Proclamatie van generaal Abercromby aan de Nederlandse inwoners, 1799 1799

This proclamation was printed in 1799 and issued by Ralph Abercromby, a British Lieutenant General, for distribution among the Dutch population. It's a broadside, a single sheet printed on one side, probably using a relatively efficient, mechanized press. Consider the context: this document isn't just about communicating information; it's about exerting control. The act of printing and distributing such a proclamation was a display of power, a way for the British to assert their influence over the Netherlands. The material itself – cheap, easily produced paper – speaks to the mass dissemination of propaganda. The formal typography suggests authority, yet the Dutch language indicates an attempt to connect with the local populace. Abercromby seeks to persuade the Dutch people to align with the British, promising freedom from oppression. But the underlying message is clear: cooperate, or face the consequences. This broadside isn't just a historical document; it's a material artifact of political maneuvering, revealing the close ties between print, power, and persuasion.