THE STATEMAN'S YEAR-BOOK - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 Excerpt: ...merchant-king' William I., who is believed to have acquired no less than 150 millions guilders in successful speculations. But the richest member of the royal family is not the king, but his uncle, Prince Frederick, who, to some extent, continued the enterprises of his father, William I., and who now passes for one of the wealthiest princes of Europe. Prince Frederick is a liberal patron of arts and sciences, and devotes a large portion of his immense wealth to charitable purposes. The House of Nassau-Orange has given the following Sovereigns to the Netherlands, since its reconstruction as a kingdom by the Congress of Vienna:--House of Nassau-Orange. William 1 1815 William II 1840 William III 1849 The average reign of the three Sovereigns, inclusive of the reign of the present king, amounted to 16 years. Constitution and Government. The present fundamental law--grondwet--of the Netherlands received the royal sanction October 14, 1848, and was solemnly proclaimed Nov. 3, 1848. This charter vests the whole legislative authority in a Parliament composed of two chambers, called the States-General. The Upper House, or first Chamber, consists of 39 members, elected by the provincial Diets from among the most highly assessed inhabitants of the various counties. The second Chamber of the States-General numbers 72 members, elected by ballot. All citizens, natives of the Netherlands, paying taxes to the amount of 120 guilders, or 101., are voters. Clergymen, military officers in active service, and judges, are debarred from being elected. The members of the second Chamber receive an annual allowance of 2,000 guilders, or 166L, besides travelling expenses. Every two years onehalf of the members of the second Chamber, and every three years one-third of the members of t...