of officials arrived from France; most of the prefects and sub-prefects of the Dutch de’partements, and all the customs and censorship officers were French. But on the whole the officials in charge of the direct administration of the country were Dutch. Most of the reports sent to Paris by French officials were merely concerned with the loyalty and the spirit of the Dutch population, and usually the opinion of the reporters was unfavourable. They make it clear that the annexation was received by the Dutch with an affectation of indifference. What angered the Dutch masses and the Dutch middle classes who had taken so kindly to the rule of good king Louis was that since the French had become the acknowledged masters of the country the continental blockade was being applied in earnest. British agents maintained continual contacts with the Dutch.
