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TRAVELS
THROUGH
HOLLAND,
FLANDERS,
GERMANY,
DENMARK,
SWEDEN,
LAPLAND,
RUSSIA,
The U K R A I N E,
AND
POLAND,
IN THE
Years 1768, 1769, and 1770.
In which is particularly Minuted,
THE PRESENT STATE
O F
THOSE COUNTRIES,
RESPECTING THEIR
AGRICULTURE, POPULATION,
MANUFACTURES, COMMERCE,
The ARTS, and USEFUL UNDERTAKINGS.
By JOSEPH MARSHALL, Efq.
VOL.
I.
LONDON:
Printed for J. Almon, oppofite Burlington Houfe^
Piccadilly.
MDCCLXXII.
CONTENTS of Vol. I.
Travels through Holland.
chap. L
Pajfage from Harwich to Helvoet. From
Helvoet to Rotterdam. Obfervations on the
Country and Method of Travelling. De-
fer iption of Rotterdam ■ page 1 1
CHAP. II.
Journey from Rotterdam to the Hague. De-
fer iption of that famous village. The neigh-
bouring Country. Agriculture. The Peo-
ple. Haerlem. To Amferdam 21
CHAP. ni.
Anflerdam. Buildings. Remarkable Objefis.
Inhabitants. Trade. Wealth, &c. 50
Vol. I. a CHAP.
ii CONTENTS.
CHAP. IV.
Of the Dutch Eafl India Company 71
CHAP. V.
Of the prefent State of the Dutch Commerce in
Europe — ■ 103
CHAP. VI.
Journey through North Holland. The Coun-
try. Agriculture. People. Voyage by the
Ifiands to Harlingen. Account of Frize-
land. Leuwarden. Dock urn, <Sc. Agri-
culture — ■ 159
CHAP. VII.
Grcningen. Winfchooten. Happinefs of the
lozver Clajfes of the People in this Country.
Journey to Coevcrdetu Accident that bejel
the Author ivhich brings him acquainted
with a very intelligent Dutchman. Utrecht.
Boifeduc. Captain Rev 5 Improvements on
wq/k Land. Bergenopzoom. Journey
through Zealand. Culture of Madder 188
CHAP.
CONTENTS. ill
C H A P. VIII.
Of the Manufactures of Holland 225
CHAP. IX.
Of the Agriculture of Holland 255
CHAP. x.
Of the taxes of Holland • 288
CHAP. XL
Of the Manners, Cufioms, and Genius of the
Dutch . 332
CHAP XII.
Considerations on the Prefcnt State cf the
Power, &c. of the Republic, and her
Connexions with the other Nations cf Eu-
rope — — — 349
PREFACE.
THE number of travels which have
been lately publilhed in England,
France, and Germany, render an apology ne-
ceflary for adding one more to the lift ; and
this I natter myfelf will be belt, done, by
letting forth the defign of my taking a jour-
ney through the northern parts of Europe,
of above feven thoufand miles ; and by ex-
plaining the objects to which I particularly at-
tended.
About eleven years ago, I went the ufual
tour of Europe, which is reckoned, though
very falfely, a fmifhing of education : I
then vilited France, Italy, part of Spain,
and fome territories in Germany, running
very eagerly after every thing produced by
the fine arts, and thinking that painting, fta-
tuary, mufic, and the like, were the only
objects worthy of notice. The purfuit, how-
ever, of a young traveller is ufually plea-
iure, and the acquilition of that fort of know-
ledge, which will bell: enable him to mine
in common converfation : but a purfuit of this
kind will never be of real value ; and I foon
Vol. I. B found
ii PREFACE.
found that I had fpent much time, money,
and attention, in order to return home, ju-
diciouflv 1 z, as ignorant as I went out.
Reflection convinced me that there were nu-
merous objects highly deferving attention in
every countrv which I had palled by without
notice ; and I regretted a journey performed
in the rawneis of youth, which afforded me
ib little in ft ruction.
A family k>6, which filled me with a melan-
choly I cannot yet wear off, determined me
again to quit England, and feek for that
_:nent in travelling, wbichmvown coun-
try I found would not afford. But as I had
been through the fouthern parts of Europe,
. indeed, every thing has been often
and well d as iuch anticipated
idea would be r.: /-ioluteiy deftructive of t'
novelty I fought y of diilipation ; I de-
termined to ipend iome' years in journeying
through the Northern Parts, which would
t me with a new world; the
counts I had read of moll: of them, being ei-
ct.or ib old, that every thing
might be altered lince the authors wrote, lo
knowing too much be-
.- I let OUt.
With this intention I embarked for Hol-
^d, an.. me time in examining
evrrv
PREFACE. Hi
every thing worthy of attention in all the
the provinces of the Dutch republic, which
I will venture to aflert, contain more that is
worthy of a traveller's attention, provided he
is fbmething more than two and twenty, than
any part of Italy. I had the good fortune to
procure fbme very valuable intelligence there,
by means of letters of recommendation I car-
ried with me from England. I began my tra-
vels with viewing and enquiring into objects
of more folidity and ufe, than I had ever
thought of when abroad before ; the ftate of
the Dutch trade and manufactures, the va-
lue and products of their lands, &c. demanded,
and had my attention. From my firft land-
ing, I determined to keep a journal of every
thing I faw or heard, as well for employing
many idle hours, which I knew I mull have,
as for the fake of retaining the information
which I hoped to procure. With the fame
view, I inferted a tranflation of a paper or two
publimed in Holland lately, upon their trade,
yet with no deiign of publishing any thing
myielf. Afterwards, upon revifmg my ma-
il uicript, I let them keep their place, becaufe
they are fhort, and have not been tranflated
before.
Flanders I viiited next, and was much
ftruck with the great exertions of good huf-
B 2 bandry
iv PREFACE.
ban dry I met with ; all which I m inn ted as
accurately as a perfon is able to do, who has
not practiied the art.
I palled through the northern part of Ger-
many, and found feveral particulars, even in
the dreary tracl of Weilphalia, that werein-
ftrucYive. In Holfrein, I made fome obicr-
vations on the management of certain lands,
:h T thought deferred attention.
In Denmark, I was very fortunate in
meeting, accidental! v, with a nobleman,
whofe great works in improving the agri-
culture of an extenfive eilate, eftablifhing
manufactures, bringing commerce to a port,
and peop.lino- a country, ou?ht to render his
name immortal ; by his means alfo, I gained
recommendations to fome perfons of confe-
quence at Copenhagen, and even in Sweden.
I traverfed that very extenfive kingdom, and
did not rind the molt mountainous provinces
barren of inftruction : I have recorded many
undertakings there of individuals, which do
them no flight honour, and found feveral
practices among the peafants, which may be
of iervice even to Englifh farmers.
Ruflia afforded me much greater informa-
tion, reflecting the prefent liate of the reve-
ues, forces, power, &c. of that great em-
pire, thanl could have gained if I had not
tra-
PREFACE. v
travelled through it. I believe the reader
will find feveral circum fiances of the manner
and devaluation of theTurkifh war, more parti-
cularly treated here than in many other books.
The Ukraine, I found a moft fertile field of
excellent hufbandry ; and entirely different
from the idea I had formed of a Tartar terri-
tory from the books which mention that
country.
The diffracted ftate of Poland, allowed me
no other opportunity, than to defcribe and
explain its wretched fituation.
My journev through the dominions of his
Pruffian Majefty and the Empreis Queen,
brought me much better acquainted with the
ftate the laff, war left them in, and their abili-
ties for engaging in another, or any other en-
terprize, than I could have gained by reading
any books that have been publifhed concern-
in p- them, of which there are fome in Ger-
many, and feveral in Holland.
It is but leldom that I have afforded any
pages to paintings, and never unlefs the
printed accounts are very erroneous. I have
not given much attention to buildings, tho'
I thought it proper not entirely to overlook
them, as they are in iome countries proofs
of the political- ftate being in good order.
13 ut I have never omitted any opportunities of
B 3 making
vi PREFACE.
making oblervations on the ilate of the
people, in every country I pafled through ;
and difcovering to what caufes their happi-
nefs or their nailery were owing: as alfo on the
experiments and improvements in agriculture ;
on the Hate of manufactures, and the progrefs
of commerce : thefe objects I thought much
iuperior to others, and the more fo as they
have in general been almoft entirely omitted
by other travellers.
There is one circumflance which it is ne-
ceflary I mould explain : weights, coins,
and meafures, gave me infinite trouble. In
the rough minutes I took as I travelled, all
the foreign terms of this fort were retained,
but I found my journal abfoluteJy unintel-
ligible to any body that was not extremely
well veried in the proportions of this fort, be-
tween different kingdoms; this induced me
to go very regularly through the whole, and
reduce all to Englim weight and meafure,
which I effected throughout the whole jour-
ney, fo that now every thing will be intel-
ligible ; whereas, had I informed the reader,
that in Poland wheat yields five crutks to the
bufcb/ng, it would be attended with no more
ufe,than if I gave the meafures of the moon.
I have therefore ftruck out foreign terms of
this fort, and given the proportions as near
PREFACE.
vu
as I could poftibly calculate them, in Eng-
lish.
Making every where fuch numerous en-
quiries into the ftate of agriculture, &c. was
the occafion of my putting myfelf to the
great trouble and expence of an interpreter,
that I might be able to afk any queftions I
wanted, and underftand the anfwers that were
given me. I found this was a precaution
abfolutely neceflary in an undertaking fuch
as I embarked in, and which no perfon will
be able to difpenfe with, that ever attempts
to travel upon fuch a plan.
I mail now take my leave of the reader for
the prefent, with only obferving, that I have
not been induced to make public this journal,
by the requeft of friends, or any fuch mo-
tive, and therefore I think it would be dif-
ingenuous to pretend to it. Upon examining
and reflecting on the plan I had laid down to
myfelf, I thought a diligent execution of it
would make me matter of much ufeful know-
ledge, which I could not get from books ; and
after I had executed it, I thought (however
I may have failed in many points) that the
papers might be of ufe to others as well as to
myfelf, and therefore determined to make
them public.
B 4 I mu ft
viii PREFACE.
I muft requeil: the reader to penile them
with candour, and remember that it is with
much difficulty, and no flight labour, that I
have collected them ; under which circum-
ftances, I hope he will pardon thole errors
and omiffions, which I had it not in my
power to prevent.
Travels
Travels through Holland.
[ " ]
CHAP. I.
Pajfage from Harwich to Hehoet — From
Helvoet to Rotterdam — Obfervations on the
Country and Method oj traveUiftg. — Defcrip-
tion of Hotter dam.
APRIL the 6th, 1768, I embarked on
board the King George packet, at
Harwich ; and, after a paflage, neither good
nor bad, as the ieamen informed us, landed
the 8th, in the evening, at Helvoetfluys.
I had been informed that the expences were
under a regulation, and did not exceed a gui-
nea each peribn; but mine rofe, I fuppofe,
through impofition, to three pounds eighteen
millings for myfelf and fervant. When a
man travels, he mould always expect to find
his expences run higher than the account he
receives ; luch an idea is a precaution that
will prevent his falling into inconveniences;
•and what is of equal importance to the agree-
ablenefs of a journey, will keep him from
inceflant quarrels and petty dhputes with the
lower
D. H HILL LIBRARY
North Carolina State College
12 T R A V B L S,
lower fort of t:
through which he travels; from which, too
many perfons have dealt; in vei iai ufe
of whole nations.
I was very fortunate during my panage to
meet with an Englifh gentleman, who had
been ieveral times in Holland ; he gave mg
many cautions for c
my fray in the Provinces, which I appre-
hend will prove ufeful to me ; he appeared,
however, rather too great an ceconomiit ;
for if he is not peculiarly laving, 1 am to ex-
pect nothing leis than being fleeced unmer-
cifully; and if I make any refinance, am to
look only for a brutal faperiorify, not only
from the inferior magiftrates, but alio from
every common fellow I have a difpute with :
I never was full of an idea of Dutch polite-
nefs, but thefe opinions, I think, cannot be
very we'll founded.
Helvoet has the appearance of a little dirty
liming town : the cleanlinefs of the Dutch
is very famous, but I have iten few marks of
it there. The harbour is excellent, from i
depth and fecurity ; the States g
Ieveral men of war here ready for fervice : I
obfervcd fix mips, five of them larffe ; 01
was of 80 guns, one of 70, three of 60, and
one of 40. I made enquiries concerning their
fieet
TRAVELS, &c. t3
Beet in general, and was told that their High
Mightineffes had powerful lquadrons elle-
where. The fortifications appear to be con-
iider'able.
It was in the evening when I landed, fb I had
my firft ipecimen at Helvoet of a Dutch Inn ;
they gave me fifh- extremely well dreffed in
the Englii'h manner, were civil, and though
not cheap in the bill, by no means extrava-
gant ; the bed was not a good one, but I did
not lay my account with meeting them fo
good in general in Holland as at home. I
found no difficulty in being underflood in
French, but when I wanted to put queitions
to any people I met, my man was fbme-
thing of an interpreter, having a {mattering
of Dutch, which indeed was the bell part
of his chara&er, and for which I hired him
in London.
Next morning, the 9th, I ordered a chaife
to carry me to Briel, but was told there was
only one in the town, and that gone another
way towards Dordrecht. What other con-
veyance is there ? A poft. waggon, Sir. Very
good ; I will fee this waggon : Where is it ?
Gone, Sir, at eight o'clock. When does it
go again ? To-morrow morning at the fame
hour. This was very unpleafant news, for
the weather was net fairly agreeable, and
the
»4 T R A V E S, :j\-.
th g to Brill. I .
• *g ige to come by the nrfr. t nee
m.
From Helvoet to Bri five and
t, through a country not
; _ . ;.hlv ; much of the road bad and Candy.
I obferved two p I
■ :h: oxea ; the :.'.: : : th ry
i mplete; they :d for bar-
r which grain it I by u
i p c . . - : : T I ough s , which
v.\ t uld m.
- one think.
Bri.h £, ftands in an
Voorn, thov
: ■ it. It is but a poor
:hh ler it in
gej ry ftrong ; but the fineft
is the riv is a
mi] t nate
through the I .:ood of this flc ;.:;;>
in Hie air ail round
Bri.h aud indeed the nd,
is : .': fog :'■' ; md pet, I to
the fragnation of it, they have planted the
t . . full oft . '- ire in rows in
ftreets, i I of pofts: This feems \
pretentious. I dined at the City of Am-
ftftr^, which is the prii J inn ; hi ex-
treme
TRAVELS, tfc. 15
treme fine foals, chickens, and oyfter fauce,
with feveral plates of greens ftewed, though
not in greafe, and a bottle of claret ; and the
bill fof myfelf and fervant came to nine flo-
rins, jbr fifteen millings Englifh ; here let me
obfetve, that a florin, or guilder, is twenty
pence Engliih, and a iliver fomething better
than a penny ; twenty {livers make one flo-
rin. The inn, and the accommodation, ap-
pears from a tranfitory view to be tolerable,
but not equal to what I expected from the
Engliih ones. My landlord was furprized
I mould take Rotterdam in my way to the
Hague ; allured me, that travellers ufually
crofled from Briel to Maeflandfluys, and
thence to Delft, and Ley den ; but as I pur-
pofed taking another route fouthwards to
Flanders, I lilenced Minheer with my reafon.
From Bnel I took my paffage in a regular
failing boat, the diftance twelve Engliih
miles, which it performed in two hours and
an half; T paid eight ftivers for myfelf, and as
much for the fervant. This is travelling in
a very cheap, and not a difagreeable manner,
except the circumftance of uiing a cabbin, in
common, with whatfoever company may
happen to take places ; on many occafions
this mult be odious. ' We pafled Maefland-
fluys
t6 TRAVELS, fete.
fluys and Schiedam ; the banks of the Macfe
do not give one any great idea of the country.
At Rotterdam I arrived late in the even-
ing, and fixed my quarters at the Englifh
inn on Gelders^quay ; here I met with good
rooms, excellent provifions, and a civil En-
glifh landlord ; I informed him of my defign
of ftaying fome days in the city, requeuing
that I might be treated in a fair manner, pro-
portioned to the money I fpent at his houfe,
naming Mr. Godewynus Zaayman, a mer-
chant, well known in Rotterdam, and of
coniiderable wealth, to whom I had letters
of recommendation; intimating, that I mould
appeal to him, in caie of receiving any im-
proper treatment : he replied, I mould find
his houfe equal to any in England, that he
had for his cuftomers the befc gentry that
took the tour of Holland. I took the firft
opportunity of waiting on M. Zaayman, and
found him extremely friendly and polite; he
prefled me much to take my quarters at his
houfe, from which I excufed myfelf, on fe-
veral accounts ; but I dined twice or thrice
with him during my fray, and vifited him
often at other hours ; he introduced me to
ieveral perions, from whom I received civili-
ties. M. Zaayman gave me much intel-
ligence concerning the prefent flate of Hoi-
nd,
TRAVELS, y>. tf
land, in feveral points, relative to trade and
manufactures, that I had made memoran-
dums to enquire after, which he did in a
manner that (hewed at once his readinefs to
oblige me, and his excellent and penetrating
understanding;.
Rotterdam is a large city, very populous,
and elegantly (ituated for trade ; it is fecond
to Amfterdam alone, coming nearer to that
famous emporium of trade than any port' in
England does to London. The Maefe here
is a very noble river; and canals are cut from
it through every part of the city, which are
(b deep and bread, that (hips of above 30Q
tons load and unload directly into the quays,
and into the warehoufes on the banks. The
(ides of many of the canals are planted with
tall trees, which united with the maffs and
flags of the (hipping, and the houles too,
form a fpeclacle that Strikes one with its od-
dity : I had not feen any thing like it,
I was informed that this city had in every
inftance but one, the advandage of Amfter-
dam, mips of large burthen cannot go up to
the latter, but are forced to unload. Both
the Maefe and the Texel are frozen in win-
ter ; but in hard feafons, the former has the
ice broken much (boner, which is a great
advantage in trade ; add to this, that the
Vol. I. C country
i8 TRAVELS, \3c.
country about Rotterdam, is, as they affert,
far more pleafant, the air more healthy, and
the water better than at Amsterdam ; but the
bank of Amsterdam, and its being the feat
of commercial government, overcome? all
theie fuperiorities, and gives it incomparably
the greateft. trade.
Nine tenths of the Britifh trade with the.
United Provinces centers at this place; which
is owing to the advantages of the fituation ;
many mip-loads of goods, configned for Am-
fterdam, are fent hither, and go by canals to
that citv : two or three hundred iail of Bri-
tifh veffels are fometimes in the harbour at
once. There is alfo a confiderable mare of
the Eafl India trade here, with very great
magazines of thofe goods ; and a glafs ma-
nufactory, which only works for the Eafl:
India fhips : I faw in it a vafr. quantity of
toys done in enamel, bowls, cups, faucers,
plates, figures, &c. many of which were in
a grotefque liile, and well executed ; thefe,
they told me met with a ready fale in the
iflands depending on the Dutch empire in
that region.
Several of the ftreets are very fpacious and
well built. Heeren-ftreet is the fineft. The
houfes are built of hewn fione ; but the
Boompies is more agreeable, lying along the
Made,
TRAVELS, 13c. |i9
Made, the length more than half a mile : It
ieems like a vaft quay, on one fide is the river
full of fhips, and on the other the ftreet
bounded by trees, and then by very large and
well built houfes ; here the belt, company in
the city refort, to walk and converfe, fome-
thing in the ftile of St. James's Park, though
it may be fuppofed much inferior. I had
heard much of the churches in Rotterdam,
but none of them are ftriking. The Ex-
change is a very large, and mafly building,
which gives one a good idea of the wealth
of the place.
This city is very famous for having given
birth to Erafmus ; I was fhewed with an auk-
ward kind of oftentation, the houfe in which
he was born : on the Great Bridge is a tole-
rable brafs ftatue of him ; he is reprefented
with a flowing gown, and a cap on, and a
book in his hand ; the pedeftal is of marble,
inclofed with iron rails : the expreffion is not
great.
All forts of proviflons are very dear at this
place ; even fifh, that is good, is far from
cheap: The Dutch are. amazingly induftri-
ous, and all the lower claries very frugal, or
it would be impoffible for them to live : if
the poor at Rotterdam were to fquander and
drink away as much as they do in the towns
C 2 Of
zo TRAVEL S, «r.
or' England, thief wouM ftarve ; this may
ear.lv be conceived, when I inform the
der, that, dun: fray here, bread was
never te§ than two pence halt-pen:
pound. Wine is cheaper than in England,
but I ive much that is very bad ; I could
not live decentlv with one :er vant at the inn
for lei's than twentv florins a day, which is
il. 135. j|.4. this certainly is as dear upon the
whole as England.
CHAP.
TRAVELS, Sir. ;i
CHAP. II.
Journey from Rotterdam to the Hague — De-
fer ipi ion of that famous village — The neigh-
bouring Country — Agriculture — The People
— Haerlem — To Amjlerdam.
FROM Rotterdam, I took the way on
the 14th, by Delft, to the Hague, in
a treckfehuyt, or paffage boat : the diftance
to the former of thefe places is only fix En-
glim miles, for which I paid for myfelf and
fervant only twelve {livers ; thefe boats are
very peculiar conveyances, they go at the
rate of three miles and a half an hour : the
only {tops they make, are at certain little
towns, from which they expect to take in
frefh pafiengers. It is drawn by an horfe,
and will hold about fifteen paflengers in the
cabbin, or covered room, with convenience;
but the mifchief is, that the mafter, or {kip-
per, will crowd it with twenty, and even
twenty-five, on account of the profit of the
fares ; and indeed, I believe if he could pack
them as clofe, he would fluff it as full as a
C 3 barrel
»* TRAVELS, bJ..
barrel of herrings. I have read in iome
books, that pretend to give an exact account
of Holland, that thefe boats are the mod
agreeable travelling in the world ; but I beg
to add, in relation only to cheapnefs. 1 took
this paflage with two and twenty other pa£
fengers ; we are told that the paflengers may
talk, knit, few, read, and do whatever they
like ; which is undoubtedly true : they may
perform all thefe agreeable functions, juft in
the manner in which they are performed in
an Englifh ftage coach, in which fix are
crammed, all perhaps great, fat, or opulent
wretches, that are made only to be a plague to
the next on the feat. I can conceive, a ftage
coach half full, and none but agreeable com-
pany in it, may prove a very agreeable con-
veyance ; but what are thefe boafled treck-
fchuyts, when you have a dozen Dutch boors
in them, who fetting at nought the clean-
liness of their country, will {pit clofe at your
feett whatever be your rank, and will (hew s>
little idea of civility, or even humanity, as the
mod drunken hackney coachman at London.
But what can be expected from a convey-
ance that carries one at the rate of about a
penny a mile; if travelling is very cheap,
very low, and vulgar people will travel. At,
London, we have ftages that go five or iix
miles.
TRAVELS, fcfy 21
miles for a (hilling, nothing lb detefiable ;
the cheapnefs induces all the blackguards
who were born to ufe their feet, not coaches,
to become paffengers ; and a gentleman, or
any man that has two ideas, is offended at
the lownefs of the company he meets in
them. It appears very clearly to me,thatevery
thing which is cheap, ismade or managed
with a peculiar view to thole that are poor,
and will in general fuit them only : It may be
laid that men of education, genius, fcience,and
lb forth, are often poor ; but what then ? Am
I to be peftered with the company of half a
fcore Dutch boors, becaufe it is probable that
a man of genius may now and then honour
it with his prefence. But however, to do
juflice to thefe boats, I mall readily allow,
that if the fare was fix-pence a mile, they
would be a moil: agreeable method of travel-
ling : They are well built, the cabbin a good
room, with windows fo difpofed that you lee
much of the country. The canals are not
only deep, but from thirty to feventy feet
wide ; they fet off at regular hours, and arrive
at the fame.
Delft is an agreeable place, I conceive it
to be half as large as Norwich, in England ;
the principal object in it is the manufactory
of earthen ware. Mr. Geradus van Wefiel-
C 4 inck
2+ t R A V ELS, fcta
hick is at present the principal manufacturer t
I had a letter to him, intimating that I mould
be glad of fome intelligence concerning the
prefent ftate of their fabrick ; he willingly
obliged me in this, but as he did notfpeak
French, I was obliged to get an interpreter.
He told me that their porcelane employed
about four thoufand people, men, women,
and children ; that the manufacture was once
fo flourifhing as to fupport more than (kvcn
thoufand, but the fetting up a fabric of white
{tone ware in England was very prejudicial
to it, though not near fo much as the efta-
bliihment of the Stafrbrdfhire cream-coloured
ware : in this refpecl things had been fo
changed, that Englifh ware riv ailed the
Delft, not only in the Britifh confumption,
but even in their own citv, where the fale of
it had alarmed the principal manufacturers fo
much, as to induce them to apply more than
once to the States, for a prohibition of it :
this has not yet been granted, but very high
duties are already laid ; the ufe of it ftill con-
tinuing, they are now attempting the fame
manufacture here to rival the Englifh ; but
from the fpecimens I fawof it, I do not think
there is any danger of their fucceeding.
Making beer is alfo a trade in which the
people of Delft much employ themfelves,
and
TRAVEL S, fefr. 25
and it flouriihes tolerably well : there was
formerly a conliderable cloth manufacture,
but the letting up rivals to it in France, in
Lewis XlVth's time, brought it to a very low
ebb.
From this place to the Hague, the diftance
is but four miles ; and as the road was good,
and chailes commonly palling, I preferred
that conveyance to the pafTage boat. The
whole country is one continued rich mea-
dow. I arrived there the 16th.
The Hague is a conliderable city, though
called a village, from the ridiculous reafon of
its not being walled. It has more of the rv.s
in wbc than anyplace I have :~:en ; the flreets
are broad and regular, but few of them with-
out trees ; the lquares are groves ; and the
numerous gardens, in union of the whole,
with the iurrounding meadows, which is
hardly ever broken by thole dirty receptacles
of filth, and innumerable brick-kilns, and
cow-yards that encompais London, render it
quite country, and make it charming to
thole who love theie rural doings in the midil
of a city.
I was recommended to the Parliament of
England, as the belt inn, and one to which
all perlons of any consideration reforted. I
found it fully anfwerable to the character I
z& TRAVELS, if:.
had received : although I was moderate in
ordering at meals, as well through oeconomy
as a dillike at a table fully covered for a (in-
gle perlbn, yet I could not come off for
kis than two regular courfes, and feveral
forts of excellent wine ; indeed I found it to
little purpofe to be explicit in directing what
I would have for meals, for I was ferved
with a variety, whether I would have it or
not ; the expences ran at about two guineas
a day on an average ; but I entertained fome
perfons of character, in confequence of letters
I had procured to them. There is nofatisfaclion
in travelling expeniively,efpecially in eating and
drinking, further than proportioned to a man's
rank and fortune ; and I had ever entertained
an idea, that money was better expended in
purchafmg the rarities, or other peculiar pro-
ductions, as far as my purfe would allow,
than fquandering large lums at inns, and on
the road. It was not my deiign to make any
long flay at the Hague, or I ihould have en-
quired out private lodgings, and a more oeco-
nomical way of living. I mention thefe cir-
cumftances as a hint to other travellers, that
they may confider and lay their plan of resi-
dence before hand ; for my flay was longer,
and confequently more cxpenlive, than I de-
igned.
In
TRAVEL S, tf£ 2?
In general, I had met with nothing but
Dutch beds in Holland, that is o{ four or
live feet high; a young couple, on their wed-
ding night, unlets their blood is true Dutch,
I fhould think would run the hazard of
breaking- their necks ; In truth they are fit
Only tor the nioft ibber fleepers; but on hint-
ing a difiike, I was {hewn ro an apartment
fitted up in the Englifh ilile.
The ft reet s at the Hague are extremely well
paved with clinkers, that have an appearance
of bricks, and the joints fc> well made, that
they admit of wafting like an houie, and the
inhabitants feem to vie with each other ia
this public eleanlinefs ; tliofe of each houic
keep that bit clean which is before it ; this
makes walking in them wonderfully agree-
able. I obferved the Ipirit of this cieanneis
at Rotterdam and Delft, but the pavements
not being equally good, the enecls are not io
viiible as here ; and here let me remark, that
the extreme idea of keeping their houfes clean-
of which I have fb often read uncommon ac-
counts, feems rather to have declined among
them. I think I have been in many houfes
in England, that are kept to the full as clean
as any that I have chanced to ice in liollano^
but this extends, however, ojily to the better
rank- K>f the people, for among the lowcf
28 TRAVELS, tse.
ones there is no comparifon between the two
nations : a Dutch cottage, or the houfe of an
inferior tradesman, with ever fo many chil-
dren in it, is as clean as pomble; but in
England, fuch are too often the refidence of
filth and naftinefs. We have a female cha-
racter among us, that is vulgularly called a
dawdle > but fuch a character is not to be met
in Holland.
One circumftance which I have heard fome
of my countrymen find terrible fault with,
is the fuel ; a fire of wood will coft as much
at the Hague, as ieven fires at London, and
I faw no coal ; turf is the only firing. I have
no objection to it; the ablenceof fmoak, which
from fea coal is beaftly, and from wood death
to ones eyes, is a great advantage ; add to
this, that the moil afthmatic man will find no
inconvenience to his breath from turf. But
as to the ftoves, and rooms heated by floves,
they appear to me extremely difagreeable •;
cuflom I fuppofe would reconcile them ; but
the chearful fociety of an El glim fire far
exceeds thefe contrivances.
This place carries a very different appear-
ance from any other I had feen in Holland ; bu-
finefs, and making money, is one of the only
employments and pleafures you fee at Rot-
terdam ; but the Hague has very little trade
going
TRAVELS, &c. 29
going forward; to make amends for which,
here is as much good company as at any other
place in Europe; all foreign minifters refide
here; it is the court of the Prince of Orange,
and the meetings of the States-general are
never held at any other place : the number
of elegant equipages is great, and the ex-
penfive dreffes you fee, the number of fer-
vants, the general air of luxury and pleafure,
all carried a very -different appearance from
any thing I had yet {een ; but notwithstand-
ing its being the refidence of fo many idle
people, who fpend great incomes, frill the
Hague is miferably provided with public di-
veriions. I went to a place they called the
opera-houfe, and there met with a French
comedy, wo fully acted ; it gave me a diftafte
of their theatre : and this is the principal
houfe of amufement, which is partly fup-
ported by the fubfcriptions of foreign mini-
fters. I was informed that operas are now and
then performed, when lingers are to be had :
concerts they have pretty often, and tolerably
good ; the bell: however are at private houles.
But what I loft in the public way, I gained
in the more private ; on my delivering my
letters to feveral perions of fome distinction,
and waiting on Sir Jofeph Yorke, I was in-
troduced to fome good company, that contri-
' buted
5© TRAVELS, \$Z
buted greatly to make my retidence pc
agreeable ; the parties I attended were, as I
believe is the caie in all the great cities in Eu-
rope, much more to my inclinations than
any entertainment I could receive in public.
The public buildings at the Hague make
no figure ; the houies that form the flreets
and fquares being in general much fuperior,
many of thefe are great. The palace, as they
call it, has feveral courts, but is a poor build-
ing : that of Prince Maurice, Governor of
Brazil, is not at all linking.
The Voohout is the Dutch Mall, and i-s
about as broad as that of St. James, but not
near fo long : it was planted by the Emperor
Charles V. there are three contiguous ways
for coaches, and the buildings that face it
make a good figure ; but what is very amazing,
infread of gravel, they have made it of cockle
fhells, which in treading has a vile effect.
This is frrange, as gravel might be had at no
dear rate from our Thames. Sand is the ge-
neral fubftitute in Holland, and this alone is
a great deduction from the beauty, or rather
formality of their gardens. This Mall is,
however, as much deferted as our Ring.
The Prince Graft is a very noble ftreet, near
half a mile long, of a grand breadth, and as
fkuit as an arrow ; a very ipacious canal,
planted
TRAVELS, Uc. 31
planted on both fides, runs along the middle
of it, having feveral flone bridges with iron
ballufrrades over it ; the houies, eipecially
one lide, make a fine appearance, and the
whole, in a word, is a very great ornament to
the Hague. But it is a ftrong inftance that
this planting of flreets has not an effect equal
to a fine range of buildings, unaccompanied
with trees : a canal regularly cut through a
very wide ftreet, faced with ftone, accords
perfectly well with the regularity of houfes,
and is a great improvement, but trees have
nothing to do in the cafe.
Having fpent eight days very agreeably at
the Hague, I made an excuriion the 24th of
April to Scheveling. a village about two miles
off, on the lea coaft ; the road to it through
the fand banks is curious. Here the company
from the Hague come to eat nih frefh caught,
and ibme to bathe. The coaftis very well worth
viewing, to fee the great attention and care
that is given to keep the banks in order, to
defend the country from the lea. On this
beach, which is very flat and regular, was
ufed the famous failing chariot of Stevinus,
which carried eight and twenty peribns trie
aftoniihing diflance of 42 miles in two hours;
and once, by an error in him that held the
rudder, if we may fo call it, was very near
failing
52 T R A V E. L S, fife
failing with a full cargo into the lea, which
was rather more than they bargained for.
The great fucceis or this famous machine has,
in different parts of Europe, produced many
imitators ; and an hundred fch ernes for con-
ducting net only coaches and chariots, but
alio carts and waggons, and even plough?,
"ows, and rollers, by wind : iomething
ful might probably be done in it ; but
found mathematicians wanting money tor
fuch experiments, they ha\ 3 gone fur-
ther than the clofcts of vif: onaries and dab-
blers.
On mv return in the afternoon, I took a
walk to the Wood near the Hague, belong-
ing to the Prince of Orange, which is fa-
mous in Holland ; but nothing in k will in
the leaft lfrike a perfon ufed to the gardens
in England : in the houfe is a fine ialoon or
ball-room, with a cupola in the c-ciJiag : it
is richlv ornamented with very line pictures,
many by Rubens, Vanderwerfe, Yarelit,
Schuyr, £ce.
The 2>th I employed in viiifmgRyfwick,
a palace belonging to the Prince of Orange,
and famous for the peace concluded there.
It is the only building of free ifone in the
Seven Provinces : it is ftrongly enveloped in
wood, which darkens every room ; this pal-
lion
TRAVELS, t& 33
iion of crouding all their houfes with wood
is unaccountable in the Dutch. In a hilly
bleak country, where wind and plenty of air
were evils, one would naturally look for this
tafte, but it is prepofterous in a dead flat,
in whicb the air is as apt to ftagnate as the
water, and confequently the more open the
better. Nothing in the palace, but a few
good pictures, is worthy of obfervation. At
Honflaerdyck, another palace belonging to
the fame Prince, is a gallery of many very
fine paintings, by the beft mailers of the
Flemifh. fchool. Many of the lower rooms
are richly paved with fine marble ; and there
is a clofet of the Princefs's entirely wainfcotted
with old japan.
The 26th I left the Hague, and took the
treckfchuyt for Leyden, being not more than
nine miles, and paid for myihlf and iervant
fourteen {livers: I Was very fortunate in com-
pany, fo the mode of travelling turned out
for this time very agreeable ; we were neai;
three hours on the way. I took up my quar-
ters at the Golden-ball, and let me here re-
mark, as I have mentioned the inn, that I
found the accommodation good, but dear.
Leyden is a very large, and in general an
handfome city, fortified, but not ftrongly.
There are few canals in it, which gives it in
Vol. I. D this
34 TRAVELS, &a
this country a peculiar appearance ; but the
water is much complained of as being bad ;
the canals they have ftagnate, and the pu-
trid exhalations are miichievous.
-The ftreets are long, broad, and {trait,
and the houfes very well built ; the Ra-
penburg ftreet is a very noble one, but not,
as the inhabitants affured me, the fineft in
Europe. The great church is a very fine
building. Nothing in the ftadthoufe is wor-
thy of obfervation, but a picture of the laft
judgment, by Luke of Leyden. The univer-
sity here is the moft famous in Holland, and
well known all over Europe for having pro-
duced many very great men.
I was particular in my enquiries into the
ftate of the woollen manufacture here, which
has long been very considerable ; the work-
men confift of feveral nations, and among
others, feveral French refugees : the fab rick
employs feveral thoufand men and women,
and fome children ; they make chiefly broad
and narrow cloths, ferges, and camlets, but
they are inferior to the fineft cloths of the fame
kind made in England. I deiiredto be informed
if this inferiority was owing to a want of fine
wool, or to a want of markets ; the former
is the account that has been given by nu-
merous authors, that have mentioned thele
fabrics :
TRAVELS, &c. 35
fabrics : a very intelligent, and feemingly
candid mailer manufacturer, afiured me, that
they attended principally to making thofe
cloths that met with the readiefl fale through
Turkey and the Eafl Indies, Spain, and other
countries ; that cloths equally fine with the
Englifh would not fell, not from being
difliked, but from their dearnefs : they have
made cloths as fine as any in England, and
ibid them as cheap as the Englifh, but the price,
throughout all their foreign markets, regulates
their manufacture. That as to wool, they got
much from Spain, which anfwercd all the
purpofesof fine, fome from Great Britain and
Ireland ; but, added he, not fo much as the
Englifh apprehend. The coarfe comes from
Germany, and large quantities from Poland
and Turkey. I aiked him how they came to
buy fme cloths from England to export, as I
well knew they did at Rotterdam, if their
own were in more requeft on account of
cheapnefs ? he replied, that he meant only
in general ; that certain individuals, regard-
lefs of price in all the regions to which their
fabrics were exported, would have the very
beft, but it was nothing in companion with
the bulk of the demand, which was for cheap
cloths ; and that they found- it fo much more
advantageous to put only coarfe one? in their
D 2 looms,
So TRAVELS,
looms, that they readily fubmitted to pur*
chafe the finer forts from England.
I found they all agreed very well in com-
plaining of the decline of trade; they allured
me that the manufactures of Ley den were,
fifty vears ago, at leaft one third more con-
siderable than they are at prelent, and what'
is worfe, they rather decline every day. I en-
quired the reafon of this declenfion ; they
told me it could only be attributed to the
sjeatprogrefsmadein manufactures in France,
England, and Germany ; that the Englifh
rivalled them more and more every day ; that
the fabrics of France, in time of peace, did
them much mifchief at prefent, but in the
laft century were a mortal blow to the Ley-
den ones ; that in Germany feveral Princes,
who formerly cloathed their armies entirely
with the Dutch cloth, had lately eftablifhed
manufactures for fupplying themfelves.
Before I quit Leyden, I mull: offer a few
obfervations on the country through which
I have paffed fince I left Rotterdam : all this
part of Holland is in general a very rich mea-
dow, fcarcely an arable field being any where
feen : thefe meadows are very rich ; they
are quite flat, on a loamy marl foil ; as near
as I could compute, I reckon the rents
of them to rife from forty millings to fix
pounds
TRAVEL S, ls\. 37
pounds an acre, Englifh meafure. They are
principally applied to feeding cows, of the
large breed, which in England is called the
Dutch, and by fome the Holdernefle cattle.
The peafants are remarkably attentive in the
management of their cows ; they keep them
houfed through a very long winter, and as
clean as an Englifh gentleman would his race-
horfe : they do not effect this by means of
much litter; on the contrary, they ufe none
at all ; but they make a trench of ftone or
brick in the floor of a cow-room, fo exactly
placed, that the dung may fall directly into it,
which being taken regularly away, and the
dirt of the reft of the houfe fwept into it, forms
a good compoft ; and the laving of ftraw,
where there is no arable land, is an object of
capital importance. They further rub and
curry their cows, fo as to keep them as clean
as any horfes, which they think effential to
their giving much milk; and they keep their
houfes as warm as poffible, flopping every
crevice till the breath of the beafts makes the
whole houfe perfectly warm : this I think is
a ftrange cuflom, and feems very contrary to
nature ; but they carry this notion fo far as
to cloath their cows in fummer, while they
are in the meadows feeding ; this makes a
ftrange fight.
D 3 Befidcs
3? T ft A V 7t L S,
Befides cows, thei; failure! are Fed by vr.fl:
herds of black cattle, which art: h ht
Dutch drover^ in Holf:-in and L .-_-. rkey
are purchaied for about forty 01 fifty hum.. -
a head, and when brought :o Holland, more
than an hUnflred miles,;.;: ; Id t t3 ! itch
farmers at three or four pounds a head : and
it is very obierveable that tl tvs are
lb rich that ibme of t icd
in iix weeks, but two m a common
time, and three months 1 at for the
hrgefr. and worft thriving among them. The
butchers buy them fat, at five, iix, eight,
and nine pounds a head ; and as an Engliih
acre will fatten three of them, the farmer
makes from three to iix pounds an acre for
only a part of the year ; but this profit is :
from hence to be calculate , his taxes and
his rent leave him no great matter for his own
uife. Ic is auerted that the flefli of thefe oxen
is not fo firm, nor their hides fo itrong, nor
lb capable of making good I .as ti-
er" Englim cattle ; this is owing to the
luxuriance of the food, in
two or three months, rather ~ _m
that folid fat which iix or eight mc befc
in England : it is accordingly obferved, that
although fome of thefe bealts are as large :.s
the Engiilh ones, yet their flclh is not lb
heavy
TRAVEL S, Uc. 39
heavv, Co that they will not weigh equally
with Engliih beafls of the lame appearance.
As the Dutch eat very little beef frelh, the
greateft. part of thefe herds are lalted for the
ufe of the fhippmg, the Eaft India company
taking off great quantities ; or dried and
lmoaked in a peculiar manner for hung beef,
which they export as a rarity all over Eu-
rope.
As I am here fpeaking of the foil, and its
produce, it will be proper to obferve, that
land fells dearer in the neighbourhood of Ley-
den, than in any other place in Europe, when
applied only to cultivation and net to build-
ing: arable land leils for 200 1. an acre; three
acres have been ibid for 650 1. meadows fells
at 130L an acre ; but the gardens, which are
very famous, bring commonly from 250I. to
310I. pound an acre : the products they yield
are highlv valued by the cormoilTeurs in eating,
iniomuch that Ainfterdatn, though at nine-
teen miles diftance, is principally lupplied
from hence. The gardeners are very fkilful,
not only in cropping their lands inceflantly,
upon the plan nowpuriu:d by the belt around
London, where this art is in as high perfec-
tion as in any place in the world.
The general fertility of the country, which
for moll produces is verv great, but efpecialiy
D 4" for
4<3 TRAVELS, fcfr.
for grafs, is owing to the foil, and to every*
meadow being well watered : from the ge-
neral flatnefs of the whole, and the neigh-
bourhood of the fea,with the numerous rivers,
it is evidently a drained marfh or bog : being
all either a fat marly loam, mud, or a turf
bog ; thefe are rich foils, and with the ad-
vantage of cattle having always water to re-
courfe to, which the Dutch boors efteem a
matter of great confequence both to fattening
and milking, they perform the wonders that
here are feen : much is owing therefore to fuch
numbers of canals and rivers * that interfecl;
the
* Among the rivers, it is very weli known that the
Rhine is very inconfi'Jerable. At Leyden they (hew an
infignifkant canal, which is the real Rhine. The remark
of a modern author, on this river, is very juft : " The
glory of other rivers increafes proportionably to the length
of their courfe, but this dwindles to nothing, and is ut-
terly loir before it comes to the harbour. After it has been
forced to divide itfelf at Fort Schencken, where one half
of its waters take the name of Wahall, the YfTel robs it
of another part a little above Arnheim ; frill it goes on
to that city, though much weakened ; and about twenty
miles from thence, is obliged to feparate again at the city
ofDuerftadt. Here its principal branch takes a new
rime, and is called the Leek, and the poor little {tripped
rivulet turns to the right, retaining {till the old name of
.Rhine, and paffes on to Utrecht, where it is divided a
fourth
TRAVELS, fcf* 41
meadows, and probably fomewhat to their
overflowing large tracts in winter, and leav-
ing, it may be prelumed, fome parallel ad-
vantages to thofe which are left by the Nile.
Before I quit the neighbourhood of the
Hague and Ley den, which are reckoned the
politeft places in ail the Provinces, and the
moll:
fourth time. The Vetcht breaks off that place, and takes
its courfe to the north; and the little thread of water, which
is yet called the Rhine, pafTes quietly to Word en. At
length it comes to bid its laft farewell to Lcyden, and
faintly hnifhes its courfe, by lofing the fmall remainder
of its waters in two or three canals, without having the
honour to enter the fea, We are not ignorant of the
caufc of the Rhine's fate ; it was an earthquake, which
fhook the Downs in the ninth century, and filling the
mouth of this river, forced it to return and feek a new
paiTage. The Leek was then fcarce worth notice, but
the waters cf the Rhine, which were driven back and
overflowed the country, and fwclled and deepened the
Leek's channel, and the entrance of the fea has been ever
fince fhut up againft the antient courfe of the Rhine.
Thus this poor river, which runs fuch hazards in the Lake
of Conltancej and throws itfelf down the precipice near
ShafFhaufen, lofes at length its reputation and waters at
the village of Catwick. 'Tis related by feveral good au-
thors, that the tract of land called Zealand, was at that
time divided into the feveral iflands we fee now; and that
thole lands, woods, and meadows, which were between
Amsterdam and the Texel, were overflowed and covered
with thofe waters now remaining, and known by the name
•f the Zuyder Sea.".
4- TRAVELS, &&.
molt learned, both from the one being a feat
of government, and the refidence of the fo-
reign rhhiifters, and the univeriity of the other
being the ieat of the iciences and literature,
let me ofter the few remarks I have made on
the characters of the people 1 have yet feen, that
if there is anyeftential difference between them
andtheinhabitants of Amfterdam,and the more
diftant provinces, I may not confound them.
There is a very great national refemblance a-
mong the lower clafTes of the people ; and in-
deed, among all but the higher!:, who iupport
themfeives without trade, and who have tra-
velled ; the latter are all more or leis French,
or imitators of them ; they fpeak that language
only, drefs in the French tafte (which by
the way is not very natural among the marines
of Holland) eat in the fame, and give them-
feives fome airs, as if they pretended to the
French livelinefs and vivacity : it is very evi-
dent, that this clafs is compoied of iuch mon-
prel animals, that we muft not take our ideas
of the national character from it, bccauie
they carry in their very face the marks of
being but baftard Dutch. Let me remark,
however, that the Hague feems full of thele
Frenchified Dutchmen ; that place not being
iupported bv trade, but, on the contrary, the
reiidence rather of idlenefs than induitry ; nu-
merous
TRAVEL S, tff. :4
merous families reiide in it that have left oft
bufinefs, or that live without its help, which,
with the refidence of foreign Ambafl adors , may
eahTv' account for the motley appearance of cha-
racter which we find in that city. It is alio
worth obierviug, that this character is found
much at Leyden, though not near io common
as at the Hague, but at Rotterdam there is a
vilible difference ; this fcale mews plainly that
the character and the manners of the people
are much formed by their clofe adhering to,
or neglecting bufinefs. At Leyden, the uni-
verfity draws a great number of peribns who
have no views of trade, and who, therefor^
affect the appearance and manners of the in-
habitants ; but at Rotterdam, every creature
is deeply engaged in commerce, and coiife-
quently exhibit the true Dutch character
much more to the life.
A clofe unbroken indiiitry feems to be the
ftrong mark that is met with in every one; no
application wearies them, no accidents divert
them ; they are attentive only to the railing
wealth ; and it is alfoniihing to fee the num-
ber of them that attain veTjjr great fortunes,
and yet continue all their anxiety and eao"er-
nefs to get more, without feeming to give
the lead attention to enjoying more than a
very moderate competency. Their confti-
tutions
44 TRAVELS,
tu'tions are cold and phlegmatic to an amaz-
ikgree ; a ibber, dry, regular, parftm
■ of life is habitual, ant: iiion
ns to lurk in their bofoms that can be
t to ruffle them: This, however, can-
not be attributed to the love of trade I
the dim A Dutchman is as amph
half the country i; water, and
ir time is lpent upon the wat : the
vapours from io much of it, and from a loil
is ". n ft, and boggy, mud have a
itro: " on the minds of the inhabitants,
iltonifhing contrail: between love
in Spain and Italy, a id in Holland ! Would
it not be amazing to tell a Neapolitan
,]ght or
men -.: if he lived in H
he would regard his m
cool r: (hip :
But thefe chara&eriftics are not to be
to the whole people, there
• many exceptions ; but the more
oft:. md* the more, J
be t xn thofi v .:, or
from who arc idle. From i . . |
more univej
at Rotte dam, Dei . I met
1 merchants and m
- lived genteelly, and though net all in
TRAVELS, £#. 4;
the French ftile, yet in much eaie, plenty;
and evident affluence, while they ituck as
clolelv to trade as it no iiich marks of wealth
were found around them. They foem to
indulge in expence at the table, and in their
wines ; the furniture, and fitting up of their
houfes are other articles, and equipage alio.
Drefs, amufement, and fervanis, do not
claim their attention lb much.
But the true national character, unmixed,
muft be fought for among the lower clailes :
here are to be found the fame coldnefs of
confiitution, with no other invigo ration than
comes from much ftrong beer, gin, and to-
bacco, all of which they take in large quali-
ties : you fee an uncommon, and even unre-
mitted induftry, which is abiblutelv neeet
fary to keep them, where all the neceflaries
of life are at leaft one third dearer than in
England : you alio find a rough booriihnels
in them, much beyond what is met with
elfewhere ; the very loweft of the pleople
will not pay the leafr. mark of perfonaJ res-
pect to the greatefr. merchant in a town : this
is the effect of that equality which flows
through a republic, and not mere libertv ;
for they are governed here with three times
the ieverity that the lower people in England
are, who have therefore more liberty, but
vu
46 TRAVELS, If-.
yet we do Dot fij] .: this degree of boorifhne'?.
The low people in Holland have been re-
proached much with being paffionate, draw-
ing their knives on one another, and vio-
lently cruel in their infurreclions ; from the
little flay I have made here, it is but juitice
to fay that I have met with fcarcelv any in-
flances, and I ftrongly believe, that whenever
they happen, it is owing to their being too
tree with gin ; for as to that choleric heat
and fudden pailion met with in the iouthern
parts of Europe, I have not met with one
inflance ; and yet from moving quickly about
to examine every thing, it is a vail mm
of the people I have feen.
From Lcyden to Haerlem the diflance is
fifteen miles, which the boat performed in
four hours. This little voyage I tcck the
2fyth, and went by recommendation to the
Golden Lion ; the inns, I again repeat, ar
dear as thole in England, but I do not think
them comparable to ours upon the great
roads. The views of the country
way are not diiagreeable, though you !.
a range of vait turf pits, and the Lake of
Haerlem all the way on one fide ; but the
other is much divcrimed with meadows,
which they told mc are fee p; with
black cattle. The Lake is twelve r.
long
TRAVELS, yr. 47
long and three broad, lying between Am-
fterdam, Ley den, and Haerlem ; there is a
very considerable traffic on it, fo that it is
finely fpread with fails. It yields vaft quan-
tities of fifti. It is aftonifhing, that little
jealoufies between the three great cities near
this river ihould prevent their agreeing in a
work fo vaftly profitable, as draining it, and
converting the whole to rich meadow ; the
water is nowhere more than eight feet deep,
and all of it could be conveyed away at no
very large expence, and the whole fpace kept
dry. The Dutch, with whom 3 converfed
on this fubjecl:, agreed that the bufinefs
rmght very eafily be done; but faid that
Amsterdam, Ley den, and Haerlem, mull:
agree in it.
Haerlem, like all the other cities of Hol-
land, is furrounded with a mew of fortifica-
tions ; but none that would enable it to hold
out three days againlf an army well pro-
vided. The Greets are wide and ftrait, but
the houfes have nothing to admire in them :
there are many canals : the number of inha-
bitants are reckoned at fifty thoufand. The
principal church is a very fine itrueturc, in.
it are three organs ; and they mew in the
walls cannon balls now flicking, which.
were fhot againft it by the Spaniards in the
famous
4? TRAVEL j\.
famous fiege of 1 5 7 2 . But the 0
tl moil worthy of notice in tl :e are
the manufactures, and the bleacberies : -
principal trade is bleaching li:. aan-
tities, which are made in the Pr: . and
others from Flanders, and even SUefia, are
:hed at Haerlem ; whole : - ids from
.land, and Ireland, are brought bithei
for the fame purpofe. It is the quality f
the water which has fo great an efied ; for
many trials have been made in England,
Scotland, and Ireland, where Dutch bleachers
have been employed, without having the :.
fuccefs. Let it however be remembered, t
in proportion to the whiteneis of the cloth,
fuch will prove the fhortneis of the wt
they rot as well as bleach them : this article
of nicetv mould therefore be confined to tl
cloths that are defigned merely for the ufe of
the rich, it is pernicious to others. The
charge of freight backwards from Scotland,
. that of bleaching, amounts to iod. a
vard, which would be a monftrous addition
to the price of anv but very fine clo:
Bciidesthis branch of trade, there are feve-
ral very considerable manufactories, particu-
larlv the weaving of velvet, damafk?, :
filk fluffs of various forts, thread, tape, Szc.
in all which tl. v.ous : great 1:
bers
T RAVELS, fcfc 49
hers of hands are employed by them ; and
they told me here, contrary to what I had
learned irv the other manufacturing towns,
that their fabrics had increafed for fome years,
but that their bleaching trade had declined.
Weavers, upon an average, earn about five
florins and an half a week, which is above
nine millings : I had different accounts of
the number of hands employed in all the
manufactures ; fome made them 30,000,
others 35,000, and fome made them 43,000 ;
but there are many employed by fome very
Coniiderable breweries, which work for ex-
portation.
From Haerlem to Amfterdam is about
eight or nine miles ; the boat is two hours
and an half going ; half wav are feveral larpe
fluices, of an ankward conftruttion, which
oblige the paflengers to walk about a quarter
of a mile, and change boats. The canal
runs in an odd fituation between the lake
of Haerlem and an arm of the fea. May lit,
I entered Amfterdam, and went immediately
to private lodgings, which were provided me
by a correfpondent, to whom I had applied for
that purpole, as it was my intention to fpend
fome time in this city, for an opportunity to
regard minutely whatever was mofl worthy
of obfervation.
Vol. I. E. CHAP.
5o TRAVELS,
CHAP. III.
Amflerdam — Building* — Remarkable 0
— b:>.\:: ':,r::: — Trade — Wealthy if:.
A
MSTERDAM appears ro no great
advantage to a frxanoer on his firft
comins; into it, uiileis he makes his way
through the Heeregraft, or the Keyzergraft
ftreets : that of Haerlem is very long, but
the fluices in the canal hurt the effect of it ;
the two former have alio canals in the mid-
dle of them, and are very noble ftreets ; but,
like moir in Holland, are planted with trees.
I obierved that fome of the canals are very
bread, and make a fine appearance; but the
houies in general are not erected in a grand
ftile ; on the contrary, very many of them
ciigrace the areas before them : this, the
an evil, is in all the cities of Europe,
pecially in London. In fquares this great
C ity appears to be very deficient ; thev are few
in number, and have nothing in them strik-
ing : that called the Dan: is the pried
but
T R A V E L $, fcf«. 51
but it is very irregular. It would he graced
by the Stadthoufe, were it not for a vile old
building that disfigures its noble front, and
which it is a fcandal to the government to
leave in itsprelent iituation.
But though Amfrerdam cannot boaft of
many fine fquares, like ieveral other capital
cities, yet it contains fome public buildings,
tli at ftrike the ipeclator with aflonifliment
at the magnificence to which trade has here
attained. I was very defirousof viewing the
principal objects in the city to the belt ad-
vantage, and was fully gratified by the mofl
obliging attention of Mefl'. Sautyn and Roie-
velt, who rank amongft the greateft mer-
chants here, and to whom I brought letters
of recommendation ; they took every method
of rendering my fray agreeable, and con-
dueled me to moil of the principal edifices
themfclves. Their friendly politenefs I thus
publicly acknowledge with the greateft plea-
iure.
The building, which is incomparably be-
yond all others, is the Stadthoufe ; the front,
as given by feveral authors, for I did not
meauire it, is 282, the depth is 232, and the
height is 1 16 fezt, beiides a {mall cupola ; it
was begun to be raifed in 1648 ; the expence
•f the edifice has been varioufly computed,
E 2 with
52 T R A V ELS, tsfc.
with fuch an amazing difference, as from
three hundred thouiand pounds, to three
millions ; ter rauft certainly be com-
puted according to the different value of mo-
ney then and now ; but even fo, it mult be
vaitly beyond the truth : the former is in
all probability much nearer the reality. The
front of the building has nothing of tafte or
elegance in it; it is a heavy pile, which1
itrikes the fpcctator with that idea which is
raifed by the grandeur of its magnitude ; the
general effect being, in ray opinion, a much
greater error in the architect's tafte than the
want of a luitable entrance. The inlide of
the building is flniihed in a very noble ftile,
confideringthe purpofe to which it is applied;
fuch as a priion, a bank, the feat of the
Courts of Juftice, the feffions rooms, guard
rooms, &c. The floors, walls, and pillars
are in general ot marble ; and many of the
apartments are adorned with very fine paint-
• ings by the beit of the Flemifh mailers. The
carving and gilding I cannot approve ; thefe
are too light and airy ornaments for the pur-
pofes to which the whole edifice is applied.
In the fecond ftory is a great magazine of
arms ; and over that, great refervoirs of water,
with tubes to conduct it into every apart-
ment ; and another precaution againft fire is,
the
TRAVELS, t*c. 53
the chimneys being lined with copper. I
went to the top of the cupola, for a view of
the city and neighbouring country, which it
gives tn great perfection ; commanding the
whole fpace built, with the canals, and the
immenfe number of mips in the harbour, al-
together forming a very noble profpect.
The bank of Amberdam, which is the lower
apartment, is famous all over the world. The
great trealure faid to be locked up in the vaults
of this houfe, belonging to the hank, are the
fums received in purchafe, not of bank itock,
but of bank transfer. Thi^ is not like that
of London, a bank that circulates notes in-
return for cafh ; on the contrary it is a bank
of depofit : whoever pays money here, has it
entered in the bank books, but can never
more demand a (hilling of it: when he wants
to raife money, he offers to (ale fo much bank
credit, which is transfer red in a moment, and
ever ready to raile any lums upon.
Here a natural queflion may be frated :
What is the ufe of fuch a bank ? the excel-
lence of a bank of circulation is evident at
frft light; by circulating paper thev have it
in their power to remedy numerous evils,which
in certain iituations or affairs attend a languid
circulation of coin : if money is too fcarce,
fuch an inftitution may be able to make it
E 3 plen-
54 TRAVEL S, lie.
plentiful ; and another great utility (at leaft
it has been lo efteemed in England) is that of
iffuing large quantities of paper to fupply the
home demand for a currency, "while the pre-
cious metals are at liberty to go abroad in
whatever method, or on whatever buiinefs,
the merchants may rind advifable, in order to
increaie their commerce and their fortunes at
the fame time : but, on the contrary, a bank
of depofit is not attended with any one of thefe
conveniences ; circulation is much impeded
by it. The circulation of a million of guilders
is attended with certain advantages in the
United Provinces, by animating induftry.
Suppoie this million of guilders is locked up
in the bank, it mav be laid, they will flill
circulate in the books of the bank: true, they
circulate at Amfterdam, but no where elfe.
Thus the eftablilhment of a bank depofit
has only the effect of fixing a vail: portion of
all the trade and wealth of a country in
one fpot ; of which Amfterdam, with hav-
ing the worft harbour, yet poileffing the mod
trade of any town in Holland, is a pregnant
inftance. This local advantage of facilitating
circulation atone fpot, in prejudice of all others,
is lurely a partial deciiion in its favour. In
a political view, it mav be pronounced dan-
gerous to the ftate. A foreign enemy attack-
ing
TRAVELS, eV. 55
iiig a town, or a province, is an evil that
can be remedied ; but what if an invader lavs
iie°e to the bank r what ruin and confufion
mult enfiie ? the lofs of the Stadthoufe may
be prelumed the lofs of the republick. Banks
of circulation are open to fome accidents, but
not a twentieth part of thefe of depofit.
The treafure in the bank of Amfterdam
is an abfolute fecret to all but thofe who have
the government of it : the value has been com-
puted, or rather guefied at, from twenty to
forty millions fterling ; but naming any par-
ticular fijms, muft be at beft but wild work.
It is, however, a very aftonifhing lyftem of
accumulation, for it is a well known fact,
that money once paid and entered in the bank
books can never be demanded ; and it is
a well known facl, that money is perpetually
paid in : here, therefore, leems to be a con-
ftant ingrefs but no egrefs, conlequently a
treafure which feems perpetually to increafe.*
E 4 The
* Since the above was written, I have met with a
curious account of the operations of this bank, in a late
author, which well deferves quoting here. " Let me
fuppofe a cafe, which may happen, to wit, that for a cer-
tain time, the trade of Amfterdam may demand a larger
fupply of credit in bank: than is neceilary upon an average.
Will
56 T R A V E L S, lie.
The Exchange is a large building, and
i :;,* well adapted to the ufe ; but it is unor-
namented, and not equal in architecture to
that
Will not this raife the agio ? No doubt. (The eg':') is
the difference. between the flandard of 'money received at the
bank, and that current.) If the agio rifes fo hi^h as to
afford a premium upon carrying coin to the bank, upon
; of their over rs, this will augment
the lum of bank ci Jit, becaufe the money fo carried to
the bank becomes incorporated with the bank flock; the
value is writ in the books of the hank ; and when this is
done, the coin is- locked up for ever.
If then it fhould happen, that the trade of Amflerdam
fhoulJ afterwards diminifh, fo as to return to the ordin-
ary flandard, will not this overcharge of credit deprefs
the rate of bank monev, and fink the a<*io too much be-
low the par of the intrinfic value of the two currencies ?
To thefe difficulties I anfwer like one, who being ig-
, which I could r ascertained by
any perfon in Holland, to whom I had accefs for in-
formation, and which remained hid from moft people in
the deep arcana of Amfrerdam politics, mufr have recourse
to conjectures founded upon natural fagacitv.
Firll then, the ci:; c: Amflerdam knows, from lon^
te rate of demand for bank money ; and it
is not to be fuppoled, that upon any fudden emergency,
which may heighten that demand for a time, they iheuld
be fuch novices as to increafe the credit upon the book: ,
fo far as to run any rifle of overftocking the marker with
it ; especially on fuch occafions, as the deficiencv of bank
credit might be fupplied with coin, conflantly to be
found in the city of Amflerdam.
Fur-
TRAVELS, &c. 57
that of London : the contrivance of num-
bering* the pillars, for the fake of finding a
merchant
Further, who will fay that there does not refide a
power in the managers of this bank to iflue coin for the
iuperfluous credit, in cafe that, in fpite of all precautions
to prevent it, a redundancy of bank credit fhould at any
time be found upon their books ?
It is very true, that no perfon having credit in bank
can demand coin for fuch credit ; and as no demand of
that fort can ever be made, it is very natural to fuppofc,
that a redundancy of coin and credit can never be pureed
off.
During my flay in Holland, I was at great pains to
difcover, but to no purpofe, whether ever the bank ifiued
any part of their credit cam upon any fuch occ^fions.
Every one I converfed with was of opinion, that if ever
any coin had been taken from the treafure of the bank,
it muft have been by authority of the States, for national
purpofes ; a ftep conducted with the greater! fecrecy, and
the matter of facl I found was extremely doubtful,
But this is nothing to the prefent purpofe. That the
coin may be difpofed of, I allow, though I do not believe
it is ; but how is the fuperfluous credit writ in the books
to be difpofed of? There lies the difficulty.
The popular opinion is, that coin has been taken out
for the fervice of the {rate : the opinion of many intelli-
gent men is quite contrary.
I am now to give my opinion, not only as to this
point, but upon the main queftion ; and this net from
information, but from conjecture, which I (hall hum-
bly fubmit to the better judgment of my reader.
My
0 TRAVEL ?.
ie more \ 3 " ■. '■'
Lent c.e, a ". sii
I [y jj ink>n then is. Firir, 1
a coin,
>ries.
Secondly, Thai F the
bank no coin l be
ir, in c ] uence of not
: . . ". . . 1 1 doubt, b - - 1 1 the credit, written in the
feooks rfthe bank, and : tones,
vh ;h balances it,
and is, ac the great
: r bank money. If I can prove this, all difficult a '
My reafons For b : b _- of this opiniori an
r : - - ■ that
. r, even . nd for bank
aer, a;:.i : -nu for coin takes place,
-. . m] ang the «-
. any --;;." of the
net :he bank, the confequence certainly would
b;- raordinary fall of bank money ; or, which
i i
the value of t .. when corr.: th bank
money.
5 is a cafe which never happens. \
u:- '
more,. ir. The < sf trade
for coin or credit are fo niK. . that fuch variations
are overcharge of bank
credit, douM diminilh, that overch. :
be perct
the
TRAVELS, &T. 59
"The Admiralty is the next public edi-
fice that demands attention ; the iize of it
and
the agio would entirely ceafe, as the balance of a fcale
Nearly in equilibrio ceafes from a total overcharge oa
one iide. s
Second, My fecond reafoh is founded upon a matter
of fuel:, which I muft now apply.
There are upon the fquare, before the Town- houfe of
Amfterdam (the Place de Dam) between ten and eleven
En the morning, a number of cafliiers, whofe bufinefs it
is to buy bank credit for current coin. They bargain
with all thofe who have occafion either to buy or fell ;
and according to the demand for fpecie, or bank credit,
the agio rifes or finks: and as thefe cafliiers muft con-
stantly gain, whether they furnifh bank credit or current
coin, fince they are never the demanders in eitheir opera-
tion, it is commonly found that there is in their favour
about T\ per cent, or perhaps £ per cent, according t»
the revolutions in the demand : that is to fay, one who
would firft buy fpecie and then fell it, would lofe f or
perhaps Txs upon this operation.
It is a matter of fa£t, that the bank lends both coin
and credit to the brokers, cafliiers, or lombards, who are
conftantly found on the Place de Dam.
Whenever, therefore, the bank finds that agio falls
too low, with refpefl to the coin ; and when, in confe-
rence of that, the demand for coin increafes, then they
lend coin out of their rcpofitorics to the brokers ; and
when it rifes they lend credit.
This coin the bankers difpofe of to thofe who have
bank credit, and who want to convert it into coin.
They fell the coin for bank credit ; the purchafer writes
J off
6© TRAVELS,
and the environs, containing the Ar&tfal,
(hips.
and the docks for buildmo and riz
O - DD O
off the transfer in favour of the broker, and he again re-
pays the value of the coin to the bank, by transferring
the credit he obtained for the coin in favour of the bank.
This done, the bank may expunge this credit from
their books ; by which means their depofit of coin is di-
minifoed, and alfo the fum of credit which was found
fupernuous..
If, on the other hand, the circulation of the trade of the
citv fhould in a fhort time afterwards begin to increafc,
thofe who have coin, which, in that cafe, would not fo
well ferve the ufes of circulation as the bank credit, come
with it to the brokers, who fell them bank credit for it :
this coin the brokers deliver to the bank, which writ
off the credit lent to tha broker, in favour of him who
has paid his coin for it.
This is, as I can guefs, the nature of the circulation
of the coin in the bank of Arnfterdam.
Itis a curious me:;. I i roportion
between the coin in depofit, the credit written in the
books of transfer, and the den I ank mon
From this I conclude, that the treafure of the bank of
Amsterdam is not near fo great as fome autho; : .
mere conjecture, hi :.-d.
The author of the Eflay on Commerce reckons it
four millions of guild.- the Arnfterdam edition car-
ries in the margin a c. en gives us t:
ftanJ, that it amounts to between eight and nine hun-
dred millions. Daw:. teems it at 36 millions fter-
lidg. Air. Megens, an author of great judgment and U-
gacity, eiteems this treafure at no more than 60 mill
of guilders, or ..rout 5,500,000 1. fierling ; a fum,
he,
TRAVELS, 8fc Oi
(hips is very conlideiable. It confifts of
three tides of a iqiiare ; the front being 220
feet Ion a, and the wings the lame; in the
midft is the yard for building. The arms
and ftores belonging to the mips are kept in
the Arlenal, in verv great order. The ground
floor is filled with cannon balls ; the fecond,
contains the arms and cordage ; the third,
their iaiis, pullies, flags, &c. Beiides theie,
here are many curioiities of the naval kind,
which are worth viewing. The dock is
508 feet long ; and contiguous to it are the
lioufes for lodging the ihip carpenters, &c.
The order in which every thing is kept and
conducted throughout all the departments,
cannot fail of linking every one. I obferved
very few men of war, but there are ibme-
times 50 fail and more laid up here. The
following is the lateft account that has been
published of the flare of the Dutch navy ;
but as it was done in Holland, I know not the
exact
he, wherewith great things may be done. Univerfal
Merchant, fed. 61. I agrc wfth him, that for
the ready money demands of the trade of Amsterdam,
that fum conitantly in circulation may go a °reat
length."
An Enquiry into the Principles of Political CEco-
nomy, vol. 2, p. 299. By Sir James Stewart.
6: TRAVEL- If..
exae": dependence to :ed in it. '•" Xesr
feventy men of war at Amsterdam, eight
at Helvoetfiuys, eight at \ Ifli ;;, three at
Terveer in Zealand, and fifteen at Hooru in
North Holland, and Harlingen in FrieflarkL
They have, beliefs thefe, fourteen or fifteen
fail at lea on convoys ; in all. about 1 18 fail
of the line, befides galleys, &c. of which
more than half are in good condition and fit
for fervice," — Upon this is added a note. —
*■ This true account of the pre lent irate of
the navv mav remove the vulgar error, that
that the naval ftrength of the repuhlicis :;ow
very inconfiderable. TheDutci .■ whe
a people to let their navy go to ruin, or he
reduced even to a low condition in times of
the moll profound peace."
I mace all the enquiries that were pofllble
into the truth of thefe aflertions ; the paiiage
itfelf is very luipiciouily worded, near 70
fail at Amfterdam, is afterwards counted for
70 ; they are called firft men of war ; after-
wards they are made men of war of the line;
more than half in a good condition ; is it
meant half the whole, or only half the gal-
leys : My intelligence has not been com-
plete ; but from the belt I could gain, I ap-
prehend this account to be a fiction. Many
verv fenfible men, with whom I converted,
mi
T R A V E L S, t$c. 63
much lamented the low flate of their navy ;
and faid, that the condition of their fhips
was worfe than the deficiency of the number ;
adding, that it would be no eafy matter to
fit out, on a fudden emergency, even five
and twenty fail of the line, in thorough order,
and ready for fervice : one in the company
obferved, however, that this neglecl of the
fleet was not of fuch bad confequence as in
fome other countries, becaufe the number of
failors, maintained by their trade, was lo
great, that nothing but money could at any
time be wanting to revive their navy ; large
magazines of timber could prefently be laid
up, and all other requifites had in the gifeat-
eft plenty ; that he mould apprehend two
years notice fufficient to revive the Dutch
navy in all its fplendour, provided money
was not wanting.
The Eaft India Houfe, and Arfenal, are
great buildings, which much deferve view-
ing. In the former, the company hold their
meetings ; and have very considerable map-a-
zines of all forts of India goods. The Ar-
fenal is 2000 feet iquare every way ; it con-
tains docks for building the fhips, and ware-
houfes and frores for completely rigging them,
all in excellent order. They have magazines
of all forts of naval ft ores ; in one they have
many
T R A \ L S,
I
pa [hundred
- .--.;. The two rope 18000 J
: r.
Thele are the princ:: f>lic b\:
ia t it _' ; Jt J /.uldobf m .:.;:.
- fthis - . 3 :.. :
tentioii of : fiich as tht
c : the hart mt, the f] , -.-. ith
: - . & ; .
to I I . )it :..:... 5 a vaft nun
but the architecture of the edifices is nothing;
it is, however, highly worthy c:
.;, that all the poor of
indeed of all the Provinces) are a _ed
lie foundation s , :.; c te being
no tax in any country
r : in is -.upport
the H . in which are abovr twenty
thousand fouls.
. :uid at all pub-
public . ; . ..; in wl ublic ba-
in ; "--....
in which it snt not to put feme-
tis, confider ir-
:. & \ . ...pt by
the tres poor, the
poor's : thefe . ".If; appoint certain
peribns tc ugh the . / .
T R A V ELS, Uc. 65
Certain feftivals, all which are applied to the
lame uie : the theatres, and all public fhews
and fpeclacles of whatever kind, pay a third or
an half of all their gains to the lame end:
theie means do not always ardwer the amount
that is neceffarv, and in inch cale the go-
vernment grants the remainder.
In ail the towns of Holland they make
excellent proviiion to force the idle to work.
Thehoufeof correction is called aRaip-Houfe,
in which they fhut tip the idle poor, that
can work and maintain themfelves, but will
not. The employment they give them, is
that of lawing and raiping Brazil wood ; v\
which, if they are not expeditious, they are
ieverely beaten : for offenders, particularly*
the lazy, they have an admirable contrivance;
it is a cellar with a pump, into which thev
let water, lb proportioned to the ftrength of
the perfon, that he mall be able, with infinite
labour, in pumping it out, to lave himfelf
from drowning ; which i:dz they are by law
to fuffer, if they do not efcapc it bv this work ;
for thole, whole idlenefs is carried to an in-
corrigible length, this performance is ex-
cellently adapted. I was informed alio,
that thefe prifons are ufed for young men,
whole debaucheries or fquandering diipoii-
tions threaten to ruin their healths or for-
Vol. I. F tunes,
65 TRAVELS, \$t.
tunes, being put in here by their fathers cr
other relations : I thought this very ftrange,
and put feveral queftions concerning the ex-
tent of the power thus aiiumed, and what
^rees of offence wrere to meet with this
t>
punifhment, but could get no fatisfactory
account ; nor do I apprehend it is the remit
of written laws, (b much as antient cuftom :
women lometimes put their hufbands in for
extravagance.
As to churches in Amfterdam, the only
one worthv of much attention is the new
one, dedicated to St. Catharine ; the orna-
mental parts of which are fmiihed in a moff.
high manner. The pulpit is carved iiv the
richeft ftile ; the chancel is parted off by a
railing of Corinthian brals ; the windows are
finely painted; the organ is the beft in the
Low Countries, and they fay here, in the
world : it has a row of pipes defigned to
counterfeit a chorus of voices, but it performs
it very badly ; there are fifty two whole,
befides half frops, with two rows of keys for
the feet, and three rows for the hands. The
monuments erected to Van Ruyter and Van
Galen are worth ieeing. This edifice, how-
ever, is not hnifhed, though begun more than
an hundred years ago ; the ileeple was de-
iigned to be much higher ; more than 6000
pile*
TRAVEL S, Uc. 67
piles were driven into the ground in one hun-
dred feet fquare, as a foundation for it, but
frill they thought the bogginefs of the ground
not fufficiently remedied for fupporting fo
vaft a weight as this fteeple would be if it
was finiihed.
The manufactures carried on in this city
are more numerous and considerable, than
any other place in the Seven Provinces : they
weave all iorts of cloths, woollens, fluffs,
and filk, gold and iilver iilks, ribbons, ta-
peftry, linen in large quantities, &c. all
forts of fabrics in leather, with many in ivory
and metals : they have a vaft variety of
mills for (awing, poliihing, &c. moit bodies.
Their (ail-cloth, and paper manufactories,
are very coniiderable, and the printing of
books fhould not be forgotten : here are great
numbers of bookfellers, who, it is thought,
employ twice the piefles that work at Lon-
don : thefe books are exported to England,
and fome to the fouthern parts of Europe,
but vail: numbers to all parts of Germany,
Denmark, and the North.
Amfterdam contains near three hundred
thouland inhabitants.
The air of this city is Co bad and foggy,
that I can hardly believe the aflertions of
thofc who aver it to be healthy : it is fur-
rounded entirely by the fea and marines ;
F 2 tlie
68 TRAVELS, life.
the canals are very numerous, and not always
free from noxious exhalations : the cleanli-
nefs indeed of the inhabitants is carried to as
great a degree as any where elie, but this
by no means remedies the evil ; for that
eternal warning muft add to the damps,
which are otherwife fo linking in this coun-
try : the wholefomeft part of their cleanli-
nefs is that exerted in keeping their canals
clean ; but I muft remark, that I faw no
fmall neglects of this moft elTential object.
Thev were formerly very attentive to have
ail carriageson (ledges, and drawn by only one
horfe ; this was certainly a wile precaution,
confidering that the whole city is on a foun-
dation purely artificial, on piles ; but this
difcipline is much relaxed, for I obferved
very many coaches on wheels : it is true,
ley pay a conliderable tax, which, as the
number of coaches increafed, has been railed
once or twice, and amounts now to about
{even pounds fterling a year ; but ftill as
luxury increafes, coaches on wheels increafe,
and the higher they are taxed, fome fenfible
men here reckon, the more they would be.
The public income of Amfterdam, railed
by taxes, and fome public buildings, &c,
amount to one million fterling, per annum :
there have lately been fome conferences on
the
TRAVELS, Wh 69
die fubject of railing them ; and, it is faid,
they WiH amount to one million two handled
thoufand pounds in five years, without bur-
thening the lower claries more than at pre-
fent.
Refpe&ing trade, this is the grand empo-
rium, not only of the United Provinces, but
the center of all the commerce of Europe ;
for a general correfpondence it much ex-
ceeds London ; but the general value and
amount of London's trade much exceeds that
of Amfterdam. Two thouiand fail of mips
annually enter this port, which mufl: form
a vaft commerce. I do not, at prefent, en-
large on the ditferent branches of the great
trade, becaufe, in future chapters, I fliall give
an account of the trade of Holland, particu-
larlv refpe&ing its preient date.
I have been very fortunate in my quarters
at Amfterdam, being recommended to a pri-
vate family in trade for lodgings : I dined
for fome day* either at an ordinary, where
I paid to the amount of ten millings for my
dinner, or at fome merchants houfes to whom
! was recommended, but afterwards I agreed
to board with the family : they lived much
better than I mould have fuppofed any peo-
ple would do who let lodgings: the din-
ners were excellent, and dreffed in the French
p o ftilej
7o T R A V E L S,
ftile ; but I paid twenty florins (at is. ScL)
a week for lodgings, and 17 more for board,
that is, for felt and man : this would be very
dear in London ; but I could not have boai
and had handlbme lodgings in London at all;
this is owing; to the difference of cuftonu
tween the two cities.
C II A P.
TRAVELS, lie. 71
C H A P. IV.
Of the Dutch Eajl India Company.
THE Dutch India Company, I believe,
is, without exception, the moil conii-
derable trading eftablifhment that ever ap-
peared in the world : The conquefts of the
Portuguefeinthe Indies, were atchieved under:
the command and power of the crown, and*
they were extended to an amazing degree ;■
but with all the regal attention, they never,
equalled the dominion which the Dutch
have gained under the direction of a private
trading Company; in trade, their inferiority1
was greater itill, and in duration no compa-
nion can be admitted.
We are not to wonder at the great fuperio-
rity of this Company over all others ; for fuc-
ceedingto moft of thePortuguefeacquihtions,
on the downfall of their power in the Eait,
they laid inch a foundation of future power
for themfelves, that no other Company ever
had any thing like iuch aufpicious begin-
nings. Add to this, it was firft inpriority, and
F 4 enjoyed
7z TRAVELS, &c.
enjoyed thefe noble advantages without ri-
vals ; France had not dreamt of trade at all ;
and England was without an Eaft India
Company, or an Eaft India trade. Was a
revolution to happen now in thole countries,
iimilar to that of the Portuguefe power, all
the trading nations of Europe, who have
commerce in the Indies, would divide the
ipoil between them; but in the cafe of winch
we are now treating, the Dutch came in for
the whole.
Their acquihcions were io extenfive, and,
at the lame time io very important, that the
Company found it absolutely neceflary to
their iecurity to keep up a very ftrong force
by lea and land in the Indies ; this has given
rife to the very magnificent defcriptions we
have nad of the great armies, navies, and
ftate of the Governor General at Batavia :
Some of theie circumftances are exaggerated,
but many of them appear to be very true.
The number of iflands, fome of them the
largeft in the world, which are in their pof-
ierlion or in their power, make it neceflary
that great fleets, and considerable land forces,
mould be in readincfs at Batavia, and other
iettlements, in order to protect and defend
fuch numerous coaits and countries.
But
TRAVEL S, 15c 73
But notwithftanding advantages, fuperior to
thofe of any other country in the Indies, this
Company has been long on the decline ; this
has been principally owing to the eflablifh-
ment of lb many others ; the Engliih have
robbed them more than any other country ;
France from 1720 to 1740 had a Company
that nourifhed lb greatly, as to prevent all
importation from Holland, except fpices ;
and even exported much to. Spain, Germany,
and Italy. Denmark and Sweden, have be-
tween them fupplied their refpective inhabi-
tants ; fo that the Dutch Company has not
the benefit of the markets which fhe once
totally fupplied ; this muft, in the nature of
things, make a wonderful alteration in its
■ affairs. But there are other realons for this
declenlion, which are touched upon with
fome other very curious particulars, in an
account of the prefent frate of their trade,
given in by one of the Governors General ;
but as the paper never appeared in the En-
gliiri language, I lhall take fome extracts from
it, which will make the reader acquainted
with (everal particulars that deierve. atten-
tion.
44 Without contradiction, the Eafr. India
Company ot Holland is not in lo flouriihing
a ftale as it was formerly ; we may for this
infhnce
-4 TRAVELS, 5fr.
infta'nce feveral direct and indirect caulesr
ch may be reduced to three principal'
ones. Firft, the too great extent of t
pofleffions in the Indies, which renders the
administration lefs ealy and more iubject to
jnconveniencies. Secondly, to the ex-
ceffive abundance of the productions of the
Eaft, and confequently the diminution of
their price in Europe. Laltly, the relaxation
of zeal and attention in the part of thole
employed by the Company, for want of pro-
perly recompensing the merit of Come, and
punifhing the mifdenaeanors of others. The
firft of thefe cauies is too evident to render
any proofs neceflary. We know how weak
the origin of the Company was, to what a
degree of power it increafed within the (pace
ot half a century ; and how, at all fnccccding
times, an aggrandizement of ftates, anc:
ritories too vaft came to it. The lecond caufe
can only be imputed to all the maritime na-
tions of Europe, who, animated by the ex-
ample, of this Company, have applied them-
5, fince the peace of Utrecht, to naviga-
tion and commerce: infomuchj that after
reckoning the : intereft of money,
and the rilks of the iea, there is fcarcelv any
benefit refults from moft of the articles in
this traffic, th tt are become common ; to .
we
TRAVELS, t$<. 75
we muft join a cultivation conftantly carried
on in different colonies, which has rendered
io many productions much leis rare, and
greatly cheaper, than they were many years
ago. A natural confequence of the third
cauie is, that the Company's officers, pre-
vented in many cafes from making their for-
tunes, and from recompencing themfelves in
the manner which they think their due, have,
inftead of ieeking with emulation to advance
the interefts of the Company, neglected all
the opportunities, and fubftituted their own
private interefts for the public glory. We
iupprefs other particulars, of which the de-
tail would be odious. It-is only to be wifhed,
that we may be able to indicate the moll
eafv and efficacious means for remedying
thefe evils. This is the object: which we
propofe in the courfe of theie oblervations ;
and which may be divided into three princi-
pal parts: that is to fey, the navigation, com-
merce, and government of the Company.
I
The Navigation of the Company.
THE navigation to the Indies is the prin-
ciple of the efbbli foment of the Company,
and
76 T R A V ELS,
and which ought to be confidered, not only
as afociety of merchants, but more frill as a
commercial power. Confidered under thefe
two lights we may conceive the neceflity of
the mips being proper for carrying good con-
goes, and not lefs capable of defending them-
ielves than attacking others in cafe of need.
Nevertheless it is eafy to difcover, that the
conflruction of moil: part of their fleets has
many obitacles in the way of fulfilling theie
ends, or even equalling the perfections of fo-
reign mips employed in the fame trade.
By a ferious attention to this defect, they
might have efcaped many evils, which they
have a long time experienced, but principally
of late vears ; evils which, beiides thole
flowing; from the iH-conitxuction of their
ihips, have not a little contributed to the in-
capacity of the perrons to whom they have
been committed.
Naval architecture is not like many other
fciences, fubject to fuppofitions ; it has its
principles and its rules. All depends on giv-
ing the building an equal and methodical
Itructure. It will rot fufhee to lengthen
them feme feet ; for if we miftake in the pro-
portions of tiie general dimeniions, the fault
mull: be irreparable. They reject thole of
1 60 feet, under pretence that they draw too
much
TRAVELS, &e. 77
much water for certain ports ; and we remark,
that other people enter thofe ports with
mips greater than theirs ; ftill they neverthe-
leis conftrua them from 135 to 150, or from
130 to 145.""*- Every fpecie is good and pro-
per for the fcrvice of the Company, provided
that the largenefs and depth be anfwerable
to the length.
No objection holds againft experience. If
the entry of the ports is practicable for the
ihips of" foreigners, if the banks of Bengal
are not to them a hindrance, if other mips
than thofe of the Company navigate without
rifk at Canton, and the fame throughout
China ; what difficulty is there in their imi-
tating other people, by building fuch mips
as they do, and which may be loaded and
unloaded in all the ports ? An eilay of a few
years would undoubtedly decide the fuccefs,
to the advantage of their commerce and na-
vigation, not only in the Indies but in Eu-
rope itfelf; under the fuppofition of a better
conduct with relation to the manoeuvres of
them.
In equipping the mips, it is alfo necefiary
that they regulate themfelves by the example
of other nations, who, with 50 or 60 men, do
more than the Company with an hundred.
By following the models propofed, the ex-
pences
7? TRAVELS, \*f.
vould not exceed the common coll ;
and without giving into any prejudices, the
mips would be incomparably better, and the
: of merchandize much more prompt.
There would alio relult from it, an augmen-
tation of the naval iorces of the Company, of
which the molt formidable fquadron might
be equipped io the Indies, but notmerelv for
the deft v. The interloper, the Apollo,
is a proof of this, among many others ; this
fhip, on its return to Europe, efcaped through
the Struts of Sincapour, by the force of fail-
ing, in Ipite of the efforts or rive of the molt
couriderable cruziers of the Company.
Thole which they have are more often
emoloved in commerce than their real bull-
nefs ; it follows therefore, that it is not aK
the intereft of the Company to have
them equipped at once ; it would fuffice to
:.rmed according to the exigence
of the ca
One hundred and twenty men compote
tfie ordinary crew or the largeft (hips
or" the Company in voyages back ; in (mailer
fhips, the numl • about ioo«
II.
TRAVELS, t&. 7j
II.
tlhe Navigation in the Indies.
THE paffage from Europe to the Cape, is
too long for the number of men which the
Company annually embarks to arrive it\
health. In truth, the Chineie mips of the
Englifh, that have hardly half the number,
go from their ports, without touch-
ing at the Cape, directly by the Straits of
Sun da ; but they cannot bring them in com-
panion with ours. It is to be wimed that
the Company had fbme fmall eftablimment
on this tide the Equator, for the refrefhment
of the mips. They might fupply this defect
by being allowed to put into St. Jago; where,
after having refrefhed, they might continue
their route to the Cape : The diitance and
the expence would be very trifling.
III.
Jl.^e Navigation from the Indies to Holland.
WE cannot but be aflomfhed, that the
(hips of the Company are (hipwrecked in
their return from the Indies, when thofe of
other nations arrive fafe in port. Theie
evils
fo TRAVELS, gfc.
evils are owing to two cauies ; one, the want
of agility in the manoeuvre ; and the other,
their being embarrailed with the merchandize
of individuals.
If it was poffible to permit them to fill
their empty calks at St. Helena, and to pro-
vide live provilion and paifurage, it would
contribute much to the health of the crew,
and the preiervation of the cattle. Perhaps
the I lie of Afcenlion, which ought to be
equally well known, might be as proper as
the firft. It is certain, that one or the other
of theie plac refreihment would eafe
manycf the (hips in their return, in travers-
ing lo long a voyage as from the Cape to
Holland. TJieir holds being leis taken up
with calks and provjfions, would contain a
much greater quantity of merchandize.
1 ihall here prei I two other queitions,
not dire&ly regarding the Indies. One, if
in return, all the fleet ought to attend one
bad failor ? The other, if it is abfolutelv ne-
ceflary that the Company's mips lhould make
the tour of the North of Scotland and Ire-
i
land, initead of entering the Channel, which
would abridge the courfe more than a
montii r
IV.
T R A V E L S, &c. 8t
TV.
The Commerce of the Company hi general.
IT is requifite that commerce mould ei-
ther be perfectly free, or entirely conftrained.
The mixed ftate is iubject. to fo many incon-
reniences, that it becomes more mifchievous
than advantageous. We cannot here give
the fhackles, or prescribe the bounds which
depend not upon us alone : iuch is the nature
of that of the Company throughout the In-
dies, excepting the particular produce of the
colonies, as ipices, and other commodities,
whereof they alone are in poiieffion ; it is
thus with the coffee of Java, and in part
with the pepper ; but principally the com-
merce of China. By permitting an entry in
the river of Canton, although only to trade,
the Chinefe rendered the Company its exclu-
five grant of navigating there alone, which
was more prejudicial than any thing to fo-
reign nations. If me cannot at prefent equal
them, it is a proof that they have already
gained much ground, and that it will not be
difficult for them to advance.
Her commerce in the Weft of the Indies
is in yet a worle ftate. She has the name of
trafficking, while others have the efFect : re-
Vol. I. G ferving
t2 TRAVELS, is\.
ferving the fpiceries, and the copper of Japan
in ingots, two articles into which her rivals
cannot break. All that me carries on,
on this fide, will not bear any comparrifon
with the lucrative trades of the Engliih and
French ; for, one of her fhips, which en-
ters the Ganges, there are not lefs than five
of thofe nations ; and the city of Surat, fo
famous for its commerce, receiving millions*
touch nothing of the Dutch. Mocha, Jeda,
Baflbra, all Perfia, and the coail: between the
Peruan Gulph, and the river Indus, ought to
be in the laft furprife, at thofe amazing
quantities of merchandize, in which they
trade every year, without ieeing more than
the arrival of a iingle ihip of the Company
half loaded, and whereof the cargo is not
worth more than an hundred thoufand flo-
rins.
It is a long time fince their competitors
have been feeii granting to individuals, pail-
ports, and letters of protection, under their
colours, and of which the returns are well
worth thefe favours. The Dutch, on the
contrary, are unmoved fpeclators of this ma-
nagement, and are contented with their na-
vigation of Batavia in right, and of fbme
other ports, after having abandoned thofe of
Siam, Pegu, Arracan, Achiu, and others,
which
TRAVELS, &£ S3
which foreigners, doubtlefs, would not daily
frequent if they did not find their benefit in
it?
But .what are the articles eflential and moft
ufeful to the Company ? Without contra-
diction, the fpices, and copper in ingots.
The remainder, as pewter, lead, vermilion,
quickfilver, camphire, &c. of which the
trade is in common with other nations,
and where of there are generally a good
market, it is not any great matter.
But to return to theie quarters that limit
themfelves in fending to EuropeftufFs, pepper,
fait petre, and other minutiae of lefs value :
as to the fluffs and opium on the Weftern
coafts of Samatra, the Company has only the
commerce of the laft article, from Baros to
the point of Indrapora ; and the fame in the
Weftern Provinces, in a part of the Malac-
cas, of Jambi, Palembang, and Timor. The
returning of opium would alio be left, if it
was not advantageous to Batavia ; but where
is its commerce of callicoes in the comptoirs
under its dependence, if we except thofe
which are made along the Weft coaft of Su-
matra ?
The traffic of the Weftern comptoirs is fb
pitiful, that the article of fugars will not
luffice for returning what they coft the Com-
G 2
pany
I4 T R A V ELS, is':.
pany, in fending them to Surat, Malabar,
Coromandel, Mocha, or Periia ; it will not
defray the expences of the eftablifhments,
which they maintain, and of the fhips. The
profits have not ai : the expences for
many years. It is in vain to alitdge, that
this expence is iubmitted to as neceflary for
; the important benefit of the ipices,
and the copper ; thefe two articles do princi-
pally regard the Coromandel coaft ; and the
being in poiTeilion of them, does credit to
the government.
When the Company reduces its commerce
to thefe two articles, would fhe not lofe for
them the benefit of the reft ; and how m
expences will ihe lave by the reftriction : In-
1 of maintaining in a number of places,
tor and his iuite, who form a council,
it would iufrice, that one was employed of a
certain rank, with two affiitants. This
ing would retrench the expences one half.
In the general reform of the actual fyftem
- " the Company, and particularly its com-
merce in the Weft, we do not comprehend
the iile of Ceylon, although the mod confi-
de rable, and the comptoir, the molt, ftrong
of that part, not only from its productions
of cinnamon, but becaufe that is the
only colony which the C ioys ex-
clulively,
TRAVELS, fcfr. 8;
clunVely, and may continue to enjoy as mif-
trefs. In thefe refpects, which are very dif-
ferent from other eftablifhments, me ought
to be diftinguiihed, by regulating her con-
duct upon the actual circumstances of com-
merce in thofe quarters, which change from
time to time.
All that remains of Bengal, the Coroman-
del, the Weftern coaft of Sumatra, Malabar,
Surat, Perfia, and the Red Sea, the Company
ought to referve with the trade of fpices and
copper in ingots; taking nothing in return,
but what is proper for Europe ; and making
Batavia the center of a free commerce,* open
to all the reft. By this, that city would be-
came a redoubted rival to their competitors ;
and by means of moderate imports, its com-
merce would procure the Company real ad-
vantages, inflead of the benefit ihe at prelent
finds in fiich equivocal accounts..
Of the Commerce of China*
THE commerce between Batavia and
China, is very different from that which is
made directly with Europe. The one can-
not be too much encouraged, nor too much
managed ; the other, although important, is
G 3 much
*5 T RAVEL S, WE
.r cf fo-
reign (hips, which, through v.v.iation of one
.-.-. frequent the ports of E .It
muft alfo be co . i, that the mips of the
if, which go from - ia to traffic
with China, and ft dice they return to
iand, contribute to make a coran:
f fo divided. they
fhould give it v: ;. it is requiute to conti-
nue it, but with moderation* V, hen
. their race at Batavia,
one iingte (hip would for this traffic.
Tea constitutes the molt considerable branch
of commerce between China and Europe :
Without this article t! ; could not re-
turn half loaded ; the reit, not being impor-
tant enough for compeniating the .es of
the freight, no perfon would undertake it.
This prod u&i .:: :.'.: the principal
object of the commerce between Batavia and
China: for although the junks kept for
f the colonies, for] re lane, potteries. to-
bacco, paper, and sd cthe^ mi
tiae, the tea is the merchandize
which makes the beft return t r their ex-
pences and care. The Quantify, which
innually by Batavia to Kc ■'__. ... whe-
ther on board the C( D . or thole
of individuals, is 5tua] y known only to the
merchants.
TRAVELS, fcfr. 87
merchants. It is probable that the propofed
arrangements would prevent, on the tide of
individuals, the traniport of that production,
but it would alio facilitate the importation
to Batavia ; which would at once make the
trade of the junks decline.
It may be made a quefHon, whether it is
for the interefl of the Company, that they
mould buy all the tea, which the Chinele
bring to Batavia ? The reafons for and
againft it are equally fblid. Neverthelefs it
is certain, that fo considerable a purchaie
would caufe an embarraiTment and an inter-
ruption in the traffic of the junks ; the
more the Chinele are lubject to the fales of
the Company, the more they are mailers of
the fale of their tea ; after inspection, proof
and ellimation made, beiides the formalities
which decide if the Company retains it for
her account or not. In cale me contents
herielf with adhering to the antient cuftom,
and loads a fhip with tea, received on the
return of the Supercargoes from China ; lhe
need not then mix in that commerce more
than for the collection of her duties, but leave
to the proprietors the liberty of diipoting of
their merchandize as they like, which would
be much more iimple, and more advan-
tageous.
G 4 Certain lj
13 TRAVELS, fgc.
Certainly this proportion is of conse-
quence, efpecially if we confider that there
come every year into the United Provinces
more than three millions of pounds of tea,
not comprized in the accounts of the Com-
pany, which reaps no profit from a tranfport
ib conftant, and fo prodigious ; inftead of
which, this commerce ought to be made at
the fame time lucrative to them, and advan-
tageous to individuals. A fhip loaded with
tea, but with a reserved fund, will contaiu
about 600,000 pounds; which iold, will,
one with another, yield 20 (bis, or 240,000
florins to the Company. The expences of
embarking it at Batavia, which is valued at
two per cent, on the fale ; and which, with
'the expence of the voyage to Europe, does
not. exceed the fum of 60,000 florins : there-
fore the Company profits about 200,000,
without other diiburlements or rifks than that
of building, &c. This amounts to a mil-
lion in rive mips, betides 200,000 florins
profit, on the iilver in making the return.
VI.
TRAVELS, fefr, 89
VI.
Of the Commerce of the Company, relative 16
other articles.
THE trade of pepper belongs exclusively
to the Company, in virtue of its treaties with
the Princes of the country. She ought to
preferve this trade with the greateft care,
and maintain this acquifition with dignity,
agreeable to her power, fo very confiderable
in thole quarters. It is the fame at Bantam
and Palembursrh, and alfo on the greateft
part of the coaft of Malabar. We know,
that the direction of this commerce is iub-
jecl: to very great abuies ; it is particularly
neceflary to ordain, that the pepper, which
the Company appropriates, be ready for fale
before the departure of the junks.
Another part of their commerce, which
in fpite of its declenlion, for many years,
ought alio to be preferved, and which is that
of Japan. The re-eftablifhment of the affairs
of that comptoir depend, only upon integrity
and vigilance.
It has been alone: time agitated, both in
Holland, and in the Indies, whether the na-
vigation of individuals, between the Eafrern
Provinces and Batavia, was favourable or not
to
$o T R A V E L S, &.
to the Company. Without deciding abfb-
lutely upon this point, we may remark, that
the abolition of this privilege would be very
hard upon the poorer communities ot thole
rters, which furnifh the maintenance of
that capital ; befides, nothing would be
gained by it ; for, by oppreihng the inhabi-
tants of Amboina and Banda, they would
cut off the relource, and favour the fraud
and malveriation in the delivery of the
cloves, (of which the commerce is fo preci-
ous to the Company), and' would become
more chargeable than advantageous. There
is no occaiion to prohibit to individuals the
navigation of Macaiiar and Amboina, be-
caufe this province is the grainery of rice for
thole quarters ; and for the lame reafon re-
ipeclmg the people of Batavia, whole inha-
bitants are accuftomed to bring the oils of
t Gulph of Cr.'ili ; alio il.ves, and many
other (mailer articles.
As to the commerce or* the Philippines, or
.ilia, their capital, has too great a con-
nection with that of the Company to be
i':d over in iilcnce. On one iide, theie ill
receive annual!;.', by the regiiier-ihip, the
fluffs of the Indies, and other merchandize,
which they are in want of: on the other,
they are provided with cinnamon, which is
much
TRAVELS, Ifc. 9t
much ufed. This laft commerce regards
the Company ; the other, although more
important, carries itfelf on without her par-
ticipation, by the way of Surat, Bombay,
Porto Novo, Madras, Bengal, and by the
Strait of Malacca to the Philippines. For a
number of years, this commerce of indivi-
duals, which is fraudulent, and contrary to
antient orders, has been carried on under the
name of the Armenians, &c. By favour of
this toleration, it has been ib eftablifhed, that
it would be difficult at prelent to throw any
obftacle m the way of it, without ruining
that of Batavia with thofe quarters, which
would by no means be practicable. It is ne-
verthelefs certain, that the Philippines ought
to be an object of the Company's attention,
who has much intereit in obierving well all
thefe neighbouring iflands.
Coffee has been for a lone: time one of
the beft articles in which the Company
trades ; at prefent, it feems rather to fail ; lo
fufceptible of viciilitudes is all commerce t
pepper, on the contrary., which has been
overcharged, pofTefies a fale ib coniiderable in
Europe, that there is no fear of a fuperfluiry:
with coffee they can do no better than ac-
commodate themfelves to the times.
Sugar
92 TRAVELS, c>.
Sugar is another article much lower than
it was heretofore. Upon ftrong complaints
coming from Batavia, the regency employed
itielf in leeking the caufes of the decreale.
In 1740, in puriuance of lome advice offered
them, new regulations were made ; but the
event was lb far from anlwering, that lefs was
made by it than before. This is too im-
portant a branch of commerce to be given up,
and it ferves at prelent to rill up the mips
when in want of faltpetre.
VII.
Of the PofeffionS) Colonies, and Ejlsbii/hmcnfs
of the Company*
THERE is a diftinclion to be made be-
tween the feveral territories in the Indies,
fubjecl: to the Company, and thole where
they have only the privilege or the cuftoni
of navigating with views of commerce. The
firft requires fomething more majeilic than
an efhbliihment; the fecond, demands only
factories for the traffic, and magazines for the
merchandize. The firft of theie claries com-
prehends Jacatra, Ceylon, Amboina, the
iiles ofBanda, part of Macaflar, and in fome
refpect, the Malabar. The fecond contains
moil: of the places fituated in the Weftern
Pai
TRAVELS, && $3
Parts of the Indies, as Bengal, Coromandel,
Surat, Perfia, and Mocha. The weftern coaft
of Sumatra belongs not entirely to them ; and
Malacca is held rather as a frontier, which
might be abandoned were it not for the colo-
nies or iettlements of commerce. Ternate and
Macallar cover the two coafts of the ifles
from which they draw the fpices, and
therefore ought to be in a ftate of defence :
they might alio fub-divide thefe clanes into
places where they refide only for cultivating
the friendship of the Indian Princes, as at
Palembang, Jamba, the comptoirs of Java
and Bantam.
When we confider under thefe diftinclions,
thefe different countries, their extent and
their diftance, we mall be obliged to agree,
that the Company has pufhed a little too far
its commerce and its navigation ; and that,
wheivfhe reduces herfelf to narrower bounds,
file will fave great and fupernuous expences,
and would not gain leis treaiure.
VIII.
Of the Colanies of Ceylon and the Spice-IJlands.
Befides the kingdom of Jacatra, Macaflar,
and a part of Ternate, the company poffenes
the property of Ceylon, Amboina, andBanda.
There is in the lafi of thefe ifles no other
powerj
9i. TRAVELS, &c.
power ; but although we find many princes
in that of Amboyna, (he is not the lefs ac-
knowledged fovereign of the extent of its ter-
ritory which belongs to her. Thefe domains
are thofe which are juftly called by the title
of the Dutch colonies, and where the parade,
worthy of majefty, is abfolutely neceffary.
The fruits which the Company draw from
them, recompence them largely for the ex-
pence, and infure them the better the peace-
able pofleffion of theie territories, which are
the only refource of the Company. It is, ne-
verthelels true, that their commerce is de-
clined, but there are means of repairing the
lofs, or at leaft of preventing the further de-
cline of it.
The Spice-Iflands require to be kept in a
good ftate of defence, and the colonies to
be well provided for. Thofe, who have
been upon the fpot, know how much they
have neglected thefe articles. Banda is ftrong
by its fituation and its caftles ; Amboina, on
the contrary, is fo weak, that although they
have known, for more than an age, the bad
ftate of its fortifications, they have never
dreamt of putting them in order. The con-
junclureswill not always permit the execution
of enterprizes fo expenfive ; but, if they had
every year done a little, the work would long
ago
TRAVELS, fc>V. r>
ago have been finiihed. The declenfion of
the colony of Ambion-a, is perceptible in
the diminution of the crops of cloves, which
are the principal product of that ifland, and
the moil material part of the public revenue.
It is more than fifteen years that they have
not only permitted, but even ordained new
plantations ; without which, in abundance,
the want would not be removed. It is the
fault of thofe oppreilbri employed in the fer-
vice of the Company, who, for a long time,
have devoured every thing for their own fub-
fillence, and who, not content with a leeal
benefit, tread every thing under foot, till the
inhabitants, are difgufred with their labours,
of which they fee all the advantages pais to
other hands.
The only means that we know of redreff.
*mg the affairs of the Molucca Iflands, con-
fidered as a private colony of the Company,
are to recommend the culture of the landslip
Manado, and alio in the other neighbour-
mg ides, and to augment the purchafe of
gold dufr, if it be poiiible, in order, thereby,
to render more fupportable the expenee occa-
sioned by this frontier.
IX
5S TRAVEL?, tf*
IX.
Bahtvia d*J Jacafra.
IT is certainly for the glory of the Com-
y, to intereft herfeif in the lplendor
aggrandizement of Batavia; this has been
tmiverially acknowledged, as true in all times,
from the making that citv the balls or" her
.lifhment in the Ealt-Indies, and the ar-
rangements that have been taken in confe-
quence, have been accompanied with a fuc-
:o rapid and fo finking, that at prefent
tills capital may he named the Queen of the
t, as well for the number of its inna-
te, as with reject to its m; Icence.
'J 'he revenues which theCompanydra
, and its dominions, in the king-
dom of Jacatra, are efti ted at one i
of florins ; but they muft be more than that,
if we comprehend the duties : the Ode of
merchandile, thole upon the fiihery, and
many others, which have been ceded for the
erection and maintenance of a privy council.
We have laid, and we repeat it, that it the
Company would reierve the commerce c:
Indies with Europe, and in the Indies, the
returns from the comptoirs to I ic Wefti if
vould collect in the capital, the two prin-
cipal
HOLLAND. 97
cipal articles of the commerce of the Eaft,
which are the fpices and the copper of Japan
in ingots : if with thefe me was to reduce
her ordinary expences to a reafonable medio-
crity ; if ine took care to provide her colo-
nies with all the neceflaries for drawing from
them the fruits required ; if, in fine, me
granted to each the liberty of navigation and
traffic, with an exception to the Eaft of Ba-
tavia, it is not to be doubted, but that citv
would become, in a fhort time, the center
of commerce, and the iburce of a fruitful
opulence ; it would be the retirement of rich
men, who would fix themfelves there by
choice, as a retreat, or with delign of dii-
pofing of their fortunes to the beft account.
They ought to be inipired with the utmofr.
emulation, to neglect nothing that may ren-
der life eaiy and agreeable, particularly by
abundance, and an uniform price of commodi-
ties.
Numbers of families) who have been fpread
through divers territories in the Indies, pre-
fer living in this capital, where there reigns
more than any where elfe, abundance, repoie,
and iecurity, under the protection of the Com-
pany. The Chinefe have began to cultivate
the lands, which is a forerunner, to them,
of a perfect and extended culture. The lands
Vol. I. H of
98 TRAVELS THROUGH
of Preanger, fituated about a day's journey
and half from Batavia, produce, although
they are not the heft, and in fpite of the lit-
tle care that has been hitherto taken of them,
peafe, beans, cabbages, and other legumes.
What might not be gained from the lands of
Java, the fmeft and moft fertile in the world,
if they were cultivated as they ought !
We know by experience, that thofe of the
.Dutch nation are not proper for labour:
whether from vanity or idlenefs they difdain
this fort, and love better to live in indigent
idlenefs. For which reafon, it would be
proper to employ, in agriculture, the Saltz-
burgh countrymen, the Palatines, or others,
who might embark iucceflively, ten or more,
on board every (hip the Company fends. In
a few years there would then be labourers
enough for cultivating the lands, and im-
proving the new ones. No perfon can
doubt that thefe men would find in the In-
dies an honeft fubfiflence, from taking a
very little care about it : for without burthen-
in? themfelves with the coffee of the Com-
•pany, nor exhaufting the country by plan-
tations of fugar, which ought to be left to
the Chinefe, the fingle article of pepper
might furnifh the wants of more than a thou-
sand. It would be right for them, during
the
HOLLAND. 9,
the five firft years, to advance an hundrol
crowns, to place them in a ftate of procuring
the neceflary uteufils for cultivation, that
they might be able to fubtiil, during the
time of getting their lands in order. The
reimburfement of thefe fums iliould be
made as loon as their circumitances would
permit."
The extracts which I have here given oi
this memoir, and which was written by one
of the Governor Generals of the Eait Indies,
contain many very curious particulars. . They
let us into feveral important circumftances
attending that famous Company, which are
no where elfe to be met with : it appears
evidently that there is much (hew in the im-
menfity of the commerce they carry on ; and
thofe, who are fo eager to rival the Dutch
in the Indies, ought certainly to make a
ftrong distinction between the trades there
carried on : we rind that it would be for the
advantage of the Company, to lay open all
the commerce of the Eait. to their own iub-
jecls, except that of fpice, and copper of Ja-
pan ; the other branches add much to their
expences, but not proportionably to their
profit. Thefe are objects which it much be-
hoves anv other nation to e;et a lhare in.
though none have a great reafbn tc hope it,
H 2 ex-
ioo TRAVELS THROUGH
except the Spaniards; their being poflefled of
the Philippines might render them terrible
rivals of the Dutch ; for in thole iilands the
product of cinnamon is common, and, in all
probability, nutmegs and cloves might alfo
be cultivated with equal fucceis ; but thefe
advantages are in the hands ol lo lazy and
unenterprizing a people, that the Dutch have
little reafon to fear any thing they will do.
But a circumftance of great moment in this
memoir, is the clear proof we have in it, of
the decline in their Eaft India affairs. Whe-
ther or not the author is exactly right in all
his observations on this head is not of much
importance ; but the general tact on which
he grounds them, the decline of trade, is
extremely evident. Now it is very obfervable,
that this decline has taken place in the midft
of general peace, without any accidents or
iudden changes that could affect the com-
merce ; this gives one no flight reafon to
conclude, that the author is not right in his
propofals of abandoning that part of the traf-
fic, which does not equal the reft, merely
with a view to contract expences : the real
fact is, that great fucceis in all trades, in all
branches of general commerce, is ever found
to attend an high fpirited and enterprizing
period ; times in which great undertakings
are
HOLLAND. ici
are common, and in which trade and war
go hand in hand : the foundation and pro-
grefs of the Dutch republic itfelf is a ftriking
proof of this ; and that of their Eait India
Company is equally to be produced as afimilar
inftaiice. While the fpirit of enterprize and
coiiquefl tailed, the trade of the Company
flouriihed ; but the moment thev let them-
felves down quietly to enjoy what they had
gained, from that time their commerce de-
clined. The Portuguele experienced mi-
nutely the fame fate ; that vaff. commerce
which they poflefled in the Indies, was all
railed in the midit. of war and bold enter-
prizes : in the preient age, the Englifh Com-
pany perform the' greateft. feats in the field,
and is conitantly engaged in war ; do we not
find iti this period, while the expences occa-
iioned by iuch war run higher than ever
known, that the trade of the Company
is alio greater, and its affairs in general
more prolperous than ever known ? The
dead calm of peace is good for nought but
breeding corruptions, and flackening all dif-
cipline ; but in the din of war, and the
hurry of enterprize, there is a keennels in
every mind, which has a beneficial effect on
all tranfactions whether of arms or commerce;
beiides, difficulties arife, and are met with on
H 3 every
J02 TRAVELS THROUGH
every hand, which for ever keep activity
awake, and make commerce proiper better
than when every gale is favourable, and every
lea is calm; nothing is !o much to be dreaded
by a commercial people, as that flothful in-
activity which long cafe and iecuritv are
lure to bring. I have been led into theie re-
flections by the obfervations which are com-
monly made on the Eaft India Company of
England ; many pcrions have found much
fault with the idea of wars and conqueits,
but let me remark, that the more of them
the better ; when once it ceaies to be a ipi-
rited, enterprizing, warlike company, it
will ceaie to be an advantageous trading one.
CHAP.
HOLLAND. 103
CHAP. V.
Of the Prefent State of the Dutch Commerce
in Europe.
TRAVELLERS too often, for the fake
of amufmg their readers, facririce the
more ufeful objects : I do not apprehend that
a journey through Holland, with fome re-
fidence in the principal cities, mould pro-
duce nothing more than a defcription of ca-
nals and town-houfes; on the contrary, I
think it more ufeful to lay before one's read-
ers, fuch accounts of agriculture, manufac-
tures, and commerce, as can be gained both
by converfation with the natives, and alfo an
examination of their heft writers, with
proper extracts from fuch parts as never ap-
peared in our language ; by thefe means, a
traveller is enabled to mix the ufeful with
the agreeable, and give better and more mo-
dern accounts of thefe matters, than other
writers who have preceded him. I con-
ducted myfelf on this plan in the laft chap-
H 4 ter,
io4 TRAVELS THROUGH
tcr. and I (hall do the fame here, but taking
different guides.
The BALTIC.
BEFORE the act cf navigation in En-
gland, the commerce of the Baltic employed
from a thoufand to twelve hundred mips of
Holland, which, for the moil part, went half
loaded, and returned wholly fo ; the com-
merce cf Norway, alone, employed three
hundred fhips every year, of four or five
hundred tons. The act of navigation having
retrained the carrying trade of the Dutch to
her ports to the fingle commodities produced
in Holland, their commerce with the North
at once differed a great diminution ; and the
inereafe of the Englifh marine augmented in
England the confumption of the commodi-
ties of the North, proper for the conllruclion
of fhics ; which weakened the commerce of
the Dutch in the northern feas, by the com-
petition of the Engliih, infinitely difadvan-
tageous to the Dutch merchants in all their
{ales. Thefe two caufes, which flow from
the fame principle, are the reafon of the ac-
tual ftate of the commerce of the Dutch with
the
HOLLAND. J05
the North, which is reduced to half that
which England pofTefTes at preient.
The importations at Pe-
terlburgh of merchan- Rubles.
dize from Holland, in
1753, amounted to 47)691 58
The exportations to 344,792 3 *
Excefs of the importa-
tions of merchandize
upon the exportations. 131,699 26 £
In 1754, the importa-
tions arofe to 396,797 23 5:
The exportations to 3l7$35 69 *,
Excefs 81,961 54 I
We may therefore value the importations
of the Dutch in merchandize from Peteri-
hurgh, at a common year, in time of peace,
at two millions, or two millions and a quar-
ter of livres, or about one hundred thouiand
pounds ; and the exports to hxteen or feven-
teen hundred thoufand livres, or about fe-
venty thoufand pounds ; and the excels of
the importations on the exportations, at
from four to fix hundred thoufand livres, or
about twenty one thouiand pounds. The
increafe of the Engliih marine, iince the act
of navigation, has doubled five times over,
in their ports, the confumption of the pro-
ducts of the North, proper for the confr ruc-
tion
ic6 TRAVELS THROUGH
tion of their armaments. The conftant ap-
plication of England to acquire the empire of
the fea, has given them to underfhnd, that
the principal means of following it coniiiled
in a great navigation, and a great commerce ;
and that nation has likewife procured itielf, by
the ability of the negotiators of its treaties of
commerce, the greatefl: advantages. It is
under the protection of thefe treaties that
England has eilablifhed houfes of commerce
in the North, above all at Peterlburgh, and
in much greater number than the Dutch, and
infi litcly more rich; for this commerce re-
quires foreign houfes to have great funds for
providing and contracting with advantage,
both in the fales, and alio in the purchaies
made. It is the Engliih who give price to
the merchandize of Ruffia, and who give
the tone to the commerce.
If we judge of the commerce of the Engliih
in the North, by that which they carry on
at Peterfburffh, we mav conceive them to
have half the trade of the Baltic. Accord-
ing to an account lent from a houie at Peterl-
burgh, our of 327 mips which entered in
1753, there were
149 Engliih
70 Dutch
3 French
8 Ruffian
HOLLAND. ftp
8 Ruffian
25 Lubeckers
18 Daniih
2 1 Me c k ie n gh u rg h e r s
6 Dantzickers
2 Hamburghers
10 Stetiners
1 Holfteincr
14 Swedifh
327 Total.
The exportations from
England in merchan- Rubles.
dize to Peterfbiirgh, in
1753, was 2,084,489 70 t
The importations in mer-
chandize only 999,963 67
Excels of the exportations 1.084,524 3 i
In 1754, the exportations
amounted to 2,207,924 24 t
The importations in mer-
chandize 989,693 92 I
Excefs of the exporta-
tions 1,218,230 31 T
We may therefore value the exportations
of the Englifh to Peterfburgb, m merchan-
dize, one year with another, in time of peace,
at from ten to twelve millions of livres, or
near
io* {TRAVELS THROUG II
near five hundred thoufand pounds. Their
importations at five millions, or near two hun-
dred and twenty thoufand pounds ; and the
balance at five or fix millions or" livres. In
time of war, the excels is much greater, as
England imports from Rufiia a much greater
quantity of hemp for her maritime arma-
ments.
The general merchan-
dize exported to Peterf-
burgh in 1 753 amount-
ed to 3,461,383 62
The merchandize entered 3,220,623 76 %
Excefsof the exportation s 240,759 §5 i
In 1754-5 the exportations
amounted to 3->S77->939 99 *
The importations to 3,279,097 88 i
Excefs of exportations 298,842 10
We may therefore value the balance of
exportation and importation in the total trade
of Peterfburgh, during thefe two years of
peace, at from twelve to fifteen hundred
thoufand livres, or about fixty thoufand
pounds. The total of the trade being from
thirty-three to thirty-five millions of livres,
or about one million four hundred thouland
pounds fterling.
Such is the picture which may be given of
the progrefs of induftry in Rufiia, if we may
believe
HOLLAND. i»9
Relieve the nilnifters of that empire. It is
true, that the government has given much
attention to gaining all forts of manufactures,
particularly all fruits of wool, lilk, and
linens, which they partly effect by their
minifters at foreign courts feducing work-
men to go thither. But as they act upon
bad principles, the fuccefs is not anfwerable
to their hope. Foreigners, transported thus
to Ruffia, are unhappy, and their indufhy
is not natural to the country.
The commerce of Holland with Norway
is principally for timber, in return for which
the Dutch pay large fums of money : with
Sweden- (he trades for iron, and ibme naval
•ftores, for which (he fends all the products of
the Eaft Indies, and of the fbuthern parts
of Europe, but have been much rivalled
therein by the French. Her principal Bal-
tic trade is with Dantzick, from whence
me brings amazing quantities of corn, and
in return iupplies Poland, through that citv,
with more commodities than any other na-
tion in Europe, particularly in Ea(i India
goods, wines, brandy, and all forts of ma-
failures.
GER-
no TRAVELS THROUGH
GERMAN Y.
THE trade of very confiderable tracls in
the North of Germany centers at Ham-
burgh, which can be confidered only as a ri-
val of Holland ; but the central and Southern
parts of the empire are fupplied, in a great
degree, by the Dutch : they have a large trade
with Bremen and Emden, for the fupply of
the interior country ; but the commerce of
the Rhine is moft confiderable ; the Dutch
alone have this trade, and they regard them-
felves almofr. as the proprietors of the navi-
gation of that river : this navigation goes
far into Switzerland, and by means of the
Mofelle, the Maine, and the Neckar, a prodi-
gious extent of populous country, with many
great towns, are connected, and trade imme-
diately to Holland. The induftrious city of
Nuremburgh lends a variety of manufac-
tures, particularly toys, of which in England
there is a vafl coniumption, and which are
called Dutch toys, becaufe we have them
from Holland. It is necefYary to be expla-
natory of this inland trade, as the writers in
the Englifh language, who have treated of
the commerce of the Dutch, have generally
overlooked it.
Bv
HOLLAND. in
By means of the navigation of the Pvhine,
the Dutch ierve the four Electorates of the
Rhine, Sarbruck, Deux Ponts, Baden, Wur-
temburg, the Brifgau Spireback, Alface,
almofr. all Switzerland, and the greateft part
of Loraine, with all forts of fpiceries, drugs,
oils, rice, whalebone, tin, copper, brafs wire,
fugar, tea, coffee, the wines of France and
Spain, brandies, dried fruits, dried and falted
fifh, &c Of moil: of thefe commodities
there is an immenfe confumption in almoft:
all this extent of country. Holland main-
tains by her commerce that of Frankfort,
which is only a grand magazine, fubordinate
to thofe of Holland ; fo that almofr. all the
connections, all the correfpondencies, and the
commerce of that city, which extend them-
felves far into Germany, are nothing but a
commerce at fecond hand, of which that of
Holland is the firft.
The woods which come to the Dutch by
the Neckar and the Rhine ; the wines of the
Rhine and the Mofelle, the pot afhes, the
iron, the tobacco of Swabia, the Palatinate,
and of Spireback, are all very rich, and make
the principal articles of the returns in this
commerce. The loadings of the boats
which come to Cologne, are for the greateil
part of fine merchandize, inibmuch that ths
loading
m TRAVELS THROUGH
loading of a fingle barge often amounts to
five or fix hundred thoufand florins. Such
is the idea of the foundation of this com-
merce, that we muft, for discovering the
whole amount and advantages, obferve the
markets in Holland and Germany, and in the
other countries that take a part. We mull
coniider Holland as the regular and forced
market, where all thefe countries buy all the
commodities named above, both for their
own ufe, and iale of the iuperrluity. We
ought, at the fame time, to diillnguiih the
refpeclive proprietors of the commodities,
and the merchants who come lit between
thole proprietors ; and obferve, that it is by
means of thefe merchants that there exifts
any bargains and fales, freights, or return,
if we except the article wood, which is all
done bv cammiflion. No merchant in Hol-
land makes his purchases in Germany, nor
fends any thing from Holland on his own
account, with exception of wines, becaufe
thev do not lend the wines of any country to
Holland to fell, but by commimon ; and
wood is booarht only bv commimon at the
firll hand : the wine and timber merchants
of Holland contract upon the iron them*
felves. There are alio little traders in Hol-
land, who charge themielves with conduci-
ng
HOLLAND. uj
Sng merchandize of this fort in their own
boats to Cologne ; their commerce extends
no further : they remain at Cologne till they
have made their file, and purchafed a leading*
for a return ; thefe loadings are not rich ;
and there are not, perhaps, ten barges in
Holland that ufe this commerce, on account
of the proprietors.
All the reft of the commerce of the
Rhine, both out and home, is carried on by
commiffion ; they fell in Holland by com-
miffion the hides, pct-aihes, corn, and to-
bacco. Some Dutchmen {peculate in thefe
articles, and in making their purchafes at the
place ; this however is rare. All the mer-
chants, thofe from Franckfort as well as
all the other cities concerned in the naviga-
tion of the Rhine, make their purchafes at
Amfterdam, or Rotterdam, by their corref-
pondents. The boats, which make the na-
vigation from Holland to Cologne, have only
a commerce in freight from the proprietors ;
neither have they any intereft in the pur-
chafe or lale of the merchandize with which
they are loaded ; and this trade, by freight-
ing, extends no farther than Cologne, where
the merchandize is unloaded, and loaded
again on board the boats of the country.
Vol. I. I The
U4 TRAVELS THROUGH
The commerce of the Rhine is an object
of more than ten millions a year ; and beiidcs
the profit that the Dutch make upon the
purchafe and fale of the merchandize, this
trade further gives three precious branches,
which are of the moil folid benefit ; th^
freight of the navigation from Holland to
Cologne, and from Cologne to Holland, the
commiiiion and the circulation of credit,
which is a regular benefit without any rrfk.
In calculating thele three extenfive branches
at a value of more than one hundred mil-
lions, it is eaiy to form an idea of the folid
benefits which Holland draws from the na-
vigation of the Rhine.
If the duties which have been impofcd at
Weiel, on the navigation of this river, are
inch as render the navigation of Holland to
Cologne dearer than the carriage by land,
either from Maeftrieht to Cologne, or from
BrurTels to Treves, it is not to be doubted
but the Sovereign of Weiel, and his fubjecls,
will 1 rely all benefits anting from the
navigation of the Rhine. All the commerce
of Holland, which is made by that river,
might equally be made by taking the
Rhine at Cologne, and the route by land
from Maefiricht to Cologne, or by taking
the Mofelle at Treves ; the trade might
equally
HOLLAND. n5
fquatfy be followed m thefe two routes ; and
it would in fuch a cafe happen, that the
great duties impofed at Wefel, which the
Sovereign has reduced to a branch of his
revenues, would produce fcarce any thing ;
but at the fame time would be ruinous to
his fubjects. Thefe two new routes,
which commerce would be forced to take,
would add, without a doubt, a new value to
merchandize; above all, to that which,
would be fent by the route of Maeftricht to
Cologne ; for this carriage by land could not
be lefs than three or four per cent, on the
merchandize, and perhaps more, if we col-
lider the incumbrance on the merchandize
that returns.
Reipecting the route of Bruiiels to Treves,
the government of the Low Countries is
too enlightened and too wile not to favour,
with all its protection, the tranlport of the
commerce of Holland by that way, if the
duties impofed at Weiel obliged the Dutch
to take it. This route would beccme, per-
haps, lefs advantageous than that of Maef-
trecht to Cologne, and might do, inflead of
it, if the navigation of the Rhine was loaded
with heavy duties.
We, neverthelefs, ought not to diiTemble,
in allowing that great mifchief would remit
I 2 from
tiS TRAVELS THROUGH
from burthening this navigation with toO
great duties. But this evil would fall prin-
cipally upon all that part of Germany,
which exports its timber and other commo-
dities by the Neckar, the Maine, the Mofelle,
arid the Rhine. The proprietors would be
forced to lell all their: commodities at a low
price, for fuftaining the competition of mer-
chandize of the fame fort in the markets of
Holland ; and their timber forced to fupport
iuch heavy duties, becaufe unable to be con«
veyed by any other navigation, would ne-
ccffarily drop to a contemptible price.
The commerce of the Maefe is not an ob-
ject, ib important, but the navigation through
the country of Liege is of convenience ; it
makes a great coniumpKon of fpice, fugar,
tea, coffee, drugs, m*h, hides, and many
of the commodities of the Indies. Holland
draws from thence arms- of all forts, hides,
charcoal, utenfhV of iron of all forts, &c.
She carries by land from Nimeguen the
manufactures of woollen fluffs, which are
fpread in great numbers in the environs of
Liege, Aix la Chapelle, and in the country
of Juliers, wools of all forts, oil of olive,
&c. &c. This article is verv rich, fince the
only magazine which has beea fhade of
theft
HOLLAND. n7
thefe merchandize is at Nimeguen ;- for being
carried by land to their deiti nation, has en-
riched immenfely the commi/iioners.
FLANDERS.
THE Dutch furniih to the Auftrian pro-
vinces fpices, fugar, tea, coffee, drugs of
all lbrts, cocoa, linens, India {luffs, raw
hides, Spanifh wool, copper, brafs, pot-
afhes, tin, lead, Rheniih and Mofelle wines,
thofe of Spain, tobacco, oils, fifh dry and
falted, ivory, the fruits of Provence and Italy,
£lks, cotton, and all the merchandize of
the Levant, flax-ieed, timber for building,
§zc. They draw principally in return, corn,
and ccleieed, linens, lace, bricks and
ftone, &c,
The commerce of thefe provinces is one
of the moil advantageous branches of that of
Holland. She could not loie two articles
more interesting than the iale of printed
linens, and of paper. The paper mills, have
been much increafed of late years,, and they
have eftabliihed manufactures qf printed ■ linens
and cottons, at Anvers j the Dutch will
likcwile lofe the commerce from the cole-
feed of Brabant and Flanders, if they con-
tinue ere'Sting colefeed mills,
Ii8 TRAVELS THROUGH
The adminiftration of the Auitrian- pro-
vinces has made, from time to time, feveral
>rts for drawing- their commerce out of the
hands of the Dutch; but thefe attempts are yet
too weak, for giving a fenfible decreafe to the
Dutch trade. Such are the burthens which
thev have laid on the importation of herrings
from Holland ; and the precautions .taken
for importing all the Spanifh wool that is
wanted at Oitend, which the manufacturers
at Limbing, Verviers, Juliers, Aix la Cha-
pelle, o:c. draw at preient.from Amfterdam
and Rotterdam. It is certain, that the ad-
miniftration of the Low Countries will fuc-
ceed, when they come to be directed on
good principles, in providing thefe provinces
by iea with herrings and faked fifh ; but
thev can never make it an object of com-
merce with foreigners in competition with
the Dutch, while the provinces remain fo
deftitute of a marine. The article of the
import of Spanifh wool, eltablifhed at Of-
fend with fuccefs, cannot fubfift to the de-
triment of the Dutch, any longer than the
Republic does not prohibit the mips of its
iubjects from tranfportmg the wool to any
hut its own ports ; becauie the merchants of
the Low Countries, from whom they pro-
cure the commifiions, are not in a It ate of
loading
HOLLAND. n9
loading the Spanifh wools in {hips of their
own ; they are obliged to. freight the Dutch
ihips. If they undertook the navigation
themfelves they could get no freight to,
Spain, confequently, the trade would become
ruinous to themfelves and the manufacturers.
Thus the Dutch will preferve all they poflefs
of the commerce of the Auftrian provinces,
while thofe provinces remain without a trad-
ing marine.
GREAT BRITAIN.
FROM the eftablifhment of the Repub-
lic there has always been a great trade be-
tween it and England in ipite of the efforts
of the envious of both nations, which are
abfurdities ; while France and England, are
at all times rivals in doing mifchief the one
to the other, and perhaps alfo to all the
other nations of Europe : they have difputed
with each other in negociations of alliance
with the Republic. Each of thefe two
powers has prefented a fyitem of political in-
terefts to draw the friendihip of the Repub-
lic : it is certain, that the French negotiators
might make a merit of the greatefr, and moil
feniible intereils of commerce,, nor could it
be conceived poffible for England to remove
I 4 the
ft* TRAVELS THROUGH
Republic from its rival, and to attach het
bv lenilble men * : ihe ought to
Sx to thok me-
from K:l ::v.-r:y
carried on with Erifckrad ivery : niderable
one* for t.\ bbri in which commerce
ieraj tn rough Burope: this has
declined rerjr niti :h nnce 1 6 - 1 . the epoch
the act of na- . ta England. Tac
Dutch take of England, tobacco, tin, wool lea
goods, jewels, ciincallery, corn, lead, occ.
From Scotland and Ireland, fill bdef
film or., butter, tallow, hides, coal, £cc.
this commerce is aimoii entirely in favour of
England. After the conlun:. .: i in Hol-
. of this merchandize the remainder i»
exported, but does hdt y-.li the Dure
gt : than a million.
T'.. fehitd pfobibition on ft}*
rei£n manufactures, particularly en linens
- ^j i
feat ft in Holl tie owing to the care
.ich Great Britain, and above all Ire-
land, fc - ro S*6 cidtore cf fa£, and
r'.e making cf linen. The exports from
Holland are aim eft entirely reduced to
jpicc . 1 England alio gains the frei
commimo:: .:f all that ::■ I
bv Holland;. to ::. : . \ danrt . ■. tween
HOLLAND i2f
-geous to the former as it really Is, it is be-
caule this balance is lb much affected by the
interest of that immenfe proportion of the
national debt of England, which belongs to
the Dutch.
F R A N C E.
THE commerce of Holland with France
has been always very considerable, and of
very great importance to the two nations ;
but above all to the French, by the prodio-i-
ous quantity of merchandize which the
Dutch draw from that kingdom, both for
their own ule, and for maintaining their
commerce with other nations : but it mav
be truly laid, that this commerce is alio of
much conlequence to the Dutch, not onlv
for their own neceflary conlumption, but by
lofing this trade they would alio loie the
benefit of their exportations to France ; and
jn their importations, the benefit of their af.
fortments for the North, a branch of freight
and navigation very extenfive, with all the
acceflary advantages of the magazines in
Holland, of merchandize lent to and brought
from France, articles infinitely precious in
maintaining the population of the Republic.
It therefore imports the Dutch much to cul-
. tivate
,22 TRAVELS THROUGH
tivate with care this commerc:-. :. :o main-
tain their iupcriority over the Hanleatic
towns, whole competition they have to
tain.
It is not lefs true that the commerc
Holland is very inte retting to France, and
that ihe could not be removed from it with-
out loiing tn -ous adva - ges of a gi
competition, and thoie likewile which r
from the interior confumption of Holland,
which is not to be deipifed ; for if there
productions in France, which Holland can-
not do without, there are alio' many others,
and much interior consumption, that would
be wholly reftrained, if France buithc
tills commerce. We may therefore hold it
for a verv plain and iimple truth, I
immenfe commerce between Holland and
France is rei the two nations,
and that neither of them could burthei
without doing mifchief to the other, and
to themielves.
We may divide in general the commerce
which the Dutch carry on with France into
two branches ; the trad .d, and that by
fea. The firit has tor its object the manu-
factures, clincallery, and the modes which
the Dutch draw from France by the I
Countries. The u Lmerce we
k QOW
HOLLAND. 123
know is carried from all the ports of that
monarchy, and is not bounded by the pro-
ductions of the kingdom ; it embraces alio
thofe. of the Colonies, and fome articles
which her Eaft India Company receives from
her eflablifhment in the Indies and China.
The Levant alio furnifhes many articles of
confequence, by the way of Marleilles,
which enter into the commerce of Holland
with France.
The interior confumption of Holland,
founded in luxury, takes many commodities
imported from France. For although oeco-
nomy reigns among the Dutch, the con-
fumption In their tables and their drefs is in-
finitely increafed. Neverthelefs this impor-
tation from France furnifhes a rich re-expor-
tation. It was eftimatcd, before the laft war,
that the returns from America to France, in
iugar, coffee, indigo, and cotton, amounted
from one hundred and forty to one hundred
and forty-five millions per annum, or
6,34.3,0001. fterling. Near half thofe com-
modities, excepting the cotton ufed in the
manufactures of France, is lent from France
to Amilerdam or Rotterdam, either on ac-
count of the Dutch, or to be fold on account
of the French : all this rich part of the
commerce of France is entirely employed in
re-
Is* TRAVELS THROUGH
re-exportation ; for Holland draw? from her
own Colonies as much as is neceilarv for her
own coniumption in all thefe articles!.
This immenfe importation from France
n made entirely by Dutch fhips ; thus in
leaving to the advantages of commerce the
uncertainty which accompanies the refult of
buying- and felling, we ought to calculate a
very great fum, by which the riches of the
Republic are increafed with a phyiical cer-
taintv ; the freight, importation and expor-
tation, the cuftoms, the loading and unload-
ing in the ports of Holland, the duties of
irowage, Sec. and the commiiiion. If we.
:der in detail, the importations and ex-,
portations of Holland, her navigation in Eu-
rope, and the advantages of aiYortments of
goods in her general magazine, there is n<*
txfa of commerce more precious to her
than that with France, and which me ought
to prelerve with the greateit care : fhe has
loft fome advantages of her herring tithe ry,
but that of France is too weak to rival hers
amonglt foreigners ; but it is increafed to da
her innnite prejudice in the interior con-,
fumprion of that kingdom. The French
have not made weak efforts for getting into,
their own hands their trade to the North
but the merchants of that nation, prmcU
H O t U N E is*
pally occupied by the commerce of Ame-
rica, require too .great encouragements for-
carrying on their own commerce of the
North ; becaufe the benefit is much inferior
to that of the American commerce. There h
befides another reafon, which ought for a long
time to preferve the Dutch in pofleillon of
thefe branches, drawn from the nature ifcfelf
of the commerce of France, and the fituatioa
©f moft of the French merchants. The
commerce of the North demands very consi-
derable fums to be advanced for a long time,
and confequently a great capital, long em-
ployed for a very moderate profit ; while the
intereft paid for money, employed in the
commerce of France, is always reckoned at
fix per cent. Few of the French merchants
have funds fufficient for waiting the return
for lb littie profit: they are uled to trade Q3
fmall capitals, and to make their greater ope-
rations rather on their credit than their ca-
pital ; but in the commerce of the North
nothing can be done by credit, efpecially in
Ruflia, where they mult, give a year's credit
in felling, and in buying pay a year before-
hand, in order to trade to the beit. advantage.
There are but few merchants in France m
a. ftate of fufta'ming fo Jong a credit, to do
Jjfolland any mifciuef by competition.
The
tz& TRAVELS "THROUGH
The merchants of France carrv on thft
American commerce with very moderate
funds ; they fend oft cargoes almofl: entirely
on credit, and they get eafily and quickly
new funds when they have received advice
of the returns being expedited, upon which
they may make their aflurance. It is the
fame very often with the funds of the
Dutch, to whom they fend their returns on
commiffion, who remit them two thirds, or
three fourths of the value, with which they
fupport the credit of the firft cargoes, and
gain frefh credit for new ones. It is only
the American commerce which gives in
France that happy facility to the merchants
which their capitals fo much require. Thus
it is, the French merchants themielves, who
contribute the moil: to maintain the Dutch,
in pofTeffion of their carrying trade, and the
commerce of the North, which they will
preferve in the fame manner a long time,
efpecially while the commerce of France
with America continues flourifhing.
S P A I N.
THE trade with Spain is divided into
two parts extremely important, that of the
productions natural to Spain, which are car-
ried
HOLLAND. 127
tied on in the different ports of the kingdom;
iiiid that of the American productions, de-
pendant on Spain, which is all at Cadiz.
Spain is not fo abundant as fhe ought to be
in her home produce, nor fo much in Eu-
rope as in America ; but me is enough fo for
doubly enriching the induitrious nations, by
furniihing their induftry with a great num-
ber of new materials, of which lome are pe-
: culiar, fuch as her wool, cochineal, &c. and
alio by finding a great coniumption for the
products of their induitry. The trade of
Holland has fuffered fome diminution in
thefe two branches of commerce with Spain,
but this diminution is much more fenfible in
the laft.
The competition in the firft part of the
Spanim commerce is, on the part of France,
England, and the Hanfe Towns, infinitely
Increased. The Dutch have, befides, loft
the advantage of carrying on this commerce
with their own manufactures ; they have
been obliged to employ thofe of other nations,
and to make an oeconomical commerce of
raw materials, inftead of working them up,
as they did heretofore ; this branch is never-
thelefs very rich (till.
• The clandestine commerce between the
Colonies in America is at prefent almoft
. . entirely
*** TRAVELS THROUGH
entirely in the hands of the En glim, bjf
means of their eflabliihments in the ifles of
Jamaica and Providence, and by their inter?
courfe with the Spanifh" Colonies is become
extremely eafy, and alfo by the eftablifh-
ments which have been granted them by the
lafl treaty of peace, in Florida, Campeachy,
and Honduras ; infomuch that that nation
makes at prefent, by Spanifh America, half
as much as' the commerce which all Europe
heretofore carried on by way of Cadiz. It
is very difficult to re-eilablim this rich and
Important commerce, in which the Dutch
had fo large a part in its antient ftate ; the
merchants of Holland can only make ufelefs
complaints, like thole of all other induflrious
nations of Europe, equally interefted in the
dcclenfion of the American commerce at
Cadiz.
But if it is difficult to flop the abufes of
clandeftine commerce with New Spain, fb
prejudicial to the legitimate commerce of all
the nations of Europe, it is, perhaps, more
difficult ftill, to prevent an entire conqueft
of that part of America, which has great
reafon to fear the forces of the Englifh Co-
lonies of North America, united with the
Mother Country. The taking of Louif-
brugh, by provincial troops, in 1746, was
the
HOLLAND. i99
the firft efiay of the natural forces of New-
England; r,nd the Eriglijh Colonies of North
America have, without ceaiing, lince that
time, extended their population, their in-
duflry, their commerce, and their marine.
The cities of Boflon and Philadelphia have,
alone, more than two thoufand mips at lea ;
and they are at the iame time infinitely for-
tified by a great number of regular troops,
which England maintains among them :
we may eaiily forefee, that thele Colonies
will, one day, form enterprises mora
tended, and more rich, with equal fuccefs.
The conquefts of Mexico and Peru would
not preient, perhaps at this time., raoiv dif-
ficulties than conquering Lqiiiflburgh ; but
would be of much greater importance, both
to the Engliih and to Europe ; and weihould
fear that the actual iituation of their com-
merce, and their maritime force, would
enable them to perpetuate thio ruinous fi.pe-
riority, without the project being four, .J
in the fvltem of their ment. The
Enoliili Colonies in North America have at
preient more Shipping than England it:elf
had at the beginning of the laft century.
All their natural productions, if we except
the materials proper for the couftrufiion of
ihips, are the fame as thole of England ; and
Vol. T. K thefe
l3o TRAVELS THROUGH
thefe Colonies being given to manufactures*
and with liberty of navigation on the Euro-
pean feas, are come to be in commerce
a rival nation to the European Englifh.
The trade of peltry, and the materials for
fhip building, with the coniiimption of ma-
nufactures, do not indemnify England for
the prejudice which arifes from a competi-
tion already very mifchievous, and which
cannot fail of increaling ; for, on one hand,
the manufactures which are carried into the
Colonies ; and on the other, the degree in
which they extend their population and
their agriculture : they fend into Eu-
rope a great quantity of rice and corn, &c.
which come in competition with the Englifh
corn in all the markets of England.
Both European and American Englifh,
have equally a great intereft in putting a ltop
to the effects of that competition, or to in-
demnify themlelves by other branches of
commerce. The European Englifh have,
above all, a particular intereit in opening
new markets for their manufactures, of
which the confumption has ceafed to in-
crease in Europe. The lale to the Weft
Indies, by the clandeftine commerce, al-
though very c'onfiderable, is not iufficient to
make amends for the diminution of the con-
fumption
Holland. 13r
fumption of Europe, which is owing to the
exceihve deamels of labour, and the neceflity
of iupporting the weight of the public debt,
will not allow a change.
Motives, lb interefting to a commercial
and warlike nation, with forces lb coniiaera-
ble, both in Europe and America, ought to
make Spain fearful of loiing one day or other
the riches of the Wed: Indies ; and other na-
tions of being deprived of the part which
they take of thole riches by a legal indiiitrv.
A nation that iuitains and authorises for lb
great a number of years, a clandeftine com-
merce, at the expence of all the induftrious
part of Europe, will allow us to believe, that
lhe would equally legitimate in her eves a
violent uiurpation, which me might honour
with the title of conqueft. We may regard
the commerce of Europe as menaced with
this revolution, if Spain does not fortify her
Colonies with care, if me does not render
accefs to them infinitely difficult, and if me
does not meet with a powerful affiftance on the
part of other nations, in cafe of an attack.
It is thus, that the commerce of the Dutch
by Cadiz to the Weft Indies, is extremely de-
clined, from the clandeftine trade of the En-.
gliih in America ; and will perjiaps be one
day entirely ruined.
K 2 POR.
l32 TRAVELS THROUGH
PORTUGAL.
THE firft. and principal branch of this
commerce has been fince 1 703 in the hands
of the Englifh : it confifts of the importation
of woollen manufactures, which no nation
but England has fent in any quantities to
Portugal : this has rendered the Englifh al-
moit entirely maimers of the trade of Brazil,
which was given them, in the treaty made
by Mr. Methuen with the crown of Por-
tugal in 1 703 ; it has constantly brought in
a balance every year in favour of England of
five hundred thoufand pounds : a balance fo
great drawn from Portu gal by one iingle nation ,
has left to others but a very moderate com-
merce with that kingdom. The exportation
of corn to Portugal was a very important
object, to the Dutch, but the Colonies of
New-England have, for fome years laft part,
carried great quantities thither of as good a
quality as that of Europe, and at a much
lower price.
I T A L Y.
THE Dutch have a very great trade to
Italy ; it is a capital market for their mer-
chandize
HOLLAND.. 133
chandize of the Indies, of America, and of
their fifiieries ; and for almoft all the mer-
chandize which they import from Germany
and the North. This trade is principally
carried on by the ports of Genoa, Leghorn,
Venice, Naples, and Meflina: thefe five places
are the magazines of all the merchandize
which the reft of Italy furnimes to foreign
countries, and of that which they receive in
return.
This country has been the original of all
the filk manufactures in Europe ; but the
French have rivalled the Italians with great
fuccefs. The manufacturers of Lyons, who
fend to Italy every year an immenfe quantity
of their fluffs, efpecially rich ones, mew
plainly the decleniion of the manufactures of
Italy. Ordinary filks are made at London ;
alio at Berlin, Vienna, in Denmark, in Hol-
land, in France, and at Lyons. Almoft every
where there are filk manufactures, where
the mechanical part of the common bufinefs
is as perfect as at Lyons. At London the
blue is finer than any where elfe ; and the
black is verv fiiperior; the workmen there
are alfo better paid, better furniihed with
every thing, better watched, and are more
equal in their chain, and fimfh better every
thing they make. Without entering into
K 3 infinite
154 TRAVELS THROUGH
infinite detail, when we compare the iub-
france of iturrs and the beauty of colour, or
black fatins in general, with thole of Eng-
land, we cannot helitate in the choice, if
there is not a great difference in the price.
Many of the iiiks of England are incontel-
tiblv finer than thole of any other manufac-
ture, but others are preferred, L . they
are cheaper. — The articles of genius, t^ile,
and art, are difipiayed at Lyons, in all their
riches ; and the merchants of that city know
how to make the moil -of the fruits of their
infantry, exhibiting their fabrics particu*
larly in all Courts ; for Lyons is the manu*
facture of all the Courts of Europe.
The LEVA N T.
THIS commerce has been a long time
the firft and richeif. branch of the trade of
Europe : it is to this branch of commerce
that we owe the mulberry trees, fiik and
manufactures of iilk, and the birth of almoil
all the ufeful and agreeable arts that we
enjoy.
The benefits received from the Levant
trade, like that of Ruffia and the Eail Indies,
conlift in the returns, particularly for thole
nations whe are able to export clotiis ; tar
this
HOLLAND. 135
this is the only article of exportation made
bv the merchants to the Levant, that is trulv
rich and beneficial to themielves, and to
thole nations that fabricate them. The Le-
vant was aceuftomed only to the Venetian
cloths, when the En glim, French, and
Dutch entered into a competition with the
Venetians ; and as fafhion took very little
with the Levantines, thefe three nations
gave their hrft attention to imitate the Ve-
netian manufacture : thefe cloths were imi-
tated very promptly in England, France,
and Holland ; and this imitation was, after
the difcovery of the new route to the Eali:
Indies, the moll: fatal ftroke to the commerce
of Venice. This branch, the molt precious
of the Levant commerce, is almoft entirelv
loft by the Dutch ; a decline which they have
met with in common with England. It is
uniformly the effect of the high price of la-
bour, which has for a great number of years
railed the prices of the manufactures of both
England and Holland.
England, always employed in the care of
extending and prelerving her commerce, has
taken all poflible precautions for prelerving
the iale of cloths in the Levant ; except thole
which could alone revive this branch of
commerce, which was to carry them as
K 4 cheap
t;5 TRAVELS THROUGH
or cheaper to market than thole of Fran
The French have added to a greater cheap-
fiefs of their cloths, a more proper conduct
for infaririg and perpetuating; the fale, by
iiibmittmg the commerce to regulations ex-
tremely wife, concerning the {ale of the
goods in the Levant, and their manufacture
in Languedoc.
They diftinguifh in the (ale of cloths, in
the Levant, the free ports, from thole which
are not ; that is to fay, they diiiinguifli the
market, where the cloth is fold in retale to
be conlumed in the place, from thofe where
the bales of drapery are diipofed of by
whoHale, in truck for merchandize, or for
being exported : in the hhiT, as at Cairo and
"Conftantinople, where this conlumption is
limited, the retailers, from the example of
thofe of Europe, afk an equal price to 1 e rve them ,
as a rule ; from whence came the French re-
gulations, which have prefcribed fixed prices,
and they alio judge, that this rule may in
other ports be ill placed, and burthenlbme
to the trade ; they judge, by the local cir-
cumitances of the commerce, that it is ne-
cefiary to unite the French merchants, for
felling, to the men, who are themfelves
united and leagued for buving. Without
the ailifbnce of regulations, there would
often
HOLLAND. 137
often be, between the merchants of neigh-
bouring ports, a competition, which would,
like a civil war, be mifchievousto all.
It is to thefe regulations, (which the com-
merce particularly demanded), and to the
cheapnefs of the cloths, that the French owe
the profperity of their commerce to the Le-
vant, and the fuperiority which they have
acquired over all other nations. They have,
beiicles the advantage of afibrtiog in their
exports three articles, which are become of
infinite confequence in this commerce, viz.
fugar, the coffee of Martinico, and indigo.
Marfeilles, which is the only magazine in
France for the Levant commerce, draws
thefe three articles from the nrfr. hand, and
the conlumption of fugar, and coffee of
Martinico, is prodigiouiTy extended in the
Levant. Independantly of their dried fruits,
the Levantines are come to ufe much fugar
in their coffee, and to mix the coffee of
Martinico with that which they draw at pre-
fent from Arabia by the caravans ; infomuch
that there is fcarcely finding any coffee of
Mocha in the markets of the Levant, that is
not mixed with that of Martinico.
It has been proved, by a ffate taken from
the regifters in the Chancery of France, and
by thole of the cufloms fent to the French
Miniffers
i :t TRAVELS THROUGH
Ministers in 1750, that from the epocha of
the French regulations, the total of their
s augmented cc: ibly ; that thofe of
the Englilh, which were but one year be-
the regulations 2200 bales, was found
t be reduced to jlco bales, and fometimes
I:.'- ; that iince this epocha, the Englilh have
: fold in twenty-five years more than 8700
bales, often, twelve, 01 :. half pieces;
while the French, in the lame period, fold
43,3^2 bales, often or twelve half pieces.
Notwithitanding two acls of parliament
for flopping this decreaie in England, itill it
continued ; and the Englilh have no
means ot regaining a iuperiority, or even
■ a competition, but by a low price of
lat 3ur in their manufactures, which is verv
difficult to procure. The Dutch are under
■ fame difadvantage as the Englilh in this
commerce, in refpect or their cloth manu-
:ures, fince they are nine or ten per cent,
dearer than thofe of France ; and it would
be :c rncult for them to lower the
pri: a cheaper rate of labour. But the
Dutch have not the fame realons of politics
or jealoufy, as the Englilh, which will not
permit them to carry on their commerce
with the Enanufa&ured fluffs of foreigners.
T
HOLLAND. is)
The trade of Holland appropriates to itfelf
the manufactures of every nation known, and
generally employs, with an entire liberty,
the productions of induftry of all countries.
Freight and CommiJJion, &c.
OF the commerce of freight, thofe of
banking, commiiiion, and inlurance, are
branches of the Republic's trade the moft
iblidly rich ; but particularly thofe of freight
and commiiiion, which two are always fare
and privileged, and accompanied with norifks ;
but thefe branches have, at the fame time,
their fource uniformly in the aggregate of
all the other branches of commerce in the
State ; infomuch that their decreafe, their in-
creale and prefervation, depends entirely on,
and varies according as the general trade in
the ftate more or lefs flouriihes. We muft
therefore regard all the other branches of
the Dutch commerce as fo many canals,
which carry into the heart of the Republic,
the aliment of freight and commiiiion, bank-
ing and insurance ; which enriches at the fame
time a thouiand brokers, and furnifties a
thouiand means of iubiiftence to a numerous
people, Thefe are the true and moft iblid
riches,
i4o TRAVELS THROUGH
riches, which refult from a great cccouGmi-
cal commerce, inch as that of Holland.
Navigation is, without contradiction, the
principle of a great power and what ought
to be more interefring to humanity, it is the
fource of a great commerce ; the nation who
poiTeiles it multiplies on eourfe its (hips, in
proportion to it ; and practice always brings
this advantage, that their failors become
more hardy, and navigate more fecurely,
than thoie of other nations ; for which rea-
ion fuch a nation employs fewer men, and
can make the tranfport of commodities at a
cheaper rate than others.
A commercial nation draws to it all the
materials neceffary for conftiucting mips,
feamen, and all forts of workmen acceffary
for, or that concern the marine. It is thus
that Holland has infinitely augmented her
population at the expence of other nations ;
it is thus that a navigating nation may de~
itroy the fhipping of other nations, or pre-
vent their railing any ; it is in this refpect the
fame as with other nations in manuiaclures.
They are the fame conlequences flowing
from the fame principles in two different
objects : but navigation has a much itronger
influence than the other, in railing a political
power; for manufactures can only draw
riches
H O L L A N D. 141
s to a ftate ; but navigation, befides the
riches it procures, gives, a real force to the
irate : it is, at the lame time, very difficult
tor nations, who excel, or who predominate
in the arts of manu facluring, to prevent
other nations from eilablilhing the like
among themfelves by the lame induftry.
But it is very eafy for a nation, who reigns
upon the fea, to prevent any other nation
from becoming {o powerful on it as to rival
them thereon.
The principal end, which ought to be the
aim of all nations who navigate, is to con-
ifruct perfect: mips, and to raife good failors,
and alfo to build them cheaper than other
nations. Holland enjoyed for a long time
thele two advantages ; the firit , as far as the
fituation of its ports would admit ; and the
iecond, from the low price of labour, and by-
procuring with great oeconomy the mate-
rials at the firit. hand.
The commerce of freight is principally
maintained by that general ceconomical trade,
which makes Holland the general magazine
of merchandize from all parts of the world.
We are not nevertheleis to believe, that the
Dutch navigation is carried on totallv for
their own account ; or that their commerce
uniformly coniifts in going to buy t; mer-
chandize
i42 TRAVELS THROUGH
chandize of Southern nations, to form aflbrtv
incuts for the North ; or from the North, to
form thofe for the South ; but it is by this
commerce that the Dutch have formed a ge-
neral magazine ; and this being once gained,
Holland was immediately regarded as the
firft market in Europe ; and it gave birth to
another branch, infinitely precious, and
which equally produced the means Gi liibiilt-
ing the people, and much extended the com-
merce of freight. This market, being re-
garded by the merchants of all other nations,
as that where they could, with mo ft eafe
and mod: convenience, lell or buy all lorts of
merchandize, has given to the Dutch a
commerce of commiiiion very exteniive ; in-
iomuch that a great part of the merchandize,
which is brought at prclent to Holland bv
Dutch mips, is for the account of foreigners,
and exported for the lame : and a great part
of the commerce of Holland conlifts in [
ing and lelling for the account of others.
Of the Progrefs and Decrease of Commerce.
THE different branches of commerce,
which coniift in the emplovment of lhips,
and making iales and purchases on the ac-
count ot all the merchants of Europe, and
making
HOLLAND. 143
nuking the circulation of a great credit, and
an immenfe lum or paper, always accompa-
nied by the benefits of brokerage, &c. and
the iniurances have, as we have obferved, for
their foundation, all the other branches of
the commerce of the. Republic. Thus as
the universality of commerce in the ftate, is
more or lels nourifhing, to alio are the parti-
cular branches which depend upon it. We
may nevertheleis oblerve, that thele branches
of the commerce cf Holland, have not their
proiperity founded in the benefits ariiino-
from other branches, but uniformlv from
the volume of merchandize which fills the
general national magazine. It is not of
much confequence to thefe branches, that
the merchants buy and fell with little or
much profit, but it infinitely imports them,
that the merchants keep in the magazines of
Holland, always in the fame degree of abun-
dance, the aflbrtments of all the merchandize
of the four parts of the world ; and that the
oeconomical commerce always fuftains the
reputation which it has given to Holland, of
being the firlt market in Europe. But ir'
the decreaie of the other branches of com-
merce diminilh, the amount of the maga-
zines in this article, it mult necefYarilv fol-
low, that the commerce of freight, of .com-
million,
i44 TRAVELS THROUGH
mimon, of banking and infurance, mull di-
minilh in proportion.
Since the act of navigation in England, we
mav obferve a decreafe in the commerce of
Holland ; but a decreafe, perhaps, too trifling
to attract the immediate attention of the go-
vernment. This decreaie has had two caufes,
mdependantly of the act of navigation ; one
of which might have been eahlv forefeen, or
perhaps prevented ; and the effects of the
other have been coniiderably weakened.
The wars, which have happened fince that
time, and the progrels of the general know-
ledge of commerce, which has without
ceafing extended itfelf through all other na-
tions, and mull: neceffarily diminiiTi the trade
of the Dutch.
The wars terminated by the treaties of
Nimeguen, Ryiwick, and Utrecht ; and
laftly, by the Jail treaty of Aix la Chapelle,
have fucceilively obliged the Republic to
make uie of a vail credit, in borrowing enor-
moufly to iuftain the expence : thefe debts
have burthen ed the ftate with an immenfe
fum in intereft, which could not be paid but
by augmenting tIv the imports,
which have Fallen, for much t. :eft part
of them, on the conlumption of a country
whole limits are extremely bounded, and
conlequently
HOLLAND. i4>-
confequently upon induftry. This has ren-
dered labour infinitely dear ; this dearnefs of
labour has not only retrained almoft all the
manufactures and induftry, for interior con-
fumption, but it has alfo given a fenfible
ftroke to the commerce of freight, an ac-
ceiTary part, and the molt precious of the
commerce of ceconomy : it has rendered
(hip-building dearer, augmented the prices
of ail the work- on which navigation de-
pends, and likewife all that of the ports and
magazines. It could not be poilible then to
augment the price of labour without giving,
in ipite of every effort of the ceconomical
Dutch, a fenfible advantage to other nations,
who would raife a trade in freight, and of
buying and felling.
The fecond caufe of the decreafe of the
commerce of Holland has made as rapid a
progrefs, and continues to make it in our
days. Its Company of the Indies has loft
infinite advantages by the eftabliihment of
thofe of England, France, Denmark, and
Sweden ; but it is in particular the competi-
tion of that of England which has done her
the moll: hurt. All other nations now aim
at carrying on a commerce thither directly ;
and the nations, heretofore the leaft commer-
cial in Europe, have almoft arrived at this
Vol. I. L point.
146 TRAVELS THROUGH
point. The ports of the Baltic, and the ci-
ties of Germany, carry on, as far as it is poi-
fible, their trade direiftly with the South of
Europe ; and increafe every day a competi-
tion with the Dutch, in their buying and
felling trade. Each nation endeavours to
have as much commerce as it can, and none
but what gain fome increaie at the expence
of that of Holland.
Neverthelefs this general induftry might
well be allowed to reftrain the trade of Hol-
land ; but fome wanted to extend it to her en-
tire deftruction. Her returns from the Eaft
Indies and America, joined with her fiihery,
place her in a condition of forming alTort-
ments, which would always give her
a decifive fuperiority over the Hanfe Towns,
who never can procure themfelves equal ad-
vantages ; and this fuperiority would be
greater yet, if the Republic gave a new at-
tention to her Colonies in America. If their
improvement was well conducted, their pro-
ductions might be extended to replace, to the
total of their commerce, a part of the dimi-
nution it has undergone It is one of the
moil: precious branches of the Dutch trade,
and merits more than the precarious atten-
tion it has met with.
If
HOLLAND. 147
If we oblerve with attention the actual
progrefs of indufhy among all the nations of
Europe, we mall lee it happen,^ and perhaps
fpeedily, that all nations will have a natural
commerce, and a degree of power, propor-
tioned to the riches of that commerce, nearly-
relative to the extent and nature of ther ter-
ritory which each nation poflefles, whether
in Europe or America. The territorial
riches are the true riches of the frate ; and
the government, which applies the national
indufhy to give them all the value they are
capable of, is that which will give the ftate
a power the mod folidly fixed. It is this
principally which ought to render the Dutch
more precious of their American Colonies.
It is only in America that Holland can gain
the advantages of a territorial power.
Commerce does not at prefent afford to
any nation in Europe the legitimate means
of acquiring great riches from any thing
but its territory, or from new difcoveries.
Thefe are, without doubt, difficult, but
they are not invincible to modern induftry.
It is certain, that there frill remain to be
made in the interior parts of Africa, in Ame-
rica, and in the Terra Auftralis, difcoveries,
which, though they have been often fruit-
lefsly attempted, might yet be made with
the greatefl fuccefs.
L z Tie
,43 TRAVELS THROUGH
The Whale Ffiery.
VARIOUS have been the placarts pub-
lished by the States for the regulation of this
fifhery, which was once entirely in the hands
of a Company, but it was at laft thrown
into the moft advantageous fyftem that
could be deviled, and great luccels has been
the confluence. The Dutch fend every
j ear two hundred and fifty fhips from Ara-
fterdam, Rotterdam, Sardam, and Horn,
and the confequence of it tempts a great many
i more. Befides the hazards of the lea, which
are great, there are others which render the
fifhery often very unfruitful to a great num-
ber of fhips. There are fome that catch five
whales, and others, who are forced to return
with only one ; a return which does not pay
• expences.
The fhips deftined for this fifhery are
• from two to three hundred tons, and the
crews proportioned to the number of cha-
loups which each veffel takes to fearch for
the wThales and harpoon them ; each fhip has
• four, five, fix, or feven chaloups, and to
■ each chaloup fix or feven men : befides the
• fhips which go only for the fifhery, there are
-every year twenty -five or thirty imall mips,
from
HOLLAND. 149
from 50 to 70 tons, who go at the fame time
for trading upon the coafts with the lavages,
exchanging axes, hatchets, pots, &c. for
ikins and furs. But the benefits arifing from
the whale fifhery are much diminifhed by
the competition of the Hamburghers, Danes,
and Swedes. In 1765 only 190 mips were
fent, inflead of 250 formerly. Art has
given for fome years a fmall encouragement
to it, by employing the fpermaceti, inftead of
wax, for candles. This part of the whale,
which finds but a very moderate confumption
in pharmacy, is at prefent dearer.
The Herring Fi/hery,.
THIS fifhery has been the cradle of the
Dutch marine, and the firft fource of the
riches of her commerce. The herring
fifhery has been a long time the moll; con-
siderable branch of the commerce of Hol-
land : it was therefore called the Golden
Mine of the Republic, and the Great
Fifhery, to diftinguifh it from that of the
whale, which was not comparable to it.
M. de Wit, in writing on this fifhery, afierts,
that there fubfifted upon it four hundred and
fifty thoufand perfons. It has been repeated,
after M. de Wit, in all the writings that
L 3 have
150 TRAVELS THROUGH
have appeared on the commerce of Holland,
that the nfhery brought in every year fixty-
fix millions of florins. Thofe who have
confidered the actual ftate of this fiftiery,
look upon this valuation as a very great ex-
aggeration ; and it is one in effect, if we
were -to believe, that it amounted to 60 or
jo millions, divided among all thofe inte-
refted in the fifhery, whether merchants,
&c. or common nfhermen. But it is not the
fame, if we would eftimate the means of
fubfiftance which the fifhery ipreads through
the Republic, and the utility which this
material gives to the different branches of
its commerce : this :s the true light in which
it lhould be viewed for valuing it properly,
and cultivating the real amount of it to the
ftate. In this method we (hall find, that the
eftimation of (o many millions is not per-
haps too exceffive at prefent, although the
filhery is infinitely decrealed.
There are at prefent 2000 bufTes of all na-
tions employed in this nfhery ; thofe of
Holland are more numerous than any other,
but they do not exceed 1000 annually. It
is a branch of commerce that has loft many
of its advantages by the competition of
France and England."*
General
. — 1 — 1 , ■ ■*
* Le Commerce de la Hollar.de. Tom. 1 & 2.
f H O L i A N D. ijf
General Obfervations.
IN England, we have been amufed with
{o many accounts of the Dutch commerce
in dictionaries, treatifes, and political pam-
phlets, three fourths of which are copied
from one another, until the full intelligence
is in feveral inftances one hundred and fifty
years old, that any perfon ufed to commercial
reading can hardly fail of being difgufted at
it : this great fault in our authors is carried
to fuch a pitch, that we have new books
every day publifhed, concerning Holland,
which take the accounts from Raleigh and
de Wit, and other writers as antient, for
their guides in the prefent ftate of its trade,
&c. The truth is, the Dutch commerce is
much changed iince the beft writers flou-
rifhed, who are known in England ; and it
is the bufinefs of a perfon, who travels
through a country with any attention, to
rectify the errors of thefe eternal copiers, by
giving, as well as he is able, the prefent ftate
of every thing. Five hundred books will
tell the ftate of Holland in the year 1600,
but I want to inform the reader how matters
are in 1768. Whatever comes within the
fphere of dired obfervation I fo explain ; and
L 4 what
i5 J TRAVELS THROUGH
what I cannot thus become acquainted with,
I lav before the reader in tranflated extracts
from new works, published abroad, and al-
moft unknown in England ; of which, dur-
ing my residence in Holland, I have heard
good characters for authenticity, from per-
fons ver}r underftanding in the commerce
and politics of their country.
But, before I quit the fubject of the trade
of Holland, I have in general to remark, that
there are in England two ideas common con-
cerning it, both which' are very erroneous.
Some imagine, that the commerce of the
Republic is funk to fuch a degree, that her
decline is fwift, and foretells at no long pe-
riod the diffolution, or at leait. the iubjection
of the ftate to a neighbouring power ; others
on the contrary, who have heated their ima-
ginations with the idea of the amazing com-
merce, and maritime power they once rfefc
feffed, will not 'readily allow the real declen-
iion, which has undoubtedly come upon
them ; but confider the Republic at prefent,
in wealth and power, upon principles that
would have been jufi through the firit. half
of the laft century: few periods make due
allowances for changes, nor will they rea-
dily fleer a mean courfe, when extremes are
lb much more dazzling and brilliant. The
truth
HOLLAND. 153
truth is, that the Dutch yet poffefs a very
confiderable commerce : it was formerly
much iuperior to that oi England, in ihip-
ping, tonnage, value, and profit, but at pr;-
ient much inferior in every one of thole ar-
ticles, and of this there can be no doubt : it
is alio a fact, that for the laft twenty years
the trade of England has much increafed,
whereas that of Holland has been on the de-
cline, if we may believe the moil candid
men among them : and, at the fame time,
that England has increaied her commerce,
the other powers of Europe have done the
fame : the French trade indeed has not, ex-
cept in a few particular branches, gained any
thing ; but the Spaniards, Italians, Germans,
Danes, Swedes, and Ruffians, have all ad-
vanced ; and, as the author quoted above
juftly obferves, at the expence of the Dutch.
This general emulation in trade continues
in its full force, and even encreales even-
to the diminution of the Dutch carrying
trade ; and I mould obferve, that the declen-
fion of their commerce and manufactures has
not been owing to the high rates of labour,
(a point in which he is certainly miiraken)
io much as to this general inirit in every
country of lupplying itielf; were this en-
tirely general, the Dutch commo;.
woulJ
j£4 TRAVELS THROUGH
would fink into inanity ; there is no occafion -
to have recourie to the rife of prices, while
a caufe fo much more obvious and fimple
equally explains it. If it is faid, that the
Dutch labour is dearerthan formerly, I reply,
that this proves nothing, unlefs you, at the
fame time, prove that all the labour in Eu-
rope is not dearer than it was formerly.
This, from the encreafe of money is general;
but when kingdoms and Hates are bent upon
becoming trading nations, they do not en-
quire into the prices of labour in Holland,
but take every meaiure for lupplying them-
ielvescwith thofe manufactures and products
which they formerly took of foreigners.
But notwithstanding theie general caufes,
which have and do operate towards the de-
cline of the Dutch commerce, yet that na-
tion is in the exclulive poffeiiion of fome
branches, which will continue them in a
great trade, whatever oppoiition they may
meet with : Firft, the fpice trade, which is
totally theirs, without any competition, and
in value amounts to between one and two
millions fterling per annum; this is the only
inflance of a monopoly we meet with in the
world ; and I ihould not omit to remark,
that it (hews the general amount of trade to
be much leis than is commonly fuppofed ; for
had
H O L L A N ©. 155
had no fuch monopoly ever exifted, and a
fuppofition of one was flated, it would be
imagined more than to anfwer the purpofes
of all other trades. Spice is generally ufed
all over the world; and yet the profit of an
abfolute and complete monopoly does not
amount, we find, to two millions a year.
Some writers, of no flight credit, value it at
no more than one million. If we could get
poffetfion exclufively of the fugar trade of
the whole world, what a card would it be
thought ! much more than to make amends
for the lofs of others ; but the fact is, that
monopolies have, in their very vitals, the
principles of decay : prices mult, and ever
will be fo raifed that the confumption will
generally decline, and the vaft expences of
preferving it will altogether reduce the pro-
fit to a much fmaller ium than any one could
previoufly have imagined.
However, the profit of above a million to
fo fmall a ftate as Holland, with the advan*
tages of extending a monopoly in other
branches of trade, is an object of very great
importance, and cannot fail of tending very
powerfully to fupport the Dutch Republic,
as long as fhe is able to protect her trade.
The herring fiihery is another moll: impor-
tant article, of which the Dutch have fo
great
15$ TRAVELS THROUGH
great a ihare, as not only brings in immenle*
iums to the Republic , but alio breeds them
an ra v.ber of exci .ailors ; and
r fame ol riott is applicable to the
v'./.Ie rimer;-.
..•:ive to the maritime power of Hol-
land, in which . "•" me uied to be named
in ccmmon with Great Britain, it is by iome
- r granted, that the pofieiiicn of very
numerous mariners is the fame thing as a
great naval force ; but this is an error ; the
JEhitch marine is not contemptible, but, at the
iame time, it is infinitely inferior to that of
England, and their naval military lrores are
bv no means filled in the manner they were
m the laft century, when t..-y diiputed the
emDire of the fea with England; indeed they
are fo far declined, that give them whatever
notice they may require, yet they would ne-
ver" have it in their power to revive their
y (6 much as to be able to race the Bri-
(ifh p ver at fea; with a view to this com-
- are abfolutely funk; but with a
; the maritime force of Eu-
v are {till i- - it reirectable.
1 rower depends principally on the
of good ie; A alio depends
on toataenM built ihips, well provided,
on ample {lores and magazines, on numerous
dock
HOLLAND. 157
dock vards, founderies, &c. and many fliip-
carpenters kept in conftant employ ; all theie
areasrequifiteas numerous feamen in the for-
mation of a great maritime ftrength ; and the
whole will occaiion ib great an expence, that
very coniiderable treafures mud: be* at com-
mand, or a nation will never iee a powerful
navy, whatever number of laiiors me may
have.
The affairs however of the neighbours of
Holland have, for many years, run in inch
a channel, that fhe has pretty well eicaped
from thofe interesting fituatibns which
threatened her neutrality : while (he is able,
by her negotiations, to keep neuter, the de-
tention of her naval power will not have
very bad confequences ; but in cafe ihe is
forced to take part in a war, then indeed her
neglect of the fea might prove very fatal.
The confequences, in luch a caie, would de-
pend on the feveral circumftances and com-
binations ariflng from the part ihe took in
the quarrel : if me joined France againft
England, a conduct which I do not appre-
hend (he would ever fall into, unleis forced
to it by the French armies, her fecurity
againd: the naval power of England would
depend on the potency ,of the united fleets of
France and Holland ; which union would
be
i5* TRAVELS THROUGH
be fo truly unnatural, that its effects would
not probably be lafling : if me joined Eng-
land againfl France, her trade to the Colo-
nies would be fafe, and her coafrs would be
protected, however low her marine might
be.
But if, as is moll probable, fhe mould be
able to preferve her neutrality, then her
navy will fcarcely ever have any chance of
being reftored to real power ; but, on the
contrary, will probably decline, until it is
reduced to but a fhadow of her former ma-
rine.
CHAP.
HOLLAND. 159
CHAP. VI.
Journev through North Hoi/and — The Country
— Agriculture — People — Voyage by the
Iflands to Harllngeti— Account of Frizeland—
Leeuwarden — Dockum , &c. — Agriculture*
1LEFT Amfterdam the 25th of May, tak-
ing the boat to Sardam, which lies on
the other fide of the water : it is the principal-
town for fhip-building in all the provinces,
being noted, when the Dutch navy was in
the height of its profperity, for the common,
though exaggerated afTertion, that if you
gave them lix months notice, they would be
ready to launch a man of war every day for
a year. Here are at prelent great magazines
of timber, mails, yards, cordage, fails, an-
chors, cannon, and every thing neceflary for
building, rigging and fitting out all forts or
(hips ; I counted (ixtcen large merchantmen
on the flocks, but there are docks for build-
ing many more at a time : but here is no
great appearance of the military marine, for
a man
ifo TRAVELS THROUGH
for a man of war careening compofed the
whole fight. But it is not only tor ihip-
building that this place is noted, here are
many other manufactures, particularly of
r, there being many paper-mills; and
they affured me, it wa? the molt coniiderable
paper manufactory in all Holland : it em-
ploys more than 600 men, beiides women
and children : the men earn, on an average,
.about four florins and five ltivers a week, or
near (even milling-, but fome of them much
more : theie wages feem to be about equal
to the fame manufacturers in England, but
their living is much dearer ; this is compen-
iated by the fuperior frugality * and lobri-
ety of the Dutchmen, which far exceed that
of our poor in England.
The number of wind-mills at tjbds place is
furprizing : thole for (awing timber for lhip-
building, &c. are admirable contrivances, as
they facilitate and cheapen work to iuch a
degree, that it is much to be regretted we do
not imitate them in England. The Dutch
have had them at Sardam more than 130
S, in all which time they have found
the immenle advantages of the practice, and
yet we in England have obftinately perie-
vered in keeping to the hand-law, at leap:
forty tinges the expence. The only argu-
ment
HOLLAND, 161
ttient I have ever heard advanced in its fa-
vour was, the providing employment for
great numbers of lawyers, all of whom
would at once be turned out of work, if
mills were genearally introduced : but this is
but a feeming objection ; for it is abfurd to
luppofe, that fuch able-bodied men as faw-
yers, could remain without work ; they
would turn hewers and carpenters ; and the
cheapnefs of the manufacture, occasioned by
the mills, would bring lb much greater a
consumption > that all the hands dependant
on it would be increafed. This was found
at Holland, and particularly at Sardam ;
where the erecting of, faw mills increafed
twenty fold the number of fhip carpenters,
and which appears by authentic regifters.
Here are alfo many mills for grinding dy*
ing woods, and dying roots ; alio powder
mills, of which there is a vaff. manufacture :
thefe mills render Sardam a very conlidera-
ble place ; and their ftructure is fo curious,
that a ftran^er will find no where in Hoi-
land more entertainment, or ftronger mo-
tives for reflection on the vail induftry of the
Dutch ; or on the great benefit of their fru-
gality and contrivance in manufactures, than
in this village.
Vol. I, M From
|C2 TRAVELS THROUGH
From Sardam I returned bv water to
bout noon, deiig::ing to make the
com ur of the imall province of North
Holland, to which I had been much advifed
Dutch gentlemen, who aflured
me, that I mould :: :ral objects in that
track, highly worth feeisg, though it was
generally n: I by travellers. From this
village I took the boat to Monikedam,
through a country, part of it extremely
:::ig, and the meadows and paftures near
it, appeared to be very rich, and excellently
dykes, gates, bridges, and
rows of trees, with the regularity; and neat-
nefs of the canal, are all highly finifhed in
the bell: . :. The neatnels and pleating
cleanlinefs of the town was inch, that I de-
.ined to fray the night, initead of going
on to Eidam, which is the next i/tage on the
canal. I walked through every part of the
i, to admire the cleanlineis of the peo-
ple, which much exceed sany thing I had feen
in South Holland : this retired corner of the
war! c eleaped the taint of fo-
n examples. My accommodation was
at, but paflable, and rather cheap;
;eellent V.h of fifh, and a bottle
of claret, for about four milling Eiiglim ;
. * ::.ands 0:1 the lea. I en-
quired
HOLLAND. \S$
quired the price of lome meadows near the
town, and I found they would, if let, bring
in very near four pounds an acre Engliih.
I was in the treckichuyt for Eidam by eight:
o'clock in the morning of the 26th, and ar-
rived thither in a little more than an hour.
I am quite reconciled to this mode of tra-
velling in company ; at firft it was diiagrc-e-
able through a want of cuflom, and it cer-
tainly would be conhVantly fo in England ;
but among foreigners, it is much better.
This pluce alio frauds on the fea : there is
nothing, except the neatnets of the inhabi-
tants, that is worth obfervation in the town ;
but in the environs, there is much that calls
for attention. The neighbourhood is moftly
called Purmerend, that is the name of a lake,
which was here formerly, but is now all
drained to the circular extent of more than
twenty miles circumferance: there are other
instances of this kind of excellent hufbandry
in North Holland. I fpent the whole
morning in taking along walk of fome miles
to the rich meadows, which were once co-
vered with water ; I put many queflions to
the peaiants, and met with much ufeful in-
formation. Among other particulars, thev
informed me, that the foil, which indeed I
found by viewing the dykes, was a rich
M 2 blacky
1$4 TRAVELS THROUGH
blacky loam; compofed, to appearance,
fand and clav, but more like a (lime fettl
the grafs is admirably rich, but full of We
and here let me rema/k, that none of the
Dutch, I have yet met with, feem to have
my notion of true, well bid meadows : the
luxuriance of the herbage feems alone to be
attended to ; a great lwarth of hay, as I have
heard the mowers In England talk oi.
will find here ; that is, a multiplicity ot
weeds ; ibme of them rank and large, which
much offends the eye : yet thefe meadows
let at from 40s. to 5I. an acre Englifh.
it fertility (hew what is to .
from drained lakes ; we have no inftaiv:
this in Britain ; yet the meres in Huntingdon
and Cambridgfhires, and the lakes in Scot-
land, would furely admit of this culture
richnefs of the foil may be much better
judged oi by the fize and fatnefs of the cat-
tle, than by the herbage : larger cows and
fheer 1 I erer met with : they feem to be the
breed, which in England they call the Hol-
dernefs cow; and the fheep much refer
thole of the marines m Lincolnshire, but
1 think are rathe* larger. I was informed,
kenfe cows give about four or
gallons (Engliih) of milk in a day, at
the morning and evening milking ;
however
HOLLAND. iS$
however they reckon a good cow ; and (he
pays, in the famous North Holland cheefe
and butter, about eight pounds fterling an-
nually. The cheefe is well known at the
polite tables in England, as well as Parme-
fan ; but I muft freely own, I think, our
North Wiltfhire is beyond comparrifon iupe-
rior : befides, the Dutch eat it too new.
Here I muft remark, that the products of
their cows much furprized me': I have cows
of my own in England of no handfome ap-
pearance, which much exceed thefe famous
ones in Holland, in the quantity of milk they
vield, although their pafture is not to be
compared to this of Holland : I know not
what to attribute this to, unlets to the bad-
nefs of the herbage in this province : But
notwithftanding this inferiority, a Dutch
boor, with 50 or 60 acres Engliih, will ma-
nage to live as well, or better than an En-
gliih farmer with 200 hundred acres : this
is owing to frugality, and the fpirit of neat-
nefs ; in fome inftances the laater may feem
to be expenfive, but the laving in others
much more than makes amends; this
neatnefs and cleanlinefs is not only
(hewn in the houfe and furniture, but
in all the farming offices ; lo that all the
cattle, though brought up only to milk, are
M 3 ranged
|M TRAVELS THROUGH
[y in a cow ftall, :lean as
lour ; if I round this in May, I can ealily
conceive it : t.\ (aoac ill
in this manner tends v.
and at the
ae time, it raiies manure, of which
Dutch farmers well know the value. All
the tc :'.- and in of hulb: :.iele
boors keep in the moit exact order ; t
ipades, fhcvels, forks* appear like
houihoiu : :.::; imentj ; their waggon;
tantly clean as our chariots; and this
: ?f pleanlinefs is carried th rough every
thing: npw it rrruft be allowed, that the
hman I pre time for his neat-
m other country peaiants do for their
flavei ; but, it aniwers very greatly to
q ; :. .- there is much rence in the
:id of tool, kept quite d
r, or dirty and expoled to all
.deb gn .rence I con-
clude, that no time is better lpent than
.1 neatnels and cleanli-
L the parts ot huibandry . ':
quite ration al in Holland,
- rn its appearance equallv in
all The fanners do not (hew it
in th bents, and their cattle,
\d tfc t anks of
HOLLAND. 167
their ditches, their dykes, their walls, pales,
hedges, &c. whatever the fence is, you are
lure to find it in exact order ; and in all pub-
lic works it is equally confpicuous ; the ca-
nals, bridges, dykes, &c. are all in admirable
repair.
From Eidam I went out of my way to
Purmerend, in order to fee in that neighbour-
hood a famous drained country, once a great-
lake, called the Beemfter. 1 went by the
canal, being juft two hours in the boat.
The lake was drained in the year 1712, the
whole work being completely finiihed in
four years. The track of land contains
10,000 acres, of which 7000 are profitable
meadow, orchard, or garden ; the remaining
3000 compofe villages, roads, dykes, canals,
drains, &c. It is upon the whole one of the
greateit curiofities in the United Provinces ;
the appearance is as beautiful as that of a
dead flat can be ; the foil is wonderfully fer-
tile ; the verdure fine ; the fences perfectly
neat ; the rows of trees, the orchards, and
the gardens numerous, and thriving ; vail
herds of exceeding: fine cattle are ieen in
every part of it; upon the whole, the view
Qf the country diiptays, in every particular,
the mark of wealth in the inhabitants; and
S righer ipot is hardly to be icQii. The rents
M 4 are
i58 TRAVELS THROUGH
are very high, but the fertility of the foil
merits it ; for here are many meadows that
will more than feed a large cow per acre,
through all the fummer, and fupport her in
great plenty. The view I took of this, fur- .
prized me in another particular ; I thought
the country appeared well flocked with
horned cattle, conhdering there is very little
arable land in it, for raifing winter provi-
sions ; but they informed me, that the dif-
temper among their cattle, which had con-
tinued many years, had thinned them much ;
and made all the farmers very cautious in
buying, and backward in laying in large
flocks. They carry on a great trade in lean
beafls with Denmark and Holftein ; but the
diftemper having made great ravages through
thofe countries, the price was not only much
railed, but great hazards remained of buying
infected beails; beiides which, the States had
laid great interruptions on the importation,
on account of the diftemper ; for which rea-
fons they informed me, the country was far
Underflocked in horned cattle ; and that they
had, inilead of them, gone into keeping
fheep much more than formerly. 1 made
enquiries concerning the comparative profit
between them ; and they generally agreed,
that
HOLLAND. i6»
that the murrain excepted, cows and beads
paid them much the be.ft.
From Purmerend I took boat to Hoorn
the 27th in the afternoon. It is a considera-
ble feaport, with a much better harbour than
Amsterdam, or any other place on the Zuy-
der Sea ; and it pofleifes more trade than I
expected to find fo near that capital. Its her-
ring flfhery is very confiderable. I made
frefh enquiries here concerning it ; and they
agreed in their accounts, that it was vaflly
declined from the competition of other na-
tions, but particularly the French. Moft of
the cheele, and other produce of North Hol-
land, is exported from this place. Hoorn
being once almofl deflroyed by a bank break-
ing, and letting in the lea, that element is
now fenced out with one of the vaftefl banks
I have any where feen in Holland ; it is much
worth viewing. My accommodation at this
place was but indifferent, and the expences
extravagant ; but I have obferved, that the
Dutch landlords make hardly any difference
in their reckoning between good fare and
bad ; travellers therefore fhould order the
belt of every thing, as they will have them
nearly as cheap as the worft .
From Hoorn to Enkhuvfen, as I diiliked
a b<£*t by fea, I enquired for another con-
veyance,
i;3 TRAVELS THROUGH
ce, but there was nothing but a ftage-
waggon, lo I fent my baggage by it, and
walked. The road leads through a flat, rich
_adow, all the way much interfected with
I nals and dyke?. I obferved, the country
villagers kept their cottages as clean as in
any part of Holland, and indeed it extends
to iuch a degree of nicety, as to be perfectly
rertaining to view them ; this minute at-
ltioti extends beyond their houfes ; all its
environs are the lame : in any little offices,
or huts, the garden, the fences, the pales,
th; :x. and every thing you are fu re to
find in excellent order. The employment
of the poor Teemed to be principally net-
making for the herring fimery ; which,
however it may be declined, yet employs a
vail: number of their poor. I made enquiry
intothe benefit it was of to the father of a fa-
milv, by going in the buffes ; and I found,
that in pay, allowance, and herrings, it
equalled twelve millings a week of our mo-
ney.
I took up my quarters at The Artillery
Yard at Enkhuyfen. It is a town almoit. in
fea, being nearly furrounded by it; but
^.vhich it is defended, like Hoorn, by
: canals bring imal'l vefiels into
mfcf n. It is a well built town,
and
HOLLAND. 171
and very clean ; many of the houfes large
and handfome, and the Stadthoufe is a conii-
derable edifice. Their trade is moftly in the
herring fimery ; but they catch large quan^
titles of fait fifh, and they export much of
the produce of the country adjoining; be-
sides thefe articles, they carry on a good trade
to the Baltic, and build many mips ; 10 that
altogether, it is a place of confiderabie bu-
fmefs, and the merchants are rich.
To Medenblick is eight miles more : I
walked alfo, for the lame reafon as before.
This is but an iniignificant place ; and my
inn, The City of Hoorn, a bad one ; yet. be-
ing much tired with a walk of 16 miles, I
ftaid the night of the 28th. They have a
ihare of the Baltic trade here. The whole
country is as rich meadow-land as can well
be conceived ; it is much divided into little
portions, the properties of diflincl perfons ;
but ibme of it that is let, yields at the rate
of from three to four pounds Englifh per
acre ; but this is particular pieces. There
is much cattle, notwithfianding their dread
of the diftemper, beiides great numbers of
very large fheep. As my delign was to pafs
over to Frizeland from the very Northern
point of Holland, taking the Iflands in my
way, but at the fame time to fee Aikmaar,
and
i - : T R A V E L S THROUG H
the cc . r, I found it
Decenary to do th l; but J was
again puzzled, as the treckichuyt goes only
bv He or::, there being only a waggon di-
loclly from Medenblick to All a
the ippearance
icieut, I kned once more to t^ke to
rnv legs ; and. though the durance is no lels
i feventeen miles, to m.ike it a day's jour-
ney on foot. I lent my baggage by a Dutch
fcippec to He! nin the X :::':.■: ::: point of
Holland, a little fining town, to remain
till I came :;::n Ahkneaar. The
countrv through which I palled, once con-
incmally of lakes, but. like the Beem-
fter, they hare been . end now
£ an excellent appearance, being all cur
into rich meadows, and hardly an acre in
the whole track loft. All the canals and
j are planted with rows of trees, of
which, i: ai "--- li a many.
The : ■■ ill - . • well peopled, and
all of them carry that agreeable neatueis and
good order, which would alone make travel-
ling in Holland wc a Lie. T he
pen and ch were principally em-
:;. At B .11, a
is r.bout half way, I
waited a: an inn, which in E igland would
be
II O L L A N D. i;3
be called a hedge alehoufe ; but T remarked,
that the houfe, arid all the furniture, were
as clean as in any other. Cleanlinefs is the
characteristic of the people, eipecially of the
lower ones.
I got to Alkmaar in the evening of the
29th, and fixed at the City of Amfterdam
inn, where I met with extreme good enter-
tainment, and much civility. This city is
as well Situated, respecting beauty, as any
one can be in a country perfectly flat ; it is
Surrounded by a great number of gardens,
orchards, and rich meadows : verv near it.
they fhow a grove, which would make a
figure in the beft regular garden in England;
it is beautiful. The Streets of this city are
regular, and well built, but the churches,
and other public buildings, have not any
thing very ftriking in them. Upon enquiry,
I found there was neither treckfehuyt, nor
chaife, nor waggon to Helder ; I was there-
fore again obliged to determine on a walk,
and this was to be a long one, for the dis-
tance is 23 miles ; for the firft feven, I got
two horfes for myfelf and man, but no of-
feis of money could tempt the owner to al-
low me to have them on, becaufe he had buft-
nefs another way. The country is all thickly
Strewed with villages, and is exceeding rich
meadow
J?4 TRAVELS THROUGH
meadow land. Every houfe I faw has a gar-
den, which the boors all cultivate extremely
well ; net-making goes on throughout this
country.
The number of their poor, which the
Dutch maintain by their herring fifhery, is
very coniiderable, and mould make us, on
whole coafts they go to hTn, more attentive
to reap advantages, which nature has laid at
our doors. Our poor rates, in vail tracks of
the country, run extremely high, and in
others, our poor areftarving for want of em-
ployment ; while our more induftrious and
meritorious neighbours maintain themfelves
on our filh, and have the trouble of going
200 leagues to catch, that which we might
take in our own harbours. The whole
circle of European politics does not offer a
more finking inftance of fupinenels. The
infinite advantages, which would attend the
eftabliihment of a great herring fiihery in
fome of the Weflern iiles of Scotland, that
are the baft iituated for the bufmefs, ought
to engage our government to act with more
vigour in that affair. All the plans, that
have been laid down by the corporation of the
free Britifh fifliery, are nugatory aiid ridicu-
lous. The only poffible way of lucceeding
(and the Dutch owned to me more than
once)
HOLLAND. itj
once) would be to build a town in the Wes-
tern ifles, and make it the feat of the whole
undertaking. There to build aH the bufles
and boats ufed, to make the nets, to eftablifli
manufactures of cordage, fmall anchors, &c.
with yards, docks, magazines, &c. alio to
have the mips that carried the herrings to
market, built and rigged there, and in regular
employment ; the coopers that made the bar-
rels fettled on the fpot ; alfo bounties mould
then be given for every buis, boat, or barrel
of herrings ; but the company mould, above
all, attend to provide an immediate market
for all the fifh caught, and falted and barrelled
according to their directions, under the eye
of their infpe£tors. It then mould be their
buiinefs to load their mips with them, and
freight away for the Mediterranean, Portugal,
and the Weft Indies. When once the rimer-
men found a certain market for all they
caught, and cured honeftly, their profeffion
would encreafe amazingly ; new towns
would ,rife up, and a general alacrity lpread
through all the coafts. This would form
new markets for all the productions of the
neighbouring eftates, which would animate
their culture ; and infinitely increefe the va-
lue pf the land. All this is in the power,
not of the King and Parliament alone, but
of
1f$ TRAVELS THROUGH
of anv great nobleman of confiderable pro-
perty in the iflands. A private capital of
20,cc~l. would go further than five times
that fum in the hands of a public company.
I went out of my way for the lake of
viewing :n, a village, around which, I
was informed, I mould lee the richeft foil in
Europe, .eft meadows. I examined
them atr s a black, moifc, deep
loam, nothing can have a finer appeanee ; but
I did not find a:, f g en it
and: i other - i'lovince.
, an
acre ft ft .1 more
.--:'■: cd a la re.-: c ~ne of them
u ils, at $1. dii acre. Moll:
( : the roa 1, rrcm \ d to Hdder, runs
on the | - : aft bank, which lecures one
Nofthren promontory ; it is
hardly twe ~>m fea to lea, ?:d
-.-. ] think* as any
country. Heldei is a little fiihing villi
very pleasantly iiruated. I was (hewn to
i but a miferable one, ;.
the cleanlinefs m: . lends much better
than any circumilance would have done at
iuch a place in England. On enquiry for
my trui .'.'. I v, - •." '.urprized anddif-
ppointed. 1 " were not arrived ;
Mynheer
HOLLAND. 177
Mynheer Van Hoelft, the Captain of the
fkipper, had not been heard of fince his de-
parture ; but my landlord knew him well,
and he allured me, I need be in no pain for
my baggage, as the wind had been contrary
thefe four days. Neceffity has no law, I was
obliged to fubmit, and, much to the land-
lord's fatisfaclion, inftead of making my
paflage over to the ifle of Texel directly on
my arrival, I was forced to fpend the night
at his houfe ; however, the Dutchman pro-
vided me fome fbles, lobfters, and a tender
chicken, with a bottle of bad claret ; ib I
ought not to complain much of my quarters,
coniidering the place was only a fiiriing vil-
lage.
Early in the morning of the 31^, my
Dutchman informed me, that the wind con-
tinued contrary, that I had no hopes of iee-
ing my baggage that day ; that I muft make
myfelf contented ; that he would have an
excellent dim of fiiri for my dinner, as he
purpofed going a fifhing with his own boat ;
that it mould be back exact at three, and my
dinner fhould be worthy of an Emperor.
The fellow, I believe, has a little foreign
blood in his veins ; he is not fo phlegmatic
as the Dutch in general ; but civil, boaiting,
and at the lame time attentive to let me fee,
Vol. I. N that
i?t TRAVELS THROUGH
that he puffed only his capability of pleafing
me. I liked the fellow ; told him I would
have a day's fining with him; that he mould
take a cafe of claret with him, a ftove, bread,
fauce, &c. we would dine in his boat on the
fifh, frefh as they were caught. This pro-
pofal pleafed him much ; I ordered breakfaft,
and about ten o'clock we fet out on our fin-
ing fcheme. The coaft is well fupplicd ;
we caught fine turbot, foles, exceeding fi ne
plaife, which, I think, are preferable to their
foles ; and crabs, with feveral other forts ;
and made a delicious dinner on them, the
Dutch dim, fie wed in greafe of Shakefpear,
might be the cookery of that age, but it is
not of the preterit'. I did not find oiled but-
ter even at the lowefl inns.
In the night, my friend the fkipper ar-
rived, and with him my trunks. The next
morning, June ift, I hired a fioop to carry
us over to Texel, of which ifland I purpofed
taking a view. I got there in an hour, and
walked to Burch, the town in it, ordering
the iloop to coaft thither, as I had agreed
with the failors to carry me to Flie Ifland,
and from thence to Karlingen. The. Texel
is about fix miles long, and four broad; the
foil is a rich meadow, and in every refpecr.
like North Holland; the banks and land
hills,
HOLLAND. 179
hills, for defending- it from the lea, are very
frrong and well made. At Burch is a ftrong
fortification, with a garrifonin conilant duty.
This iiland is totally fed with iheep, of
which, though large, they keep tour to an
sere; but they do not fat them. They are
principally ewes, which they milk regularly
like cows, and make cheefe of it ; I tailed it,
and wonder much that any writers fhould
be io abiurd as to call it excellent ; ir.
is very indifferent. The inhabitants ap-
ply themfelves principally to the herring
lifhery, in which they are reckoned
greater- proficients than the failcrs on the
main land ; here are alio many pilots. From
the Texel I palled over to the ifle of Flie,
which is about nine miles long, and in fome
places three or four broad. The face of the
country is the fame as the Texel, a flat or"
good rich pafture, with front banks to
defend it from the fea. From hence I em-
barked for HarlinJen, and landed there in
the night of the jd of June ; taking my
quarters at the Peacock inn, where I met
with indifferent accommodation. The land-
lor flie wed me on mv firft coming, into a
a fort ot common room, where there were
many forts of guefts. Thi^ I had met with
in villages, but not in considerable towns. I
told him, I nauft have a room to my felt ; he
2 replied
N
1*6 TRAVELS THROUGH
replied i:i Englifh, that he had none; upon
which I ordered the bell: flipper his town
would afford, a bottle of claret, and another
of white wine, on condition I had a room.
This brought him to his bell; behaviour, and
I was accommodated to my wiih. This is
one inftance in a thouiand, in which travel-
lets receive a treatment proportioned to the
mo ne v thev ipend ; nor mould thofe, who
are apt to lie too oeconomical, condemn the
inns and landlords of a country, when they
mind only the keeping their money in their
pockets. But whenever a tour, whether at
home or abroad, is thought of, if it be on
pleafure, and not merely on bulinefs, it is
lurely never worth while to fave fifty or
three fcore pounds in five hundred, and
thereby render a very long journey diia-
greeabie.
Harlingen is very well built, the ftreets
are regular, and moil of them have hand-
ibme canals. The harbour admits fmall mips
into baibns that are quite furrounded with
houles ; but thofe of a heavy burthen mull
be unloaded. There are fome confiderable
paper manufactories, and alio ioint fabrics of
fail cloth, which are flourifhing. I made
aii excuiiion or two into the neighbouring
country, and round a great change from
North
HOLLAND. j2i
North Holland ; for inftead of the unvary-
ing rich meadow lands of that province, here
I found a great mixture of arable fields ; they
low much barley and wheat, and I obiervod
ieveral fields of very fine clover ; alio others
fallowing for the iucceeding crop of wheat,
and iome for colefeed, which, they faid, they
fhould low the latter end of the month ; they
life it for extracting oil from the feed. Here
let me remark, that I think the Dutch are
much worie arable farmers than grafs ones ;
but at this indeed I am not fiirprized, for it
mufr, be much more difficult to conduct iiich
land than meadow, which admits not of near
the fame variety. Some of the fallows, I
ohferved, were kept in a manner common in
England ; that is cloddy, and not abfoluteiv
free from weeds ; and I remarked, that the
wheat crops were not clean. I am no huf-
bandman, and fhall not venture to pro-
nounce, whether abiblute garden manage-
ment, refpecting the entire freedom from
weeds, will anfwer to a common farmer by
more than paying the charges ; but it cer-
tainly mould be the aim to come as near fuch
perfection as profit will allow ; but the bool<;s
of hufbandry, which I have read,, ieem to,
$well on this point as the line qua dor.
N 3 The
TRAVELS THROUGH
The pafrures about Harlingen are net eq-
to thole of North Holland.
I took the treckfehuyt to Fratieker the
cth of June. It is a very pretty, neat town ;
the buildings much better than thole of Har-
linsen. There are many of the Frizeland
nobilitv that uiually reiide here ; ana alia an
iverfity, that has given education to ibme
writers noted for their learning. The facn
day I nailed en through a rich c . i ith
much arat Ic land in it, to Leuwai If . which
is the capital of the province. It is iur-
rounded with fome flight f ::;::;::: ins ; the
i::ee:; are regal:: and well built, and kert
very ck id ; and in 6 me parts of it.
with rows of bees. The Prince of Orange
is a palace here, which I viewed : but it
contains nothing wc rthv biervarion.
As I had 9 jerter of recommendation to M.
Sautyn, a gentleman of confiderable wealth
i:: ity, I waited on him loon after r;.v
. :. and he was I ig as to walk
with me al :a: the pla< . . . :-
ever I defired to '. 1 . .
his invitation to line with him, and *
genteelly :..:■::: i led. FL
aft - a round thrcv feveral village
in i :ne
fa .
HOLLAND. 183
federal interefting particulars concerning the
province of Frizeland.
There is a good deal of arable land in dif-
ferent parts of it, but much excellent mea-
dow ; upon my obferving to him, that I
thought the meadows in North Holland had
a richer appearance than thofe I'had feen in
Frizeland ; he replied that theirs might not
be equal in general to thofe of Holland, but
that many tracks were excellent, as I might
judge by the horfes, cows, and meep ; all
thefe are large, but not lo remarkable as Mr.
Sautyn feemed to think them. The South-
Eaft'part of the province is but poor land,
much of it fandy, and not fo well inhabited
as the reft. He laid, their farmers were in
general reckoned very good ones, though not
equal to the beft in Flanders ; but that they
had feveral articles of culture in as great, or
greater perfe&ion than in that famous ter-
ritory; particularly carrots and turnips.
That in manufa&ures, Holland, &c. much
exceeded them, though they poffefled fome
confiderable fabrics of woollen cloths, and
alio of linens : their trade was not flounfh-
ing. He remembered, he laid, when there
was much more bufinefs carried on at
Dockum, Leuwarden, Harlingen, and Sta-
vc.ren than at prefent ; that the herring
N 4 finery
«84 TRAVELS THROUGH
fimery was now the principal iupport of the
two latter towns. I begged to know his
thoughts on the reafon of this decleniion of
trade ; and he laid, that it was not peculiar
to the province of Frizeland only, but, he
apprehended, pretty generally felt all over
the United Provinces ; but that the immenle
trade carried on at Amfterdam and Rotter-
dam, did not allow the declenfion to be fo
yifible. I obferved, that the great rile and
fupport of their Republic having been a ge-
neral commerce with all countries, and of
making Holland an univerfal magazine for
all products and all commodities, that ex-
tended bufinefs depended folely on other na-
tions not attending to trade ; but when all
around them were ftriving as hard as poilible
tp get all they could, and every people
wanted a great navigation, the cafe altered
much, and every one grew rich at our ex-
pence. But, added he, it is you (meaning
England) that have done us moil mifchief ;
we are all fenfible, that our grand rival in
trade is London, and every great increafe of
that city's commerce, is made much at the
expence of that of Amsterdam, &c. But he
further remarked, that their country had two
v rher caufes, to which they attributed their
decline, nations! debts^ lavs he, and a change
of
HOLLAND. 185
of manners. Our national debt has rendered
fb many taxes, in the fhape of cuftoms and
excifes, neceffary, that we have hardly any
commerce but what is grievouflv burthened,
and all our home coniumption is rendered
exceflively dear ; but even this has not been
of half the ill confequence that the change of
manners has brought about ; our country
was once famous for frugality, and even for
pariimony ; our great commerce was long-
founded in this, for we could afford to trade
where no nation could rival us ; and the clofe
attention given to commerce, which here
far exceeded what was any where elfe to be
met with, .gave us a great fuperiority : but
now, our merchants are come into indul-
gences, even into luxury, which has crept in
by degrees ; lb that drefs, equipage, table, and
all family expences are amazingly increafed;
the confequence of this is very flrong and
fatal ; a man with an hundred thoufand flo-
rins, if he lives upon the product often thou-
fand, and applies that of ninety thoufand an-
nually to his trade, it is very evident, that
he will be able to increafe and extend his
commerce, in a very different manner from
what he will do if he fpends the product of
thirty thoufand in his houfe, and increaies
his trade with only feventy thouiimd : but
this,
Ifl 5 T RAVEL- H ROUGH
.. is a •
ition ; we h
Ret" ' m i who ipend a
re ... d
d the (Economy of one
conch' .-":. and the exti the other,
is an derence not only to the
: t, . . - :1 proportion as
the : [ual decreafes, ij m
t r of a nation's com-
This c of our
le in Frizeland as in any
irt ofH ; we had always a no-
themfelves clear of com-
mercc ; but this :.rr: elation increafes e
day in ten-fold proportion. Theie nobles
:es in a
2 m oner within thefe
| live in .a more I
in former] ; our merchants, when
m, and are fond, in
mtr of thining them ; I
tion does :f ; and
it is all the good which a :.
s in a commercial Republic. 7
to moo. id ought to be con-
.... . wh
HOLLAND. 187
in a country that exifts only by trade, while
that nobility defpife trade ? I attended with
great pleafure to thefe fentiments of M. Sau-
tyn, which certainly abound with much
truth, and a refined knowlege of the real 111-
terefts of his country. Our converfation
Lifted till our return to the city, when tak-
ing my leave of him and his family, I let
out the next morning for Dockum.
That town contains nothing that is wor-
thy of obfervation, unlefs the bridge, which
is lofty enough to admit fhips full-mafted
under it, is reckoned fuch. They have
fomething of a trade in exporting butter and
cheefe, of which the neighbouring country
produces very large quantities, the land be-
ing chiefly difpofed in paflure, and the foil
rich.
C II A P.
lit TRAVELS THROUGH
CHAP. VII.
Groningen — JFinfchooten — Happinefs of the
lower clajfes of the People in this Country —
Journey to Coevorden — Occident that befel
the Author which brings him acquainted
with a very intelligent Dutchman — Uretcht
— Boijleduc — Captain Rey's improvements on
waftc Land — Bergenopzoom — Journey thro*
Zealand — Culture of Madder.
JUKE the ;th I left Dockum, and took
the boat to Groningen, the capital town
of the province of the fame name, The dis-
tance is twenty one miles, through a coun-
try the chief of which is applied to grazing.
The lands appear to be well managed and
laid out, and kept in the fame neat way that
I have admired through every part of Hol-
land. There are many villages which fee^m
populous. This twenty-one miles took us
the whole day, from interruptions of many
fluice?, fome of which were out of order.
Groningen is a very handibme and remark-
ably regular built city ; the ftreets crols
each
Holland. js»
each other at right angles, having numerous
houfes that make a very good appearance ;
and the public buildings, which is not often
the cafe, add much to the beauty of the place.
It is furrounded with a fortification, which
the inhabitants reckon very ftrong, princi-
pally, I believe, becaufe the outworks were
deHgned by Cohorn, St. Martin's church is
worth feeing ; they have a remarkable organ
in it which is fhewn to Grangers ; and they
conduct them to the top of the fceeple, from
whence is a very extenlive profpect over the
adjacent country, and well worth viewing,
from its being a country chiefly of rich land,
intersected with fine canals. The great
iquare is remarkably handfome, regularly
laid out, and well built. Here alio, though
Groningen is an inland place, is a beautiful
harbour rbr mips, well fenced with quays,
whereon is a good appearance of buiinefs.
The canal that brings up thefe ihips is a vety
noble one. There being other canals, which
branch every way from hence, the town
carries on a good trade with all the neigh-
bouring countries ; and pretty far into Ger-
many. Upon the whole, I have not, lince
my arrival in Holland, feen a place that
pleafes me better.
June
100 TRAVELS THROUGH
June the 9th I left this town fof
Winfchocten, at the diftarice of twenty
miles, which wealfo performed in the treck-
fchuyt, taking us up fix hours. The whole
country is exceedingly well peopled, being-
full of villages, and the land made the moth
of by cultivation. It is a rich foil, applied
chiefly to pafturage, with fome arable lands,
that feem well managed ; for the crops were
clean, and the fallows well tilled. The peo-
ple feem remarkably chearful and happy ;
and that neatnefs and regularity, which I
have traced every where through the other
provinces I have travelled, is ftrong here.
This happinefs and content of the lower
claffes of a nation make travelling remarka-
bly agreeable ; for nothing is fo miferably
irkfome as moving through a country where
the inhabitants of it are foopprefTed, as to be
all in poverty and rags. But thefe great
diftinctions are all owing to variations of go-
vernment ; arbitrary power fpreads nothing
but poverty and mifery, but a free govern-
ment blefles all the people that live under it.
All the parts of Holland, through which I
have travelled, are very heavily taxed ; much
heavier than in any country in Europe,
where arbitrary power reigns ; that is, a
given number of people, pay more here to
the
HOLLAND. 191
the State, and yet every body is at their eale,
none oppfefled, and moSt weabhy ; Should
riot this Single circumftarice teach mankind
the value of liberty ? Abiblute power im-
poverishes fo heavily, that the people have
nothing to pay ; the money torn from the
people by irregularity and private oppreilion,
amounts to infinitely more than all the
wealth that goes to the coffers of the Mo-
narch. The King tyrannizes over the no-
bility ; the nobility over the gentry ; the
gentry over the tradefmen ; and all of them
fleece andopprcfs the countrymen. In inch,
a fvilem, from whence can property come ?
Nothing can exifr. with any iecurity but
land e States, for labour, induirry, and inge-
nuity can create incomes only in free go-
vernment Sufficient to yield taxes to the Stare.
How would a Dutch boor be able to bear io
confiderable (hare in the public levies, if he
was oppreffed and brow-beaten by every
neighbour, his Superior ? As wealth is (o
much the idol and puriuit of all the Mo-
ri arch s now in Europe, it is Strange, ibm-e
Icheming head has not fallen upon a mean.*
of qualifying the effects of arbitrary power ;
l not for the lake of the intereils of human." \
,tntf for an increale of their Subjects wealth.
.The encouragement of agriculture, trade,
and
i9z TRAVELS THROUGH
snd manufactures in France, carry fome-
thing of this appearance, but nothing vet
done has been fyflematical ; it has been by
fits and itarts, and ever been rather from
royal momentary bounty, than from efta-
blilhing more real liberty in thofe points
that would tend mod: to make people rich.
The great difficulty is not the gaining a con-
cefiion from the crown, but from the nobility
and gentry ; who had rather be oppreffed by
a court, than not have the power to opprefs
their inferiors. Winfchooten is but a paltry
town though fortified ; but its principal
ftrength is from its ntuation, having feveral
marines which would much incommode an
army.
At mv leaving Winfchooten I made en-
quiries concerning the roads and canals thro'
the province of Overviiel, and found that
the principal pan* age was that to Amfter-
dam ; but as I wanted to view the Eaitern
parts of that province, oi which I had not
met with any good accounts, I declined that ,
route, and determined to go to Coevorden,
which is thirty-nine miles from Win-
fchooten. There is no canal thither, nor
any public way of travelling it, but in an
irregular poft- waggon. I agreed with a
perfon, to whom mv landlord carried me,
for
HOLLAND. 193
for an aukward fort of chaife, which held
me and my fervant, and with fome difficulty
mv trunks ; he was to furnifh me with a pair
of horfes and a poftillion, for the furri of three
and thirty florins, and I was to pay all the
expences in going. The mailer of the chaife
further infilled on our being a day and half
on the journey, which he faid was neceffary,
as the roads acrofs ibme marines were very
bad; and he faid, that at Sleen, a little vil-
lage in the way, I mould meet with tolerable
accommodation.
Early in the morning on fche 10th, I fet
out, thus provided, for Coevorden, and made
our firft fhge to Mepfche ; to which we had
a good road, through a rich country, well
peopled ; but at that place we turned oft
into a much worfe, the roads bad, and the
villages hut thinly {battered ; the foil was in
ibme places fandy and poor, and in general
low and marfhy ; not managed and improved
in that maiterly manner which I had ob-
ferved in the other parts of the United Pro-
vinces. Many marines were indeed drained,
but ieveral were yet to do, that were viiibiv
capable of the improvement. We had not
lett Mepiche two hours, before our chaife
broke down, but fortunately it was in fight
of a large farm houfe ; the farmer, who.
Vol. I. O proved
h
/ . i 1 $ A '."ELS THROUG H
. .1 very civil Dutchman, was in his
.. and upon observing our diitreis, came
;.:-. I ordered my fervant to inform
him, I v. - rn Englilh gentleman on my
road from Winfchooten to Coevorden ; that
1 expected to reach Sleen bv night, but
this accident would make it difficult;
I ihould be much obliged to him, if he
id give lat aiiiitance he was able;
that I would readily pay him whatever
he demanded. The firmer was extremely
. ordered the horfes into his barn;
(hewed me into his houfe, where he intro-
duced me in a plain, feniible manner to his
wife and his daughter ; and lent away one of
his ions for a neighbouring peafant, who
Supplied the place of a wheel-wright ; but
in the mean time, he entertained me with
iome butter-milk, eggs, bacon, and greens,
with good cheefe : he was an elderly man,
with a countenance as exprefnve of an open,
Ironeit heart, as any I had ever feci*. His
. about an hour, and informed
v , that the man, who was to let our chaife
on its legs again, (the axle-tree being broke)
iblent, I not he at home till
late at night, and his family Cent us word
that he could not be with us till early in the
morni j i (oofl as the honeit. farmer
heard
HOLLAND. 19s
heard this meffage, he turned to my man and
faid, let your mailer know, that he muft be
fatisfied to itay where he is ; my houfe is at
his ferviee, I cannot entertain him well, but
he will be better oft than at the inn at Sleen,
which is a mere hovel. I had picked up
Dutch enough to understand part of this dif-
courfe, and I made my acknowledgments to
him as well as I could in that language. I
was much pleafed with my good fortune, in
the accident happening fo near a man that
was lb ready to amfr. me ; I mould have
found it far more diftremng with the general
run of peafants.
The farmer, in the afternoon, went about
his bufinefs in the fields, and I defired leave
to accompany him, and take my fervant with
with me for an interpreter. I think travellers
do not attend enough to country bufinefs ;
not conlidering, that a well ordered agricul-
ture, and improvements in the foil of a ftate,
are one of the chief pillars of every country.
It is not that gentlemen can be expected to
talk or write lcientifically upon matters of
hufbandry, theufual courie of education wiiL
not admit of it, nor, perhaps, would there be
any great ufe in it ; but ignorant perfons may,
in the plain relation of what they fee, be of
fervicc to thofe whofe inclinations, or way of
O 2 life
595 TRAVELS THROUGH
life, lead them to the practice of hufoandrv ;
which is an art that was ever in much
effeem among all wile and polifhed nations.
The great objects that a traveller, elpccially
one which propofes to publifh the reiiilt of
his travels, ought moft to attend to, are thofe,
which have the greateft probability of being
ufeful to his own country ; theie are the
laws, and their effects ; which, however, can
ieldom be accurately invefti gated, unlefs the
ffay in a foreign country is of fome duration ;
the trade, its rife, progrefs, and decline ; the
manufactures, the lame ; and, as I have juft
obferved, if they would give fome attention
to agriculture, I fee not where the harm
would be ; on the contrary, it might prove,
in many cafes, ufeful. It is in conformity
with thefe ideas that I have, during my ffay
in Holland, made feveral enquiries concern-
ing the Hate of husbandry, whether of paftu-
rage or arable land, and was I Ikilled in the
art, my enquiries would be more pertinent.
My friend, the farmer, informed me, that
he hired his farm of the Count of Zencyle,
and that he paid at the rate of fix florins an
Englilh acre ; but then he had much land of
a very indifferent quality. The whole of his
farm equalled 160 acres Englifh, as near as
I could compute. He had pafture and arable,
as
HOLLAND. 197
as well as marfh and fandy wafte in his
farm, and alfo another piece of land, of large
extent, partly belonging to him. I could
not clearly comprehend his meaning, but
mould apprehend, that it is the fame, in fact,
as an Engiifh common, the right of which is
in feveral farmers, but no cottagers. As we
walked over a piece of poor, fandy ground, I
alked him, if he could not improve that foil ;
he replied, it was already very valuable to
him, for the fallow year yielded him, with-
out any tillage, a great crop of fern. This I
thought was very ftrange hufbandry, as I had
ufually heard that plant reprefentedin England
as a pernicious weed; but he explained himfelf
by faying, that the fern ferved him in the
moft ample manner for bedding his cattle in
their winter ftalls. He obferved, that this
piece of fandy land yielded a very large quan-
tity of manure by this means for his better
lands, and, at the fame time, that his cattle
were better bedded than with ftrawonly that
they wafted in feeding. This made me en-
quire of him, if he always kept his cattle in
houfes in the winter. The old man feemed
iurprized at this queftion, and aiked me,
where I fuppofed he kept them. I told him,
that in England, all our farmers keep their
cattle in the rields, during winter, as well as
O 3 fummer*
198 TRAVELS THROUGH
fummer. This he could not well compre-
hend. He informed me, that all the cattle
of this country, old and young, and of all
forts, were regularly kept in houfe through
the winter. I afked him, if this did not
prove a very expeniive management. He re-
plied, no : but if it was more expenfive, it
would be abfolutely neceffary ; firft, for the
good of the cattle ; as they would, he aflerted,
be pinched fo with the frofts in winter, that
twice the common quantities of food would
be infufficient to keep them in heart ; and
iuch beafts, as were very tender, he thought,
would not outlive a winter in the fields.
But, fays the old man, where is your dung
railed, if the cattle in England are in the
fields all winter ? This was a quefKon, the
propriety of which {truck me, and for which
I was not prepared with an anfwer ; and the
farmer, feeing, I fuppofe, my ip-norance,
went on : by keeping our cattle houfed, we
not only preferve them in good health, but alio
raiie a large quantity of manure, wherewith
we improve thofe fields that will probably
pay the beft for it. It is very common, laid
he, to feed the cattle with hay, turnips, and
winter-cabbages, and to bed them at the fame
time with ftraw ; but thofe among us, who
Jiave fern on our lands, give the ftraw to ouf
cattle
HOLLAND. 199
cattle of inferior value, and bed all forts with
fern , which we find an improvement of the moffc
valuable kind ; for it enables us to fubfHtute
ftraw as food for much of our frock, infiead
of hay. Another material point is the value
of the dung; we find, from experience, that
fern makes better manure than ftraw ; inio-
much that two loads of dung, made with
fern, is equal in value to three made with
ftraw. Fern manure will laft much longer
in the foil than that of ftraw. I conlidered
all this information concerning fern as very
valuable ; for I well remember, that in En-
gland, a great deal of fern grows on verv
extenfive commons, and that no ufe is made
of it ; it is left to rot in the commons and
warrens, as if impoilible to be turned to anv
good ufe ; but, I am afraid, that if the facts*
which have been urged to me by this Dutch
hufbandman, were itated ever ib clearly to
our Englim farmers, they would make no,
fort of imprefiion on them, but would dik
dain to take any fuch leflbn.
This very intelligent farmer ami red me,
that he was the more attentive to this appli-
cation of his fern, becaufe he found that the
goodnefs of his crops depended entirely on
the quantities of inch manure ulcd. lie
laid, he fhould not be able to make any profit,
O 4- bv
< Hi.'
zpm T R A V E L S T II ROUGH
lis firm, if he neglected the article of
railing as much dung as p le in the win-
ter. He uied not only his fern for this pur-
pofe, but mr.de great uie of a very marfhy
bit cf land he had, which was (6 wet that
no cat tie could get to it, except for about
two months in the height of fummer ; this
piece yields him a vair cropof ruihes and flags,
to the amount of federal waggon loads. He
applies them to the fame uie as his fern, that
is, for bedding bis cattle, and finds an equal
ntage in it. Another circumilance he
informed me of, and which I think oiay be
•ufeful to mention, is a method he has in the
management of his dung ; at the lame time
that he beds his cattle with fern or rulhes,
he ftrews land among them, in pretty large
quantities : what the purpefe of this was, I
could not conceive, till he explained it. It
is for encreafmg the quantity of manure, and
alio the quality of it, by abiorbing all the
urine ; and he faid, that it was not or the
prejudice to the cattle. I muft own
3 {truck me ; I had never heard of
limilar one in England, but yet, it
..t be there imitated with profit. 1 he
i jment of his (keep is ex a on the
• : . of folding them in the
is the cuftom tu L.;ha.a, he, all
wintei
HOLLAND. 201 '
winter long, forms his fold adjoining to his
barn, and litters them in the fame manner
as his cows.
The old man, obferving me very attentive
to his converfation, extended his walk to
mew me his crops, which feemed to be very-
good ; he had fields of moil forts of common
grain, and one or two of buck wheat, which
he laid was very profitable. The only pe-
culiar one, not known in the fields of Eng-
land, was carrots ; he had a long field of
them, in which he had a large parcel of wo-
men and children weeding. This, he faid,
was the moft profitable crop on his farm.
Night coming on, we returned to his houfe,
where his wife and daughter had been pre-
paring fupper ; it was common fare, but
good of the fort, and I eat it with the greater
pleafure, as I obferved that the cleanlinefs of
the houfe was truly Dutch. I gave my man
orders to take care that the chaife was well
mended early in the morning, and retired to
reft in a clean bed, much pleafed with my
reception. I took an early breakfaft before
my departure, and gave my worthy friend a
purfe of florins with more pleafure than I
had a long time parted witb money. He
was extremely thankful, and we pufhed on
for Coevorden, to my no imall fatisf action in
efcaping
zzz T R A V E L 5 THRO U G H
efcaping the inn at Sleen. The c
we travelled through is indifferent, not
rich, and much marfli land ; we did not ar-
at Coevorden till at noon of the nth.
It is lituated in a lew marih, which renders
it, v rtirications, a place of m
ftrength, being efteemed one of the I
pmces. In the war of 1672.
it proved ib, for the Bimop of Muni
bimielf mailer of it, decided the
campaign. It is not otherwiie a place of
any n te : there is a manufacture of thread
in it. which employs many poor woi
and chSdren.
From Coevorden I agreed for another
chaife to carry me to Zwoll, the diftance 35
miles. Being forced to come again into the
terms of lving on the road, though I could
find I was not to expect good accommoda-
5. I breakfafted at Hardenburgbs, and
reached Ommen in the afternoon ; where I
was agreeably ci tnted by finding a very
:nt inn. The town minds pkafantly on
a river. Ah rhis line of count, y :
and fome of it poor ; but the road run
higher and better grounds. It is not, upon the
ley an agreeable country, though,
left Winichooten, it varies from any other I
had j-,:. in Holland. On the 13th in the
niornj g
HOLLAND. 203
morning I got to Zwoll, which is a confider-
able place ; it lies between two rivers, and
has a branch that runs through the town.
It is well built, the ftreets regular, and there
are feveral public edifices, that will catch the
attention of a ftranger. The fortifications
are the greatefc omoment to it, from being-
planted regularly. From Zwoll I took a re-
gular poll: chaife to Deventer, the diftance
twelve miles. This is a rich country, and
very well kept, but there are fome maim
lands and fandy tracks within fight at feveral
places. I went to the Crown inn, where I
met with pretty good accomdation, but
dear. Here is a tolerable appearance of
trade, though nothing in comparifon of what
it once polfeffed when a Hanle Town.
There are many people of fortune make it
their reiidence, which renders the town
chearful, and the more agreeable to ftrangers;
but the public buildings have nothing in
them deferving notice, though Grangers are
fhewn an uncommon old tower of great an-
tiquity, the walls of which are near twenty
feet thick ; a notable fortification before that
cieftructive compound with falt-petre was in-
vented.
The next morning I went to Zutphen,
which is eight miles further. The country
is
2C4 T R A VE1S T K R <
ft indifferent; O.: fome rich, fandv
loams they have tobac
an unuliial product of bui in Europe,
t I had ac .1 fi :>pped to
w it. They dig their lands into three
feet ridges, : the crop in row?. T
it requires vciy rich lend, and th
does much miichief to all the country where
cult: it robs all other lands of m re-
time exhaufte the toil
in a very extraordinary degree. Thej
not reckon it, theie circumftances confidered,
more profitable, or but little io, than com-
mon he. . Zutphen is fituated in the
midit. of drained fens, but is neverthe
oned by the inhabitants to have a
"\vholelbme air. It is a large and well I
, and lirongly fortified ; the public
Idings are handlome, and delerve not
particularly a bridge over the river E.
old church is a fine building, and
. the t in Hci'
have lam,
but ma: .are very
: jut To ih corporation
r vhich are g
This h Zutphen dei ice.
The fount* i fromZut toArh-
heim, by Doefburgh, is through :brts
of
HOLLAND. 2r-
of lands, but ibme of them very indifferent.
I was informed, that moil of the county of
Zutphen, and a great part of Guelderland,
coniiiled in general either of marfhes, heaths,
or but half improved lands, which much fur-
prized me ; for I had conceived, that the
United Provinces were fo thicklv inhabited,
that almofl every ipot was richly cultivated ;
but the cale is, the people are very unequally
diflributed ; the province of Holland is full
of cities and towns, and every inch cultivat-
ed, but thefe parts, being much more out of
the way of trade, are not fo thronged with
people. Arnheim is a very fine city, extremely
well built, with feveral beautiful flreets. It
is the reiidence of many perfons of fortune
and diflin&ion, who fupport themfelves
without the afliilance of trade. The place
is very lively, having a greater air of chear-
fulnefs and eafe than moil I had been in
of late. My quarters were at the Peacock
inn, which is kept by a Frenchman, who has
a fmattering of Engliih. I was treated well
here, and lerved with a table that almoil
deferves the epithet of elegant, and yet the
expence was not extravagant. From this
place I made an excurfion to fee Loo, the fa-
mous favourite feat of King William. The
whole is a vile country, ail heaths and fo-
• reils,
2oS TRAVELS THROUGH
re lis, and in the midfr. of which {lands the
palace. It contains nothing that figure?
much to an Englishman, who has viewed
the line buildings in his own country. The
gardens are what the Dutch moll admire ;
but thefe are quite in the old uile, with wa-
ter-works, batons, and regular cafcades ; but
the fhady walks they mew you with lb me
oltentation, and they are indeed very well
planted, and the trees large, but all is dipt
and regular. Rolendall is in the lame taile*
but the building highly ornamented. Ano-
ther excurfion I made was to Nimeguen, on
the canal which is cut itrait between thefe
cities, at their joint expence. It is a large
and considerable city, ftrongly fortified, be-
ing coniidered as one of the keys of the
United Provinces, and is the capital of that
of Guelderland. It is very populous, hav-
ing ieveral manufactures that are fiourifhing,-
Thereare ten churches in it. St. Stephen's
the principal, in which is a very fine monu-
ment of Catharine of Bourbon, wife to A-
dolph VII. Duke of Guelder. The Stadt-
houfe is a coniiderable edifice, but has no-
thing elegant in it. From the old caftle
there is a very beautiful profpecl of the ad-
jacent country. This place is much noted
for die treaty of peace between the French
and
HOLLAND. *o7
and the allies in 1678, of which Sir Wil-
Temple has left fo excellent an account.
Early on the 17th I left Arnheim, on my
way to Utrecht. It is two and thirty miles,
through an extreme pleafant, and much of it
a rich country, abounding with feats and
villas. It is well peopled, and feems rich.
Utrecht is one of the firft cities in the United
Provinces ; it is fpacious, and very populous,
and excellently fituated in a beautiful coun-
try. The chief ftreets, which are regular
and well built, are cut through with canals:
the new Gratch and the Vaert run throurh
the whole city, having no lefs than five and
thirty bridges over them. The edifices on
the former would do credit to any city in
Europe. The fquare is fpacious, and is the
centre of feveral regular ftreets, that cut one
another at right angles. Utrecht is longer
than the Hague, and next to it, is the prin-
cipal refidence of the nobility, and all polite
perfbns who live on their private fortune ;
bclides which advantages, it is the capital of
the province of the fame name, and where
the fbvereign courts are held. The cathe-
dral is in ruins, nor is there any other public
buildings that deferve notice. The fteeple
of this cathedral is however one of thehigheit
in Holland, and from it I had the fatisfactioa
of
2o8 TRAVELS THR'OUGH
of viewing an amazing profpecl over Five of
the Seven Provinces, and a great way further
towards Cleves in Germany. They mewed
me above fifty walled towns in the neigh-
bourhood, none of them more than a day's
journey from this city. Utrecht is the feat
of aflourifliing univerfity, in which are great
numbers of ftudents from various parts, par-
ticularly from Germany and the North of
Europe. One of the moft agreeable fpecla-
cles here, is, what they call their Mall, from
that of St. James's- park. It is near three
quarters of a mile in length, with four large
parallel walks with rows of trees : here the
belt, company in Utrecht parade backwards
and forwards, efpecially on Sunday evenings
in fummer. The environs of the city are
perfeftly agreeable, being full of gardens,
orchards, canals, and walks ; but the foil is
too fandy for the rich verdure of meadows,
and therefore there are arable fields very near
the city.
I took my leave of Utrecht on the 20th,
and went by the treckfchuyt to Vyann,
in my way to Boifleduc. This is a little
town of an agreeable appearance, which does
not belong to Holland, but to the Counts of
Brederode. The air is reckoned remarkably
clear and fine ; but this may be occafioned
by
HOLLAND. io9
by many people retiring here under pretence
of the air, but really from very different mo-
tives. It is very troublefome to the Dutch.
The country is mod: of it fandy. Gorcum
is the next ftage, and is fituated on the river
Waal ; it is pretty flrongly fortified. They
are famous here for frem water flfh ; I had as
fine tench for my dinner a6 ever I faw, and
the price is moderate. From hence it is 20
miles to Boifleduc, through Worcum and
Huefden, both which places are, fortified.
The country is all indifferent ; but even the
worft foils, and the molt, uninterefting na-
tural views, are rendered pleafing by the
great fpirit of neatnefs and regularity which
is every where found*
Boifleduc is one of the grand frontiers of
Holland, being extremely well fortified by-
art, and better ftill by nature. It is fituated
on ariiing ground, in the midft of an extent-
five marlh, through whickthere would be no
poffibility of approaching it, were there not
caufeways made, and thefe are ftrongly for-
tified by redoubts. The town is five miles
iq circumference, being on the confluence of
the three rivers, Domel, Aa, and Drefe ; and
its ditches are nlled by their waters, which
contribute much to the ftrength of the
place. Theie rivers form feveral very fine
Vol. I. P canals,
*id T ft a v Els through
canals, which run through the heart of the
city : over thefe there are titty ftone bridges.
Ten good ftreets center in the principal
iquare, which has a fine effect ; but this
iquare is iurrounded by timber buildings,
which are mean. As to public buildings,
the church of St. John is a very noble one ;
hut the clock, which they ihew with ffi
often tation, is not ib greatly ftriking. The
Stadthoufe is a handlome edifice, railed on
the plan (but much imaller) of that at Am-
fterdam. Here are ieveral very flourifhing
manufactures , particularly in the linen and
woollen way ; and fome of knives and other
hardware, and alio of needles. I made en-
quiries into the ftate of thefe fabrics, and the
report I had was more favourable to them
than ufual ; moft of them being in a iuccefs-
ful ilate. The linen trade is not io flourish-
ing as formerly, but, I believe, even that has
310 reafon to complain. The country, for
feme miles to the South Eaft of this town,
lias many extenfive tracks of wafte land,
•:h would well anlwer cultivation : but
the inhabitants d.o not in general leern much
attentive to inch buiinefs, notwithstanding
the luccefs of certain individuals, who have
attempted it. Araon git thefe, there is a
Captain Rey, f whole great undertakings I
\:d
HOLLAND.
211
had read in two or three books lately pub-
limed in Holland. This gentleman is fet-
tled at Tillebourg, twelve miles from Boifle-
duc. I took a journey thither, purpofely to
view his improvements : the hiftory of which
is this. In the neighbourhood of that town
are very exteniive heaths, that are common,
the appearance of them not at all inviting,
and the value to the public contemptible.
M. Rey, of the regiment of Pepin, petitioned
the States of Boiileduc for a grant of a part of
theie heaths, engaging at the fame time to cul-
tivate them. His requefr. was refufed, from
that little fpirit of raifing difficulties, which
.is fo oiten found to arm againit. thofe who ever
purpofe any novelties. A year elapfed after
this refufal, when, by lome means or other,
the knowledge of this affair was lb ipread,
that it came to be debated in the States Ge-
neral ; where a member, fenfible and worthy,
I doubt not, propofed, that the Captain's pe-
tition mould be complied with, as an objec:
that tended evidently to the public good. It
was at once agreed to, and Captain, Rev put
in pofleilion of the lands he had deiired.
It is a miftake in feveral writers to far,
that this gentleman executed all his works
merely with his pay as a Captain ; for I had
it from his own mouth, that he began with a
P a fmall
212 TRAVELS THROUGH
fmall private fortune, which was of gr^a^
life to him, more in gaining him credit for
tire fums he wanted to borrow, than in the
application of that particular amount. This
fortune, however, was but inconfiderable.
Upon my arrival at this gentleman's farm,
I ordered my fervant to inform him, that I
was an Englifh gentleman on my travels,
and having heard much of his great improve-
ments, was come from Boifleduc purpofely to
defire permiffion to fee them. The Captain
came himfelf to my chaife, and very politely
deiired me to alight, telling me that he
would fhew me what little matters he had
done with the greateft. pleafure, and imme-
diately conducted me to his houfe. It was
nbout one o'clock ; the Captain faid, he
fhould dine prefently, and m the interim de-
fired permhTion to mew me his chateau, and
his farming offices.
All thefe, he informed me, he had built by
degrees, for that not a ftone was to be feen
before he began his works. The houfe is
fmall, but fubftantial, confuting of a little
paflage in the center, and a parlour on each
fide ; one is the common room, and the other
for company ; behind thefe is a kitchen, and
an adjoining room for his work people, with
fome other conveniencies ; wid orer all four
bed-
HOLLAND. 213
Bed-chambers. He has a large barn, two
{tables, three houies for cows, and iome other
inferior offices, lurrounding a lquare court
near the houle. When he had fhewed me
thele buildings, he returned to dinner ; a
flight but genteel repair, provided, not expen-
sive, but frugal. The Captain is. a man of
tenfe, and has leen enough of the world to
avoid that very falfe politenels of apologies.
I give you, Sir, laid he, addrelilng himfclf to
me, good bread, good beer, good wine, and
good cheefe ; as to all the reft, J attend no
further. This is certainly the fenfible line
of life ; a man may always have thefe in frore,
io as not to be put to a nonplus if any ilran-*
ger calls upon him,. I have heard this lan-
guage more than once in England, but never
till now beheld the conduct really exiiting,
end reduced to practice. The conversation
turned upon agriculture, and the Captain's
improvements. " When I came here, Sir,
faid he, I found all an open common, co-
vered with bufhes, fern, and other trumpery t
without one inclofure, or a tingle advantage
that I could apply to ufe. I fir it erected one
half of this houle, in which I refided while
all the other works were going on, I began
with a pair of hories and a yoke of oxen,
with which I broke up a field of ten acres.
P 3 I could
2i4 travels' through
I could have managed a larger undertaken
but the fences were not completed, for I
have ever made it a rule of conduct, to indole
completely the piece of land I defigiied to
improve. I have obferved fome waite lands
in France, attempted to be improved, with-
out attending to this rule, but never with
fuccefs. My crops upon my firfr. inclofure
were good, and gave me courage to proceed
with fpirit in my undertaking. I mould
have been better able to encounter the dif-
ficulties I met with, had I been more prac-
tifed in hufbandry ; but for want of expe-
rience, I made blunders at the very begin-
ning of my undertaking, for I was too'eager
after profit in lowing corn, whereas the fir ft
buiinefs ought to have been the railing winter
food for cattle ; and this, faid he, ought to
be the great object in all beginnings." I did
not comprehend this reafoning, as it appeared
to me, that raifing what would buy food for
cattle, was in effect raifmg that food ; how-
ever, as M. Rev continued his obfervations,
I did not interrupt him for an explanation.
" The year following I enclofed two fields,
each of ten acres, which I was forced to grub
up, to bring the land into order for the
plough to work in. This was a great and
an expeniive work ; and I made it the more
f0,
HOLLAND. z\£
fo, from trying an experiment in cutting
the furface of a part for burning it, from the
practice of a French nobleman, who has
publifhed a work on improvements of wafte
land. The foil alfo being fandy, I was much
troubled in making; the fences ; mv method
was to cut a ditch, and plant a live hedge of
hornbeam on the bank, which, you will fee,
has at lait auiwered perfectly well ; but the
expence of defending it, while young, with
the rubbifh that was cut from the heath, I
found coniiderable. I purchafed this year
three cows, and began to think myfelf a
coniiderable farmer. In this manner, Sir, I
continued a gradual increaie of cultivate^!
land for five years, making alio occafional
additions to my live ltock, to my fervants,
and alfo to my buildings ; and it pleafed God,
to profper my undertaking, that 1 then found
but little difficulty in getting credit for
twentv thoufand florins, which enabled me
to enlarge greatly my undertakings. The
vear following, I borrowed as much more,
and the expenditure of that fum, with the
annual one of my own favings, brought my
works in fuch forwardnefs, that from that
time I have had, not only an increafing, but
a profitable farm. I have been for fome time
paving off gradually thofe incumbrances, and
'P i (hall
«i6 TRAVELS THROUGH
fhall foon be perfectly free on that head. A
little experience pointed out my firft errors,
and the way to avoid them. I made it a
point to increafe my cattle, as fail as I was
able, and could do that only by bringing my
lands to bear grafs. The common meadows
require a rich foil, I therefore adopted the
artificial ones. I tried Lucerne, fe^parcette,
clover red and white, fpurry, &c. In Lu-
cerne, I have never done any thing, except
in one fmall piece of rich land, that had been
manured in a more ample manner than I
could poffibly afford, if I had extended the
culture of it : the great red clover and fpurry
have been, my principal friends ; for I may
truly fay, I have had more aliiftance from
them, than from any other branches of my
cultivation. Turnips and carrots I havn
principally depended on for the winter fubr
fiftence of rpy cattle j and I find, that they
prepare well for the grafles. By adhereing
to the modes which I have found moft adr
vantageous, I have no doubt of continuing
to increafe my profit. Noj mould I forgef
to obferve to you, Sir, that I have found no
flight aliiftance in my undertakings from a
lettle fettlement I have on my land, of five
"Palatine families, by whofe means, at the
fame time that I have been a good friend tp
them,
HOLLAND. %vj
them, they have done much in returning it ;
fo that we are truly the better for each other/*
I here remarked to him that I mould fuppofe,
the fuccefs of fuch undertakings, on what*
ever fcale they are carried on, mull: depend
very much on peopling the waftes, defigned
to be improved ; for without plenty of
hands, how are improvements to be carrie4
on ? *' Very true, he replied, and I am con-
vinced frorn my own experience, that no-
thing would anfwer fo well to their High
Mighlinefles, as the fettling poor German
families on the numerous and extenhVe
■waftes which are in the provinces of Zut-
phen, Guelderland, Breda, and Overyflel, for
they would prefently make them well cul-
tivated provinces ; but improvements of thefe
wafles mull: be made by private perfbns, for
fuch cannot well profper in the hands of the
public."
The Captain mewed me the principal
parts of his farm which lye very agreeably
around his houle ; it is a very pleaiing one to
view, for the fences are new made, regular,
and kept in excellent order. The crops, I
obferyed, were all free from weeds, and every
field appeared in good condition. What a
practical farmer would pronounce on them,
J know not, but I own, M. Rey appears tp
m«
3it TRAVELS THROUGH
me to be an excellent hnfbandman. He v \
li table, for he iniiited on my
itaving ail night, which I complied with,
as I thought his conversation was imcom-
monlv fenrible and inftructive. I could not
k:.ve him without reflecting oil the great
thi:i:. " hich may be executed by the force
of induftrv and perfeverance. Captain Rev's
c_.:.te, on the waftes of Tiilebourg, is a new
creation ; . s are fupported by
that land, which before did not yield enough
to keep a iheep. Tins is by no meaas to be
.red linglv as a private acquisition, the
State remaps probably more profit from it than
the in -I ; for increafmg the value of
the earth's products, is encreafing the na-
tional wealth : and what acquilition can be
more valuable than that of new7 induftrious
fbbjdEbs : The States of the country, who
rejected M. Rey's petition, muff now be
convinced of the practicability and the profit
i F improving theie waftes, and the States
General have plainly fhewn their fagacity in
errantmg: it. But what is very ailonifhir.z,
right example has had fcarcely any ef-
. except one or two inilances of im-
provement which I heard ot, but in fuch a
confuh '-:.-. r, that I c6\ make
out wlrther i\ hiclolures.
Is.
H Q L -L A N T>. 2ty
Ts it not amazing, that M. Rey's great fuc-
eels, (hnuld have no followers ? I apprehend,-
that gentlemen, in a fimilar ftate, are afraid
of attempting fuch undertakings, left they
mould either be lofers by them, or perfect.
flaves to the work ; and indeed while perlbns
are ignorant, it mult require a certain enthu-
iiafm in the mind to carry a man through all
oppoling difficulties, till fuccefs hath fecured
and crowned his willies.
Tillebourg, though out of the direct roacf
to Breda from Boifleduc, was now my neareir
way to it, I therefore took my, leave of the
Captain, thanking him very fincerely for his
hofpitality, and made the bell: of my way to
Breda the 24th. The road leads moftly
through uncultivated heaths, that require
fuch ipirits as M. Rey's to improve, and
would doubtlefs repay their attention equally
as well. Breda deferves the traveller's atten-
tion. It is one of the ftrongeft towns in
Holland ; the fortifications are very regular,
and kept in excellent repair ; the fituation of
the place is low, for the fea can be let into
the ditches, and from thence over much of
the country, which muff render an army's
accefs to it very difficult. The whole barony
and town belongs to the Prince of Orange*
who is the Sovereign, and has a modern built
caitle
Gtz TRAVELS THROUGH
caftle for his refidence when here, with gar-
dens, and a fmaall park. It is a large place,
populous, and well built. From Breda I
went the 25th to Bergenopzoom, which is
twenty miles, through amuch richer count rv*
This city is large, and the ftreets regular ;
the church and the palace were fine build-
ings before the liege in 1747. The market
place is very large and handibme, but the
fortifications arc the principal objecls in it.
The Duke's of Parma and Spinola, both found
them too ftrong for all their power, which
gave it the title of the Virgin fortrefs, and
impregnable ; for as luch it was reckoned
before Marfhal Lowendahl came before it.
It {lands in the midfl of marines ; io that
every advantage of fituation is united with
thofe of Cohorn, as he was long employed to
construct whatever works about it he thought
neceffary for making it as itrong as poiliblet
A canal keeps open a communication with
the lea ; and to defend this canal, there are
redoubts, forts, palifadoes, &c. without
number, and a village flrongly fortified in
the midft. In a word, nothing was ipare4
to fecure to it its pretences to being impreg-
nable ; and it is the general opinion in Hol-
land, that it really is lb ; and that the French
wl . d
HOLLAND. 221
would never have taken it with their cannon,
\mlefs they had loaded them with golden
balls.
Having dined, and finished my view of
Bergem, I took boat for Goes, in the ifland
of South Beveland, in the province of Zea-
land, where I put up at the Golden Lion,
which is but an indifferent inn, and the peo-
ple not very ciyil,. The next morn, I made
an excursion to view the ifland, which
is about fifteen miles long, and half as broad.
The land all lies low, and is defended from
the lea by high banks. The foil is extremely
rich, but not all applied to pafturage. I faw
much corn, which appeared to be very fine
and clean ; and al(b fome large fields of
madder, which is a particular article of cul-
ture in this country, which they follow very
affiduoufly, and from whence madder is called
Zealand madder. It grows on flat lands,
formed into regular oblongs by fmall
trenches, and in rows about a foot afimder ;
it is a ftraggling odd plant ; yet I remarked,
that they keep it very clean, by weeding
and hoeing, for I could fcarcely fee a fingi.e
weed in a large field. They informed me,
that it is three years in the ground, uniefs the
growth
|| 2 T R A V E L S THROU G H
growth is extraordinary, and in iuch cafe
two are iufficient ; the valuable part is the
root, which, when dried, makes a very fine
dye : they eileem it more profitable than any
other article of huibandry, but are forced to
pick their land for it, as it will iucceed only
0:1 certain foils : the great point is to find
pieces dry enough for it, and at the fame
time extremely fertile, for no land can be too
rich for it. Great quantities of madder are
exported from moil: parts of Zealand to Lon-
don, as the growth does not iucceed in Eng-
land, notwithftanding all the endeavours
that have been ufed to raile it.
From Goes, I went by water to Mid-
dleburgh, which is the capital, not only of
the iiland of Walcheren, but alio of all Zea-
land. It is one of the moll: co-fderable
cities in the United Provinces, being very
larp-e and well built ; the ftreets are bread,
o
regular, and very well paved ; the public
edifices itriking, and fome of them magni-
ficent. Here arc twenty churches, among
which the new church figures molt ; it has a
•me cupola, and great merit in
the architecture. Merchant veliels come
into the center of the city, by means of a
canal from the lea ; fe that Middleburgh en-
joys a very confidcrabie commei'ce, particu-
larly
HOLLAND. e^
larlv in Spanifh and French wines, which
are reckoned the ftaple of the place. I made
an excurfion through the principal part of
the ifland, which was not a difagreeable em**
ployment for a day. It is a rich, low, flat
country, applied to railing both corn and
pafture ; and it abounds alfo with madder ;
but they feem to plant it in a different man-
from what they do in Bevel and. I made
fome enquiries into culture here, as I had
done there ; and found that they reckon that
a common crop from an Englifh acre, will
produce from three to four hundred florins in
value, if it is in the ground three years ; this
is about thirty or forty pounds ; but then the
expences of the management run very high,
and they manufacture it, for which feveral
confiderable buildings are neceflary, before
it is marketable. But notwithllandinor thefe
circumflances, they efteem it a more pro-
fitable article than either corn or grafs.
From Middleburgh, Ifetout on the 27th for
Bruges, through Dutch Flanders ; the part I
travelled, was not equally fertile in appear-
ance, nor fo agreeable as I had been given
by the books to underftand, but towards the
Auftrian Province it improves greatly. And
here, as I conclude my journey through the
dominions
224 TRAVELS THROUGH
dominions of the States General, it will be
neceflary to make fome obfervations*, and
give a general review of feveral particulars
concerning the Dutch, not fuffickntly ex^
plained in the preceding chapters*
CHAP.
HOLLAND. 225
CHAP. VIII.
Of the Mamifatlures of Holland.
IT is not only that general trade of buy-
ing and felling, which has enriched to
ib great a degree this country, but it is fuller
of manufactures than any other in Europe.
The Dutch have numerous fabrics, which
they work up from the produces of all their
neighbours, and of all parts of the world ;
thele they vend in their general trade ; and
and this traffic is one of the principal pillars
of their ftate. I have, in various pafiages, in
the preceding accounts, given the reiiilt of
my enquiries on this head, at the manufac-
turing towns through which I pafied ; but
there remains iome general remarks to be
laid before the reader, in order that he may
have the better idea of the prefent Irate of
the Dutch manufactures : and this I fliall do
by taking fome extracts from a very good
account of them, which has been lately pub*
limed in Holland, and which has not ap-
peared in the Englifh language.
Vol. I. Q^ " Holland
2z& f R A V E L S THROUGH
" Holland has been the feat of manufac-
tures without doing any thing actively to
attract them. Workmen from every coun-
try, moleited in their peribns, their eftates,
or their religion, have taken refuge here,
with their abilities and their induftry ; this
induftry has fuftained them in a ftate greatly
flourifhing, as long as the low price of la-
bour would allow a profit fufficiently great
in the lale of their fabrics. In the lafl age,
it is certain, that there was no place compa-
rable to Holland, for numbers of flourifhing
manufactures. In the principal cities of the
province of Holland, were found the fineft
and richeft fabrics of all forts, of fluffs, of
filk, in every variation of gold, iilver, &c.
of wool, and linens of all forts, colours, and
dies, the fineft and moil rare ; ribbons and
laces of gold, iilver, and iilk, velvets, gauzes
flowered and plain, tapeftries, leathers gilt,
&c. All theie manufactures exifl at prefent,
but with leis eclat than formerly : they are,
elpecially iu thole of wool, iilk, gold, and
iilver, rivalled by the competition of Genoa,
Venice, France, and England. They make
at Amfterdam, gold and filver fturfs, da-
maiks, brocades, taiteties, mohairs, fhal-
loons, velvets, and plumes. They imitate
at Haerlem, many of the different kinds
aud
HOLLAND. 227
and defigns of fluffs at Lyons ; for they have
never poflefl'ed, in thefe manufactures, the
art of deiigning, which emhelliihes and en-
riches annually thofe of Tours, and princi-
pally thofe of Lyons, by a great variety, and
by the graces of tafte and novelty. Thefe
manufactures, and thofe of woollen fluffs, at
Ley den and Utrecht, which have for feme
time enriched their exportation, had not
their birth in Holland, but were brought
there by refugees. A general toleration,
and a certain afylum, have enriched Hol-
land with the induftry of other nations, and
efpecially with that of the French ; and the
prodigious extent of the Dutch commerce,
joined to their intelligence and refined ceco-
nomy, have given to the manufactures of
thefe refugees, a reputation which has in-
fured a great fale of all the productions of
their induftry, and from thence brought
them continually nearer to perfection. This
reputation has been fuch, that it has not
been uncommon for the velvets manufac-
tured at Milan, to be fent to Holland, and
from thence re-exported to Milan, for the
Holland velvet ; to which, belides the ex-
pence of freight and commifhon, this repu-
tation alone would add a new value.
Q 2 M The
*z* TRAVELS THROUGH
" The fluffs of Holland have fupported far
a long time the competition of thoie of Ly-
ons, and above all of thoie of Paris, in fpite
of the great variety, tafte, and the beauties
of delign, in the fabrics of Lyons, which
have for a long time decided the iuperiority
in all manufactures of filk. The filk ftuiis
of Holland have been lough: for in France
for a great number of years, on accou it of
their iblidity, and efpecially by thofe who
do not change with the mode. For in this
atticle, fuch has been the extravagance of
the fafhion, that it every year receives im-
perious dictates from the fabrics of Lyons,
by introducing new tafte and new defigns.
" Manufactures have refifted for a long time
in Holland, the excefiive abundance of the
currency, which commerce has, without
ceafing, accumulated, and which has necef-
i'arily become the fcourge of their manufac-
tures, particularly of thoie which require
the mofi labour and induftry, or which are
not fupported by a great internal confu
tion, as the filk fluffs. The fobriety of
Dutch, and that of the French, become the
fame in Holland ; and the (mall profits,
with which the Dutch merchants are con-
tented, have fuftained for a long time thole
manufactures in a flouriihing ftate. But the
dearneis
HOLLAND. 229
tfeamefs of labour, occafioned by the abun-
dance of money, and the taxes upon houfes,
and upon all the neceflaries of life, has
much hurt their manufactures, and even
tends towards their destruction. There re-
mains however, fbme fmall filk fabrics at
Haerlem, which the interior conlumptioii
maintains ; but which are weakly animated,
from the competition of the limilar manu-
factures of France, and which it is very dif-
ficult for the republic to prevent the entry
of. The other wrought fluffs richer, from
a more complicated labour, have in many
places flopped, even for the home confump-
tion, in favour of thofe of France ; and
which is owing more to the cheapnefs of the
latter, than to Superiority of tafle, defign, or
exaclnefs in the execution of them.
" Commerce has rendered lace important,'
and induflry has perfected the art of makino-
it. It is become the ornament, and the dii-
play of riches, after having been one of the
iigns of poverty : neverthelefs, mew alone
would not iupport the cuftom, but there is a
kind of oeconomy extended to laced cloths.
The luxurious expence is more confiderable
in thofe that are plain. The French, who
know well how to be induflrious, and ta
render their induflry of value, have given to
Q^3 their
230 TRAVELS THROUGH
their lace manufactures all the advantages of
the greateft reputation, particularly for
lightnefs, brilliancy, defign, and tafte, Paris
believes herfelf to be unrivalled in her gold
laces, and Lyons in thofe of filver. The
city of Amfterdam has endeavoured to par-
take of thefe advantages,
" It it generally agreed, that it is the thread
of the filver of Lyons, which gives the lace
the greatefr. whitenefs and brilliancy : thev
attribute this fuperior quality of their thread
over that of Paris and Amfierdam, to tho
waters of the Rhine, by which the workmen
can only give a blueifh white ; and they
pretend, that this is the reafon which gives
to Lyons the excluiive privilege of trading
in the fineft filver thread. It is not the fame
with that of gold. That of Paris and Am-
fterdam have different qualities : the colour
of the Paris gold is more folid ; that of Am-
sterdam has more of the vermillion, more
eclat ; and the Paris gold being weightier, is
dearer than that of Amfierdam, and, in fine,
has eftablifhed her lace at a higher price,
without deferving to be more valued, all
other things being equal. The lace fabrics,
which are at preient very few in number,
draw their gold thread from Amfierdam,
#nd their filvex from Lyons ; but their laces
can
HOLLAND. 231
can hardly fupport the competition with
thofe of France. It is yet, neverthelefs, a
branch of foreign commerce, particularly
the gold thread of Amfterdam.
" The cloth manufactures of Levden and
Utrecht, fupport their reputation : the fuper-
fines are as good and as fine as thole in fo-
reign manufactures, and the blacks of
Utrecht are always fuperior ; the camlets
of Levden equal thofe of Bruflels. There
are of this fort two manufactures united,.
The ratteens preferve alfo their antient repu-
tation ; but the dearnefs of theie manufac-
tures reduces them entirelv to the home
confumption. There is a difference between
thefe fabrics and thofe of France, of the
countries of Limburg, Verviers, Aix la
Chapelle, and Juliers, of nine or ten per
cent, which is in foreign markets an im-
menfe diladvantage to the manufactures of
Holland ; this difadvantage to them is in,
common with thofe of England in the lame
]dnds.
" The neceflities of commerce have intro-
duced among all maritime nations manu-
factures of cordage, and it is without doubt
one of the mofr antient in Holland. Riga,
Koningiburgh, Memel, and St. Peteriburgh*
furniih almoft all nations ; and it is more in
Q 4 this
23? TRAVELS THROUGH
this cordage, that the Dutch trade with the
Southern nations, than in their own manu-
factures, which can iearcely furnifh the im-
menfe confumption of their own marine.
" The manufactures of linens in the pro-
vinces of Groningen, Frizeland, and Over-
yffel, are always equally iupported. The
fabrics of France, Flanders, and Germany,
make none that even approaches them. The
linens which are called Dutch, are diftin-
guiihed as much by the whitenefs, the fine-
nefs, the grain, the equality, and the good-
nefs, as by being mealured by the ell, or the
manner of folding ; the moft famous whiten-
ing grounds in Europe are at Haerlem ;
they rive to their linens the luftre and fine
white that diiiinguiihes them ; they alfb
enable the Dutch merchants to appropriate
to themf elves foreign manufactures, which
they buy in Weitphr.lia, in the coi ntry of
Juliers, in Flanders, and in Brabs.it, and
which being whitened at Haerlem. are pro-
duced in commerce under the name of
Dutch linens ; for this whitening adds a
new price to the linen when it is of a good
fabric : they take care in this whitening,
without the aiiilTance of any regulation, not
to give to the linens an artificial length, as
we know is done in the whitening grounds
of
HOLLAND. 275
of Flanders, by rolling them on boards: a
lucrative article, but which degrades their
linens by entirely altering their quality ;
they turn them at Haerlem only by hand,
and they ufe the allies of the very belt, qua-
lity.
• " The manufactures of paper are in a flou-
rifhing flate. It is furprizing, that they
have been able to fuftain themfelves, fince
they have been multiplied fb greatly in
France, and in the Auftrian Provinces ; and
especially in countries, where the price of
labour is low, which is a vail advantage in a
manufacture that employs a great number of
hands. Theie manufactures, which have
been recently raifed and multiplied, have
given a fenfible flroke to thofe of Holland,
lince the exportation of rags, of old linen,
(which is the raw material) has been vigo-
roufly prohibited in France, and the Au-
ftrian Provinces. It is neverthelefs one of
the mofr, precious manufactures which the
republic has, as well for the home conlump-
tion, which is immenfe, as in furniihing an
exportation ; .and this manufacture fupports
itfelf as well as others, for this very fimple
reaibn,the manufacturers content themfelves
with a very fmall profit, having no better
means of making greater by their money.
" The
gft TRAVELS THROUGH
" The exportation of money from Europe
for paying for the manufactures of India,
(an exportation which is a reproach to the
trade) is already much diminifhed, and de-
creafes every cay by the progrefs of indui-
trv of the fame fort in Europe. We ought
hence to regard the manufacture of porce-
lane as one of the moil precious to Europe.
Among the great number of modern manu-
factures, which European indultry has railed
in our time, in imitation of thole of the In-
dies, are thofe of plain muflins, ftriped and
bordered, which they make in Switzerland,
and in France ; linens of white cotton, and
printed linens, which furpafs thofe of the In-
dies in beauty, tafte, and variety of defign ;
pekins, fattins, damaiks, gourgourans, cir-
fakas, armoifms, and other fluffs, which
equal all the patterns we have had from the
Indies. The iuccefs of all thele manufac-
tures is fo great and happy, in continually
deiiroving in Europe the ule of the Indian
. rics, and reducing the importation of mer-
chandize from the Eaft Indies, to materials
necefiary for fupplying our indultry, to
drugs and commodities which luxury
coniumes. The commerce of the Indies,
which uied to be regarded as infinitely
mikhicvovis to our indultry, will foon be-
come
HOLLAND. 235
come one of the branches of the trade of
Europe, which will furnim numbers of its
people with the means of fubfiitence.
" The porcelane of the Eaft Indies has
been, for a long fucceffion of years, one of
the articles of importation of Indian manu-
factures, which carried away moft money
from Europe ; and the progrefs of our in-
duftry, in imitating this article, is fuch at
prefent., that this particular exportation of
our money is alinoft destroyed ; for the por-
celane of China and Japan can no longer
fuftain the competition with thofe of Sax-
ony, Vienna, Hoechft in the Electorate of
Mentz, Furften burgh, Seves, Louifburg,
Munich, Spain, Bareith Anfpach, Franken-
dal, Copenhagen, Berlin, Tournay, and
Wefep near Amfterdam.
" The Indian porcelane had for a long time,
the advantage or a roundnefs and proportion,
always equal. We cannot yet find in Eu-
rope partes, which, like thofe of the Indies,
preferve equally well their dimenfions in
the fire ; or in which the dimenfions given
to vafes geometrically, refill the action of
the fire ; but this advantage, which is not
generally apparent, and which, beiides,
draws the attention only of connoiileurs,
Cannot balance the fuperiority of rafte, the
variety
236 TRAVELS THROUGH
variety of forms, the variety and beauty of
the deiigns, and the painting of the Euro-
pean porcelaoe.
u That which has been eftablifned and
fupported by M. the Count de Gronsrleld, at
Welep, equals (in ipite of all the obitaclcs,
which the dearneis of labour, and the little
Subordination that can be found in a repub-
lic, oppofed to the eftabliihment) the others
in form and tafte, and by virtue of the fecret
of a fuperior pafte, gives it a greater merit.
A nation fo indufnious as the Dutch, ought
to take part, and diftinguiin itielf in this
new effort of European induifry, and in a
fort of manufacture, in which iuccefs re-
quires great ceconomy, and a tafre very re-
fined in defis;n and form.
" The manufacture of porcelane at Wefep,
which is already known, is come to produce
its works i:: public, by the t: ment of
a magazine at the Hague, with all the
vantages of richnefs, ... f abundance in
the;. But if it is iuperior in the
white, and the pafte, to ail other mar/.
>, if it has aho the advantage of iupport-
ing the nre without experiencing the lame
ition as the other European manurac-
tures, we mult, not difiemble that it has a
with which all man uractures of por-
celane
HOLLAND. 2J7
celane i^re reproached, which is the inequa-
lity of beauty. This imperfection might
perhaps be regarded with much indulgence,
or be considered either as an advantage to
the public, becaufe we know there are effa-
bliihed in the manufacture of Weefp different
prices, proportioned to the degrees of this
imperfection. In general, all magazines of
the merchandize of luxury ought to be fort-
ed, not only into different kinds, but alio to
the different qualities, and the different prices
in the fame kinds, for equally anfwering the
tafte and the abilities of purchafers. Hence
the impofiibility, at prefent, found in all
manufactures of porcelane, of producing
only what is perfect. The public has now
the power of purchafing pieces of the fame
form and tafte, and for which a low price is
an equivalent for the defects ; befides, thefe
defects make little impreffion on a great
number buyers, who rather leek cheapnefs
than perfection ; and it is the fale of thefe
pieces, which are not of the firft beauty,
that fupports all the porcelane manufactures.
Thofe who would pique themfelves on pro-
ducing nothing but what was perfect, bv
vigorously breaking every piece that had
any defect, as was the cafe heretofore in the
manufav.Q
zj* TRAVELS THROUGH
manufacture at Seves, fall necefTarily into an
excefiive dearnefs.
" Camphire, vermillion, brimftone, borax,
azure, pitch, rofin, fpermaceti, fait, and fu-
g r, and the refining all thefe, employ many
hands, and furnifh much for exportation :
that of fait is of great benefit to the republic,
the Auftrian Netherlands, the countrv of
Liege, and fome other territories of Ger-
The fugar refineries have loft much
bv die competition of thofe that have been
led on all fides ; but others have been
gained by the progrefs of the colonies of
Berbices, and Surinam, which furnifh at
prefent thefe refineries, that ufed to import
Da France. It is an equal matter to the
rehners, but very different to the republic.
iC The whitening of wax is alfo very valua-
ble to Holland, for her commerce with
in, where the Dutch carry much ; alfo
the ftarch manufacture, which works much
for exportation.
M The oil and faw-mills are verv rich ob-
_: f:-. although they employ but few hands:
t:.e home confumption oi oil of coleieed, and
alio of planks, is very confiderable. Thefe
$wo articles furnifh alfo a very great expor-
CatioQ. Holland produces but little cole-
feed, but draws much from Brabant, and
from Flanders. The planks of oak, which
the
HOLLAND. «59
the Dutch draw from the Palatinate by the
Rhine, are a branch of very rich commerce
with France, where they are called the
Woods of Hollands, from making the whole
coniumption ; the Dutch uie in their
houfes, and in all their works of wood, only
planks of pine and fir, becaule their varnifh
and extreme neatnefs preferve them for a long
time found.
" But the manufacture of all others the
mod important, the moft exteniive, the moll
rich, and the moft neceffary, is the contrac-
tion, of mips. The timber yards of the Ad-
miralty, and the Company of the Indies, are
immeufe, but they are not comparable to
thofe of the village of Sardam, which Peter
the Great chofe as the firft fchool in Europe,
for the conftruction of all forts of naval
buildings ; and where he remained a long
time unknown, in the quality of a fimple
workman, for the inftruction of himfelf,
and for railing a marine in his vaft Empire.
The works of this village are fuch, that ti
has been faid, that if the (hip-btiiMers have
three months notice, they would engage to
launch a man of war every day. The re-
public pays foreigners for all the materials
of this immenie conftrucYion ; but com-
merce is well able to make the cxpcnce re-
turn
z^c TRAVELS THROUGH
turn to the State, both of thofe raw mate*
rials, and alio of the workmanfhip, by means
■of freight, which is the fir it bale of all the
commerce of the republic, and the branch
the moil; extenilve, and the moft rich. Af-
ter having determined the fize, the burthen,
and the form of a ihip, according as the
branch of commerce requires for which it
is deftined, there ought to be an extreme at-
tention to the goodnefs of it, which depends
immediately on the ability and the fidelity
of the builder ; alio on the goodnefs of the
materials, that is to fay, the iron, the wood,
the cordage, and the 1.
" In general, the perfection of all merchant*
men con lifts in being of a great burthen, and
the ability of navigating with the lead expence
that is poflible : a merchant ihip ought to fail
well, to be eafily managed, to carry her fails
well, to have eafy movements, to contain
much merchandize, and ought not to re-
quire a too numerous crew. Bur it is not
eafy to fee a ihip with all thefe qualities. It
is much mere difficult ftill, to find a method
of conftruclion capable of giving them all.
The defects, even the efiential defects, efcape
the view. The eye h deceitful, lays M. du
1 there is rach little difference
between a good ihip and a midling one, that
it
HOLLAND. 141
it happens fbmetimes, when two fhips are
upon the flocks, that to which we give the
preference is found much inferior to the
other which we look upon with a kind of
contempt. In efFect, how can the eye judge
accurately, if the keel be proportioned to the
weight of an armed fhip ? How can the iim-
ple inlpection tell us, if the fize of the head
and ftern are proportioned to the weight
which each of thole parts ought to carry ? If
neverthelefs this proportion is not well ob-
ferved, me finks too much either behind or
before ; and if this fault is corrected by the
ballaft, &c. the movements will be rough,
and will wear the mailing. How habituated
mufl we be to fee in fhips, adds M. du Ha-
mel, where precifely to afiign the pofition
of the centre of gravity, the true curve of
the water lines, &c ? It is neverthelefs from
all thefe, and many other things, that are
difficult to be perceived, on which depend
the good or bad qualities of fhips : they may
make them wanting in every particular, or
pofleffed of every good quality we can de-
fire.
" They approach, in the Dutch conftruc-
tion, to the ■ exa&neis of all thefe points of
knowledge, as far as they can be permitted
by the nature of the commerce of Holland,
Vol. I. R and
24* TRAVELS THROUGH
and by her ports. They particularly excel
in the management and lightneis of the
manoeuvres, which give a great advantage in
the market, and alio for the iecurity of na-
vigation.
" It is neverthelefs to bewifhed, that they
adopted in Holland the cuftom of the En-
glish, who have obliged their mip-builders
to prefent their plans of con ft ruction to the
Admiralty, for obtaining their approbation.
A cuftom lo wife, to which the Engliih owe
the general advantage of their coiiftruction,
would perhaps immediately carry in Hol-
land the art of conftru&ing fhips to the
moil high degree of perfection, and give
great advantages to commerce, and in the
remit, be of infinite good to human nature.
It is much lefs difficult to make choice of
oood materials. The fame lpecies of wood,
of different degrees of goodnels, follows in
courie. In general, the timber of the South
is better than that of the North, and thofe
which grow upon the mountains are fuperior
to iuch as are upon the lower grounds.
Different foils, different expolitions and age,
give different qualities ; timber decayed, da-
maged, or too old, are bad for fhip building.
M. de Button has made an infinity of expe-
riments for diicovering the ftrength of
wood :
HOLLAND. 243
wood : That of the branches, and the fum-
mit of the trunk of a tree is the weakeft : all
young timber is weaker than that more ad*
vanced in age : wood, which is elaftic, refills
more than that which is not : of timber on
the fame land, that which grows the quicken1:
is the ftrongeft, and that which grows (low-
ly, and of which the annual circles are thin,
is the weakefr. You may eaiily reckon,
upon the tranfverfe cut of the trunk, the
number of annual circles, which are dif-
tinctly feparated one from another, and
which increafe in the tree every year. M»
de Buffon has found, that the ftrength of
wood is proportioned to its weight ; a piece
that is heavier than another of the fame
length and irze, will be found ftronger for
the fame reaibn. We might, purfuant to
this obfervation, compare the force of the
wood of different countries and different foils.
It is above all in the curbs, where the
ftrength cannot be too great, for rendering
the conftrutftion folid, as they ferve to fallen
together the whole mip. An application of
M. Buffon's obfervation might here be very
ufeful.
" Soft iron mould be chofen. It is par-
ticularly important, that the iron of the pins
mould never break : a good builder will tile
R 2 none
24+ TRAVELS THROUGH
none but what he has proved. We do not
at prefent know any iron that has more good
qualities for the uie of the marine than that
of Spain and Sweden. Although great per-
fection has been given to the furnaces of
France and Germany, yet the Spanifh and
Swedifh iron always has the preference.
" xA.n immenie quantity of cordage is ufed
in rigging a fhip : they diftinguiih particu-
larly that which is made from the hemp of
Koningfburg, and Mufcovy. The firfr. is
eftimated at /Vmfterdam at twenty per cent,
better. That of Riga is inferior to that of
Koningtburg by four per cent. The fail
cloth of Bretagne, particularly that known
under the name of royales, has been a long
time reputed as the bell: for making fails ;
but they manufacture at prefent a good fort
almoir. everv where.
" All thefe points of knowledge are ne-
cefYarv for inch foreign merchants as build
fhips in Holland, that proper materials be
purchafed for the conftruction, in the orders
given to their correfpondents ; alio to na*
tional merchants, for their conduct in build-
ing well, whether on their own account, or
for that of foreigners, who purchale them,
independently of the conftruction. Hol-
land is always the <?:reateft market of Eu-
rope
HOLLAND. z45
rope for all forts of materials, and of every
kind of quality, proper for the fervice of the
marine, and is at the fame time the country
where they beft know the value of the dif-
ferent qualities of the materials for fhip
building. In Holland they build (hips
of any kind on the account of foreigners ;
and they make choice of different materials,
conformable to the orders which are given
them, which varies the expences of the
commiffion, proportioned to the defire of
thofe who employ them.
" The manufacture of coloured linens,
and printed cottons, has loft prodigioufly its
former advantages. They have been too
much multiplied in countries where labour
is at a low price, as in France, Switzerland,
and the Auftrian Low Countries. This is a
competition which it is impoflible Holland
fhould fuftain,
" The city of Amfterdam pofleffes a ma*
nufacture, which is flickered from the effects
of competition, at leaft, (he has only that of
London to fear, who, to the preient time,
has been very weak in it; and that of Anvers
and Paris is fcarce any thing : it is the cut-
ting of diamonds. Amfterdam is the only
city that pofleffes, in a very high degree of
perfection, this art ; and alio that of re-
R 3 ducing
z46 TRAVELS THROUGH
ducing into fmall diamonds thole large ones
that are degraded by black fpots and flaws.
This art is fupported by the merchants of Am-
fterdam, in giving much into the commerce
of rough diamonds, both in the Eaft Indies,
and Braiil ; by which they fix the art among
them at the firft hand, in Europe ; for inde-
pendently of the diamonds, which the mips
of tht Eafl: India company bring from the
Indies, we alio fee, at fales in Amfterdam,
the rough ones that come from London, and
from Lifbon ; therefore, if the commerce
maintains and nouriihes the art, it, in its
turn, fuftains the commerce, becaufe if you
would buy rough diamonds any where but
at Amfterdam, you will be under the necef-
fity of lending them to Amfterdam to be
cut ; on her fide, the commerce has not
much to fear from the defertion of the work-
men, who could not find work elfewhere.
This trade is every year an object of many
millions of florins ; and in this commerce,
there goes in labour more than fix florins a
carrat. It is the fame with rubies ; but cut-
ting them is infinitely eafier, becaufe they
do not require the life of a mill, nor that of
the powder of diamonds, with which they
make grindftones. It is befides a branch
of induflry and commerce very limited, for
the
HOLLAND. 247
the rubies, which deferve attention, are very
rare.
" The manufactures, efpecially thofe of
a great luxury, to which the oeconomy of
the Dutch will permit only a weak fale at
home, ought to fubmit to the decline,
which we have obierved. Three caufes
have concurred to reduce them to this itate ;
the progrels of indullry among other na-
tions, the decay of the commerce of Holland,
and the debts of the public.
" Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, and
England, have been the only induitrious na-
tions of Europe, and who have for a long
time provided all forts of linens, fluffs of
wool and lilk, and the productions of an in-
finity of manufactures. Almoft all thele
fabrics have been fpread through a part of
Germany, in the North, and even into
Ruffia. Already Ruflia imports no more fu-
perfine cloths from thole induftrious nations.
Denmark has flourilhing manufactures ; and
Sweden does not ceaie to make efforts for
acquiring them. All nations at present feek
with care, the means of perfecting the
known arts, and of extending^ the limits of
their induftry and their commerce. There
are neverthelefs ltill in Europe markets for
moft manufactures, but attended by a com-
R 4 petition,
Z4* TRAVELS T H R u u o .1
petition infinitely increafed ; but this
market belongs only (if we except ibme ar-
ticles of particular manufactures) to thole
who can afford to fell at cheap prices, in
confequence of the low price of their labour.
" This competition neceflarily hurts the
markets of the manufactures which can
Gnly be fold at an high price, and mull: in
the end infallibly ruin them. This lituation
and competition the manufactures of
Holland, which are produced at an high
price of labour, cannot fuftain ; and this
high price has two caufes, which it is im-
poriible to remove, viz. abundance of mo-
ney, which raifes the price of all provilions,
as well as the price of labour ; and the taxes,
which, through the necefTity of paying the
interefr. of the public debts, have been ex-
tended to all things the moil neceflary to
life.
M The fcience of commerce has general
maxims, which agree with all nations; and
others, which, inilead of being falutary in
Certain countries, are deftructive. We ought,
above all things, to raife and animate indui-
try, and fupport and extend it upon the
fame principles. But the fituation, climate,
natural productions, not being the fame in
all countries, industry ought to be exerted
upon
HOLLAND. 249
upon different objects. The different
branches of art, and the productions of na-
ture, are divided to infinity ; but all cannot
be cultivated with the fame fuccefs. Almofl
all forts of manufactures are in France, as
their natural country ; moil of the raw ma-
materials abound there; and by the care of a
good adminiftration, the merchants furnim
at reafona.ble prices whatever is wanted. It
is eafy to preierve all manufactures in a flate,
where vaft provinces know no other com-
merce than that of the culture of the earth
and manufactures, or where they can carry
on no other. It is this, which keeps at a dif-
tance the too great abundanceof money, which,
in rendering all the neceffaries of life dear, in-
fallibly ruins many manufactures by the excef-
ilve price of labour. England, for a long time,
enjoyed the fame advantages, when it began
to loofe them by the excellive amount of the
ligns of wealth, much more deflructive than
real money. The Englifh have made many
efforts in vain for flopping the decleniion of
their manufactures, while they left the ex-
cefs of their fictitious money in exiitence,
and the taxes neceffary for inflaming their
credit. The Dutch, without agriculture,
(becaufe they have not land to cultivate) are
occupied in banking, and the commerce of
ceconomy ot all Europe; and though, in
porTeliion
35o TRAVELS THROUGH
poileflion of all, that is moil: rich in the
commerce of Indoftan, China, and Japan,
could preferve their manufactures but for a
moment. They adopted ufeleisly the max-
ims and regulations, which fuftained the
manufactures of France in a flourishing flare ;
but the abundaece of money, which their
commerce of (Economy, their banking, and
the Indies, brought into their circulation,
g ther with the taxes upon the necefiaries
of life, could not allow them to prelerve
r manufactures, except thofe that are re-
quired for the maintenance of their marine,
or which are fupported by the great internal
consumption.
" Bookfelline: was heretofore in anourim-
ing fhte ; we if ill fee in Holland great for-
r, which have had no other fource, but
branch ct commerce ; and the editions
of Elzevir (hew well, that the art of print-
ing has been carried there to the higheit. de-
gree of perfection. This branch of com-
merce is at preient extremely fallen ; it ne-
vertheleis maintains a great number of print-
ing-houfes, principally at Amsterdam, Ley-
den, and the Hague ; and afoundery of cha-
racters at Haerlem, which is renowned, and
merits its reputation.
HOLLAND. -5i
" The iuperiority gained by the book-
fellers in France, has infinitely retrained
thofe of Holland. There are here manv
diiadvantages, which will not permit the in-
duftrv dependant on them to flourim great-
ly. Paper is dearer than in France ; and the
Dutch booklellers have fewer opportunities
of procuring good manufcripts than the
French ones. Bciides, Holland not being a
country of coniumption for books, the book-
fellers are obliged to make a part of their
commerce by exchanges ; they are, at the
fame time, more liable than any others in
Europe, to receive prejudice from counter-
feits ; a Ipecies ot robbery which defolates
their commerce, and is the more fatal, as
there is no other means for preventing this
abuie than the weak refources of the arts of
commerce ; and yet they pay upon their
books a duty on exportation and importa-
tion of four per cent. But the ftate of this
branch of commerce demands a total ex-
emption.
" The refource of this trade in Holland
is in the fairs of Leipfick, of which books
make the principal riches. It is there that
the editions ot Holland find their greatefl
coniumption. Leipfick is an immenfe ma-
gazine of books. All the booklellers in
Europe,
252 TRAVELS THROUGH
Europe trade, during the fairs, in perfbn,
or by commiffion, if we except thole of
France and England, who, having at home
a great confnmption, attend little to the
commerce at Leiplick. Bookfellers there
find fome times the fale of entire editions ;
they make exchanges, and many fales, for
which they give credit from one fair to
another, that is to fay, for fix months. At
each fair accounts are fettled, and every
bookfeller opens new accounts to be fettled
at the fucceeding one. There is perhaps no
branch of commerce, which is executed in a
manner fo fimple, fo eafy, and with fo much
good faith.
" The actual fituation of commerce and
the arts in Europe, leave the Republic but
one means of reftoring her manufactures, or,
at leaft, of fupporting a great number ; me
muft turn her eyes to her colonies in Ame-
rica ; it is there that a fale is opened on the
moil certain, and the happiefl: grounds, for
European nations to fupport their induftry.
The Republic might infinitely multiply the
coniumption of her manufactures in that part
of the world, by animating their agriculture
and improvements. They already make a
very great confumption of all forts of linens,
fmall fluffs, and every particular of drefs and
luxury ;
HOLLAND. 2)-3
luxury ; and it would prove a noble encou-
ragement, very jufr. and natural, to give in
the importation, which is continually made
of that clafs of merchandize, the preference
to thofe which are the product of the na-
tional manufactures. It appears to be very
ealy to enfure luch a fale, by a prohibitive
law, which mould not permit the introduc-
tion into America of any article of foreign
manufactures, that could poflibly be furniihed
by the nation itfelf.
" If fuch a law was made, the object of
which appears fo ufeful, its progreis ought
not to be interrupted by particular conhiera-
tions, refpecting the commerce which St
Euftatia and Curacao might carry on with
the coafts of New Spain, or the French
iilands. This commerce, contrary to the
mutual laws made between the two nations
and their treaties, is unknown to the govern-
ment, and cannot attract its attention, if it
was propoied as an obftacle to a ufeful regu-
lation, which mult be difcovered and re-
jected."
We (hall rmiih this article with the wife
reflexions of the grand Penfionary de Witt,
which merit the attention of the govern-
ment, much more at prefent than at the time
when his memoirs were pubhihed. " Na-
" viffatioD-
| TRAVELS THROUGH
vigation, the fishery, commerce, and ma-
nufactures, are the tour columns of the
Aate, which give fubiiftance to moft of
the people, and draw into the country all
forts of (tranters : they ouffht never to be
left to languifh, nor burthened with taxes,
at lead, unlefs the neceii:tv is fo prefiing
as to be regarded as menacing the country
with entire ruin. Never mud we permit
ourlelves to carry fuch ftxokes at the fun-
damental bafe of our power, but on the
contrary, have in view the' re-eltabliih-
ing things upon the antient footing. We
mould therefore know how to fupprefs the
taxes, when the temped: has ceafed, nor
ought they ever to aired! manufactures ;
becaufe thefe eftabliinments are common
among our neighbours, and we are obliged
from abroad moir of the drugs
and which are iiecefiarv for their
-
port."
CHAP.
HOLLAND.
:>>
CHAR IX.
Of the Agriculture of Holland.
ALL the world knows, that hufbandry
is not the great national objed in
Holland, but trade and manufactures. Their
territory is very fmall, on companion with
the numbers of their people ; fo that an ap-
plication to the arts and induftry is neceflarv
tbr procuring the inhabitants necefiaries.
The quantity of land alio was originally
under fuch peculiar circumflances, that the
wealth, which flowed in from trade and ma.-
nufachires, could alone render the practice
of any hufbandry advantageous. The lbil
is of two ibrts,good and bad; and fo unhap-
pily fituated was the Dutch, that the former
was only to be gained and preferved by vail
monuments of their induftry, the banks,
which preferve all the lower and bell land;
from being overflowed ; for the higher tracts
of Frizeland, Overyflfel, Guelderland, and
Zutphen, contain in general a very great
proportion of waile and poor fandy ibib.
This
:56 TRAVELS THROUGH
This proportion is greater than commonly
imagined, and was fo when the Republic
was undoubtedly in a more flourifhing fitua-
tion than at prefent. Davenant tells us, and
in all thefe- matters he is undeniable autho-
rity, that in 1688 they had 8,000,000 of
Englifh acres^ which lett with houies and
hereditaments at 4,ooo,oool. Now this is
only ten millings an acre, houfes included,
in a country amazingly full of cities ; and
this mult vaflly reduce that ten millings per
acre, probably to fix millings, or at moft to
ieven millings, which is a very extraordi-
nary fact, and mews that the feat of im-
menfe wealth, vaft trade, and flourifhing
manufactures, though they iecured the foil
by banks, yet did but little in railing the va-
lue of land. It was fo crowded with inha-
bitants, that they reckon but 3 \ acres
per head ; and yet the foil they inhabited
lett at lefs than in England or France at that
time ; this is a moll: curious fact, and well
deferves the attention of politicians. Nume-
rous writers have infilled on the infinite be-
nefits anting to land, from a great trade and
flourifhing fabrics ; but this of Holland is an
inftance to (hew, that in all thefe general
ideas, there mould ever be a great latitude
for exceptions. Upon the firlt ftating the
propolition,
HOLLAND. 257
proportion, that a country was Co thickly in-
habited as to reckon lefs than four acres per
head ; and the people, the moll: wealthy in
Europe, full of trade, arts, and manufactures,
and infinitely indultrious, would not any
one conclude, that the foil mull: lett at very
high rents r Certainly this would be the na-
tural idea : what therefore is the reafon, that
land is, upon an average, of a low value, un-
der thefe united circumltances, which mould
tend fo powerfully to raife its price ?
The cafe, I conceive, is this ; land in ge-
neral is very low rented ; but, in particular
provinces, which are fullelt of people and
and riches, it letts as high as any where in
Europe : the fmall extent of the whole do-
minion is no objection to this fact ; the peo-
ple at large are affected by circumftances,
which have no connection with their inter-
nal agriculture. It has always been the po-
licy of Holland, to have in conftant If ore
immenfe quantities of corn in magazines,
which they buy when the prices are low at
Dantzick and London. They import much
of the provilions of Ireland* lalted beef and
butter in particular : cheefe comes from va-
rious parts ; and live cattle, in prodigious
numbers, from Denmark and Holltein. Add
to this, that their fifheries are the molt con-
Vol. I. S iiderable
z:< TRAVELS THROUGH
deferable in Europe, not only that of whaL:-
which produces nothing for food, but het-
rings, cod, &c. Sec. which feed amazing
its of their people. Importations are
well known to be io regular and great, that
a famine, or even a great icarcity was hei
known in Holland, though thev do not raife
a f fth, or perhaps a tenth of the corn thev
eat ; and in no other country, is the price
of wheat io regular as in this.
* Now it muft be very evident, that all thefe
circumftances cannot but have ftrong effects
in lowering the prices of all land products ;
for every firmer in Poland and Zealand,
a rival to thole of Holland ; no commoditv
raifed by the latter, can ever be at an high,
price, while magazines are ftored from
abroad, whenever prices are cheap; and
the importations are very great and numer-
ous, the products in which the Dutch hui-
bandmen are not rivalled, are verv few.
Milk, frefh butter, eggs, and butchers meat,
are .the only articles : eheeie, corn of ail
forts, fait butter, &c. &c. are all brought
from abroad. This is the reafon that the
rents- and value of land in Holland are, on
an average, fo verv low, but it will poiTiblv
admit of an enquiry, whether thev do not
carry their importation too far. If it be faid
that
HOLLAND. 259
that land products are dear in Holland, and
therefore this importation is neceflary : I re-
ply, that this dearneis all arifes from high
excifes, not an egg., or a pound of butchers
meat, but what pays an exche, and lome
things feveral. This rife of price is not to
the advantage of the farmers and graziers,
but all goes into the pocket of the ftate and
the retailer.
As to the rich grafs lands, which I have
mentioned feveral times, in the courfe of
my journey, they are principally in the very
populous province of Holland, near great
towns, or on the banks of canals ; thefe lett1
at high rates, from fueh of their productions
felling at very high prices as cannot be ri-
valled from abroad, or any where eiie ; and
fome of them are of fuch great natural fer-
tility, that it is alone a fufficient caufe.
And here I mould further remark, that
whatever receives moft encouragement from
the ftate, is fure moft to profper, (trade be-
ing the great object in Holland) manufac-
tures are greatly attended to, thefe have con-
fequently prolpered ; but as to agriculture,
and a landed intereft, they make it totally
iubmit and be fubfervient to every other :
for the importation of corn, and other pro-
visions, is ruinous to the farmer, but is not
S 2 regarded
:i-> TRAVELS THROUGH
regarded here, becaufe an object of com-
merce. This conduct, I muft obferve, is,
upon the whole, luitable to the fituation and
interefts of the Republic ; Nature, and a for-
tune almoft as rugged, has crammed them
into a neglected marfh, which nothing but
an induftry like theirs could make the ha-
:i of an independent nation. In iuch
a itate, trade and navigation, fiineries, and
manufactures, could only iupport them,
and particularly aiiift their hrll: naval expedi-
tions againit their old mailers the Spaniards:
thefe, therefore, they wiiely engaged in with
A their firength and ardour ; but as to agri-
culture, of what benefit could it principally
be to a nation, that had not land enough to
render themielves thereby independent r Ne-
ceffity drove the Hollanders to trade : but
had a genius more extenlive than that of
Lvcurgus, or of IMontelquieu, dictated to
them a choice, without recurring to necel-
iitv, it would have been wrhat neceiiity drove
them to. Induftry will ever make the
greateit figure in thofe ungrateful ipots that
de: »ry thing to idlenels : a numerous
people, id fuch filiations, muft either be in-
duftrious or itarve : this is a principal of ac-
tion fuperior to every thing. In a word,
agriculture has been lb little thought of, or
attended
HOLLAND. 261
attended to, that the value which fome
tracks of land in Holland have arrived at,
has been owing merely to the effects of that
wealth which commerce has poured in.
The great fuccefs of the Dutch in trade,
has fet iiich an example to the other nations
of Europe, that all are equally eager in co-
pying her ; but herein there appears too
great a neglect of thofe elientiahdiitinclions,
which are often found between different
countries. France, England, Sweden, and
Ruflia, have very coniiderable territories, or
property in land, confequently they ought
to pay a much greater attention to agricul-
ture than this Republic, whole land is con-
temptible compared with theirs ; but all
theie powers, particularly France and Eng-
land, have imitated the Dutch io nearly as
to neglect their agriculture, and in moil:
cafes lacrificed it to the interefts of their
commerce. This has certainly been very
falfe politics : for that conduct, which necef-
iity and wildom made expedient and benefi-
cial to a territory of only" eight millions of
acres, might iurely be very improper to a
dominion of eighty or an hundred millions :
Had the Dutch given ever fuch attention to
the improvement of their lands, they would
never, by their airiftance, have become a
S3* great
262 TRAVELS THROUGH
great and powerful nation, nor even an in-
dependent one ; but this is quite another
matter with nations rich in exteniive ter-
ritory.
An Englifh writer of great reputation, Sir
W. Petty, published a book in King Charles,
the Second's reign, which was at the period
of the height of the Dutch power, and the
purport of which was, to exhibit them as an
example to his countrymen ; attempting to
prove, that the only way to grow great and
formidable, was to be all merchants and
Jailors ; that a landed territory was of no ufe
unlefs full of people; that Ireland, Scotland,
and Wales, mould, if it was practicable, be
funk in the ocean, after concentring all the
inhabitants in England ; all which fenti-
ments, and many others of the lame fort,
were a mere paraphrafe on the fortune of
this Republic ; but nothing could be more
erroneous than fuch a fvilem, than volun-
tarily choofmg a fituation, which ncceflity
threw the Hollanders into : the wile Dutch-
men, had they inherited luch kingdoms as
England, Scotland, and Ireland, would not
have purfued the fame politics they practifed
in the marmes of the Netherlands.
For theie reaions, the great landed king-
doms of Europe feem not fully to know their
own
HOLLAND. 263
own interefts, when they are {o eager in the
puriuit of trade and commerce, and manu-
factures for exportation, as to iacrifice the at-
tention to, and advancement of agriculture.
It is the error of fhort-iighted politicians, to
carry their meafures too far : great power and
great wealth, in union, may do wonders, hut
there is more merit and more genius in pro-
perly difcriminating objects, and in dividing
the attention among them, in proportion to
their relpective improvements, than in boldly
determining to create. The employments
of a people ihould always depend on the ter-
ritory they inhabit, and the nature of their
purfuits ihould he taken from the climate
and lituation. Induitry may certainly be as
active, and carry a nation to as high a pitch
of power and wealth, when pufhed on upon
thefe natural principles, as it is poifible to
arrive at from oppoiing nature, or from
a boundlefs defire of rendering every thing
artificial. Need I obferve, that the wealth
and power, which flow from the one, can
hardly fail of being as permanent as the cir-
cumitances of the age will allow, while thofe
of the other mult, in their nature, be preca-
rious and mort-lived. But to return :
In the agriculture of Holland, the rich.-
ncls of their paftures is to be noted, and the
S 4 great
264 TRAVELS THROUGH
great attention they give to the management
of their cattle ; thele are particulars I have
often mentioned. They are very fond of the
culture of tobacco, and that of madder ;
upon which it is to be obferved, that as the
huibandmen are rivalled, in the manner I
have juit let forth, whenever they raife the
neceflaries of life, it is not to be wondered
at, that they fhould find thofe articles lei's
advantageous than thole of tobacco and mad-
der : their only defign in cultivation, is to
raile as much money from a given quantity
of land as pomble ; and the ftate takes no
account of providing food at home for their
numerous lubjects, lo that a man may cul-
tivate what he pleafes ; thefe are beneficial
to them, but madder, in particular, they
raife not onlv enough for their own home
consumption, which in their linen and cot-
ton manufactures is a vaft quantitv, but alio
for the manufactures of the fame fort
throughout England ; but at Marseilles,
they are rivalled by the madder imported
from Turkey.
Refpecting the wafte lands of Holland,
and other parts of their hufbandry, I have
given feveral minutes, that will tend much
to explain them ; but the following paflage,
from a late writer publifhed at Amfterdam,
dele rye j
HOLLAND. 26$
deferves tranflating. " The inland pro-
vinces, particularly thofe of Guelderland, the
marfhes of Boifleduc, and the Barony of
Breda, prefent the obierver with fourfcore
leagues ofwafte land, entirely fuiceptible of
a good improvement and culture, and of
which the breaking up would be attended
with the greateft iuccefs, if it was under-
taken, and iiipported by the government on
proper principles : this would be giving to
the Republic the value of a new province.
The detail, in which we are about to enter,
authorizes us to conlider this object, as one
of the moit intereiting to the fhite, upon
which much depends the prolperity of po-
pulation and commerce, and is the moil wor-
thy the attention and the care of adminis-
tration.
M Theie wafle lands produce, in many
places, herbage in abundance, and particularly
broom. There are iome fmall parts broken
up within theie 10, 15, or 20 years, equal at
preient in goodnefs to the neighbouring lands
that have been long cultivated. The com-
mon productions of the improved lands
are wood, oak, rye, oats, and Saracen wheat;
and the cultivators obferve, that rive or fix
years of culture are neceflary to make theie
new lands equal to the old ones in culture.
All
266 TRAVELS THROUGH
All the neighbouring lands that have been
long cultivated, are very light and fendj,
and of the lame nature as thofe that are
waife : they produce very fine rye, barley,
oats, Saracen corn, clover, potatoes, carrots,
turnips, and ipurry grafs. The culture of
this lafl is thoroughly known only in a part
of Brabant, named Campine, in the three
Guelders, and the Duchy of Cleves. In
Cleves, they cut this herb, and dry it on their
vine props ; and it thus makes the bell; hay
that is given to beafts.
" The ufe which might be made of this
plant demands an obiervation : it is a fpecies
of the white pimpernel ; it throws out many
ilalks to the height of about a foot. Bo-
tanies, who throw it under the title of Sper-
iiula, have obferved, that it increafes in the
fields, corn, and grafs, principally in Flan-
ders and in England ; that cows give much
milk when fed on it ; and that it contains a
moderate quantity of an efl'ential fait and oil.
In the Campine, the three Guelders and
Cleves, they low the fpurry immediately af-
ter the crop of corn. This herb, which is
very fine and delicate, increafes rapidly, and
gives a very fat pafturage for cows, who they
tie to flakes in it, and it lafts them three
months. They afiert, that this plant, whofe>
verdure
HOLLAND. 267
verdure is like that of flax juft come up, meli-
orates the laud ; at leaft, it is ftrongly averred,
that it does not exhauft it, as they have con-
ftantly in Guelders fbwncorn on thefameland
after it. It is to this herb that they attribute
the abundance and good quality of the butter
of Campine : it is alio, during the growth of
this plant, that the butter of Guelders is the
bell: of all Holland. Perhaps much greater
advantages might be drawn from this plant,
which yields fo quickly an excellent pa£
turage, if it was better known. They
might introduce it in the manner of the ar-
tificial grafles upon the wafte lands, or, as
permanent pafture, it might be very ufeful.
But at prefent, they leave this paflure, af-
ter the crop, only till the end of October or
the beginning of November, which is the
time when they plough their lands for {owing
rye or other grain. They might afiure
themielves, by observation and experience of
greater advantages from this artificial pafture,
which perhaps is not of fo fhort duration,
were not the cultivators ignorant or indolent.
" Judgment may be made of the fuccefs,
which might reafonably be expected from
well managed improvements of wafte land,
by the example of the method of culture
which is praetifed on the neighbouring
lands ;
z63 TRAVELS THROUGH
lands ; by obferving the manner in which
the inhabitants of villages, the moil accui-
tomed to break them up, manage from time
to time their portions, and by the produc-
tions which the lands of fuch villages vield,
that have once been thus broken up. The
lands which are perfectly cultivated, are never
fallowed. They fow fpurry or turnips, and
after gathering the product, throw in corn
the beginning of November. The manure
they employ on thefe lands is the dung of
cows, turf allies, and the turf which they
cut upon the commons, with what they
make by littering their beails. This laft
manure is not in much efteem, it has but a
moderate effect from being lb ill prepared.
There are few examples of fuch bad culture,
as that given to moll of thefe cultivated
lands. They plough only once, half a foot
deep ; then they pafs over the land thus til-
led, a light harrow ; and to this they bound
the preparation of the earth for receiving the
feed of rye, barley, or oats, &c. They fow no
wheat, becaule, they fay, their lands are not
ftrpng enough for it. There is however no
doubt, but that thefe huibandmen do i\ot
give the tillage, dunging, and other prepara-
tions, which are requitite for wheat. There
are fome cantons, where the lords of the ma-
nors
HOLLAND. .269
nors do fow wheat. Thefe do not give more
than two ploughings to their lands, and by
this (ingle preparation at molt, get them
into abetter ftate than the others. But thev
j
themfelves complain, that even this culture,
imperfect as it is, is too expenfive : this com-
plaint is owing to a want of good markets.
" The wafte lands are generally of die
fame quality as thofe that are cultivated.
Both have a depth of three or four feet, ge-
nerally a grey land or a black one, fbft, moift
to the touch, and mixed with mould: cul-
ture alone makes a difference. They have
neither clay nor marie, unlefs perhaps thev
find it at a very great depth ; but they find
a clayey loam in lbme places at three feet
and an half. The woods are oak, rir, elm,
and in fome places beech, all which are
found in the lands improved. The methods
of improving, followed at prelent by the
neighbouring inhabitants, coniift in railing
the turf, which they carry home, either for
burning or converting into manure, and af-
terwards ploughing; the land. They limit
themfelves to one ploughing, whether for
lowing corn or wood ; in the laft caie, they
leave it for eighteen or twenty years, at that
age they deft my it, and break it up anew,
when they rind it coniiderably ameliorated.
It
z-o TRAVELS THROUGH
It is thus that they treat, : : :lme%
: lmall portions of tli-: ■ . en-
tries'. By this manner of or. > them up,
and by the Cuitom of iimitinj ; . ... culture
to one tingle ploughing, t
do not become equal tot:
till kept in a courie of manage::, a : :" r five. or
iix years: the rcaibn, without doubt
they do not give the tillage m one y \
ceflary for doing the buiinefs with efl
They know not the ni :ie, nor : h I
of fainfoine, but only that of clover, which
fuccceds in iome cantons. It is certai
this land mail: be naturally v. J fertile,
giving its product after an ::. merit fo
lightly made, after aiingle ploug.
little dung. If we only coniult the v
ciples, which the theory of the art : :
culture preients us, for following rigorouily
in the practice, we fhall become tempted on
the firlt inspection of the land, to neglect
it, becaufe that theory regards the clafs of
fandv foils as almoft ilerile ; but the land,
which predominates here, is not the flying
burning fand that devours the feed com.
ted to it, and renders uielefs all the efforts of
the farmer, or fuch, that if it yields at length
to induitry, it is not till after a : icity
of manures and orach expence ; the land
of
H O L L A N D. 271
of the wafte lands is here the fame as that
which predominates in the heft neigiibour-
mglands under good culture; or, to {peak
hetter, the wafte foils and the lands, culti-
vated in the environs to a great diuance, are
all the lame. Nothing but cultivation
makes the difference; for in all, the fand
predominates almoft equallv. The produc-
tions which the improved lands give, by the
aflifrance only of one ploughing, feem to
authorize us to believe them iufceptihle of
as great fertility as the bell: lands around
thele villages. We have other proofs, that
all the walte lands do at leaft approach them
m the principles of fertility, which thev
contain, and are nearlv equal in the compar-
rilon with other lands, cultivated in the
neighbourhood of the towns.
" The experience of wells, made in the
waile lands in different dihYicts, turns out
the lame as in fertile foils. But we are not
limited to this fingle experiment for itating
the fertility of this great extent of country :
an improvement of foch importance will
not permit us to neglect any proofs of the
fucceis which ought to attend it, if we can
underftand them. It is always an encourage-
ment which prefents itfelf to individuals,
who, by their iituation and their fortune, are
in
0ft TRAVELS THROUGH
in a ftate of undertaking fome parts. It is
well known, that we may allure ourfelves of
the principles of fertility, contained in thele
foils, bv a view of them in a lye, and alio by
calcination, and by comparing them with
the lands, of whofe fertility we are affured
by the fruits yielded every day.
" We have tried this proof of wafle land,
taken from a heath, and the fame quantity of
foil cultivated by the fide of that heath, and
of the fame depth. The heath furnifhed
onlv a poor pafturage ; and its foil contained
nothing but fand. This land is black,
moift, and humid to the touch, mixed
with earth, and limilar to other lands in the
country that are wafte. We have found
alwavs the fame in the lame iuperficies
to more than three feet depth ; where is-
. found' a yellow and gravelly fand. The
land, by the fide of it, in culture, is exactly
the fame, except only this difference, that
the yellow and gravelly fand is found at a
foot and half of depth ; and this land, which
from infpection appears to be very bad, pro-
duces every year a crop of wheat, and one
of turnips, and with dunging only once in
two years.
4t An equal quantity of the cultivated
toil, and of the wafte, feparately calcined in a
violent
HOLLAND. 273
violent fire, and feparately warned, filtered,
and evaporated, have given each a fmall
quantity of calcarions and ialine matter.
The land cultivated has given a little more
of the nitrous fait, which is the natural ef-
fect of culture, and of what it receives from
manures.
" We have alfo fubmitted to the fame
procefs, and made an examination of lands
from waftes taken from five different can-
tons, far removed from one another, and
from the depth of two feet, in fpots which
appeared the leait fertile, and we have found
the lame quality of foil as in three and four
feet depth.
" The land from No. 1, covered with the
herb called heath, gave a greater quantity of
fait of nitre than the reit.
" That from No. 2, although more fandy,
and of a greyer colour, yielded the lame re-
iult.
" That from No. 3 was not fo black,
fandy, or light as No. 1 and 2, but gave
more fait, and it crackled more when
thrown upon live coals.
" The land of No. 4, on which oak*
grow well, gave a vitriolic and feruginous
matter, but lets fait.
Vol. I. T " That
274 TRAVELS THROUC IT
" That of No. 5 proved exactly the fame
as No. 2.
" All thefe lands have given more {alt
than others firft tried, and are all at leaft
equal in goodnefs to thofe in culture, whole
fertility cannot be doubted.
" Although the family of the gramens is
commonly extremely numerous upon wafte
.lands, that which infallibly announces a fer-
tile foil is not found much here ; the plant
named erica by botanifls, known under the
name of heath, feems to have alone appro-
priated all thefe lands, at leaft it predomi-
nates in them.
" Erica is a fpecies of fmall fhrub, which
throws out many ftalks to the height of a
foot or a foot and an half, hard, woody, and
of a red colour, .brown, or obfcure, garniihed
with fmall leaves, rather hard and rough,
but always green. Its root is woody and
fcattered in the land. This plant increafes
in waftes and in woods, and contains much
fait and oil, which is a proof that the land
which produces it might eafily be rendered
fertile by a good culture.
" All thefe wafte lands are in general
light and fandy, a little moift, and loft to
the touch. A foil of this nature cannot
long preferve the humidity of rains and the
dew,
Holland. -7$
tlew, which are the firft inftruments in the
nutrition of plants. They want thole olea-
ginous particles which have much' influence
in all fertility. Thefe lands require dung
and chalk. Such aihTrance, joined to that
of frequent ploughings, infures fertility.
Thefe frequent ploughings mull: neceflarily
reclaim infenfibly the greateit. part of the
land which is found mixed with land, as
being lighter. If the parts of thefe lands,
which have been broken up from time to
time, do not equal in goodnefs the neigh-
bouring lands, after having been cultivated
five or fix years, it is only becaufe they have
given them but one ploughing a year.
" It is evident from ftriking proofs, that
the fertility of thefe lands is gre/>.t, and
which appears from the examination of the
nature of the foil, from that of their actual
ftate, and from their various productions,
rather than from the methods which have
been taken in breaking up and cultivating
them.
" They cultivate very badly almofl all
the neighbouring lands to thele waftes : fome,
becaufe the commodities railed have not a
quick conlumption, the inhabitants limiting
their culture to the production of the necef-
laries of their iubliitance; and others through
T 2 indolence,
TRAVELS T H ROl'G II
indolence, or a defect in their abilities. The
inhabitants do net profit of the facility with
:h they might procure pafturage in
abundance, and raife a commerce in cattle,
. would much enrich them. Inftead
of planting woods, and efhbliming artificial
graiies, they give- into the deftrucHve prac-
tice of burning Only btirfe cut from their
heath .
" This cuftcm is degenerated into an
".::: abufe; by carrying ofl cbn-
tinuahv, they ralenfi Iv convert a great ex-
tent of land to marih. There are already
: tracks flooded in Winter. But this abufe,
which might be eaiily remedied, is not an
obstacle to improvements ; the lands them-
5, which r ufe has already con-
verted intc marfh, might, for the molt part.
turned to value.
" There are no bad lands after markets
are opened, and a great confumption found.
If you give this a r. _z to a foil, you will
infallibly make the country rich.
" There are but two principal objections
to vanquiili for rendering this great e:
of count: v :'_ rtile, and productive of treafures^
which are the want of markets, and the
tele vaft wafles, which
- ion. Thefe two obfbcles might
be
HOLLA N D. 277
be attacked with fuccefs ; the one bv the le-
giilative authority, the other by a wife and
enlightened direction.
" It is eaiy to open to all thefe lands a
road to a great confumption. Their culture
ihould be directed to the maintenance of as
great a number of cattle as poilible, efpeci-
ally in all the diftricts where the lands arc
at a diftance from cities and navigation.
Cattle transport themfelves at a little ex-
pence to a great diftance ; the butter and
cheefe, of which the carriage, is eaiy, are
among the richefr. productions in Holland ;
and they would furniih a great interior con-
fumption, and alio an exportation. The
maintenance of cattle is one of the molt pre-
cious branches of agriculture, and it is very
eaiy to make them thrive in new improved
lands, (however moderate they may be fup-
poied) with the ailiitance of artificial grafles.
We may join to the keeping cattle, bees
alfo, which cod nothing but a little care,
and yield a very great product in almoit all
the neighbourhood of thefe lands, where
they are known to be kept ; but it is in all
thefe countries an article of culture, fuf-
ceptible of much greater perfection than is
eaiy to attain to without the publication of
T 3 instructions.
278 TRAVELS THROUGH
instructions, equally fjmple and eaiy to be
followed in practice.*
"It is generally underftood at prefent,
that commons of a great extent are contrary
to population, and to the progrefs of agri-
culture. It is neceftary in certain countries
to preferve fome parts of fuch pafturage
common, in order to favour the little far-
mers in facilitating their multiplication1 of
cattle. Thefe proportions of commons
ought to be retrained to the farmers ability
of properly flocking them. Upon fuch a
fyflem, thefe commons, divided into farms,
might be occupied by new families, who
would
* This is a juft observation, and very applicable to
the wafte lands of England, Scotland, and Ireland : bees
would prove of moft high advantage, if kept upon a large
fcafe, by underftanding people ; but here and there a hive
at a cottager's is all that is found at prefent. The remark
alfo that cattle fhould be the great objeel in new improve-
ments, is equally judicious ; fince, by their manure, they
are the beft fupport of the farmers crops, and at the fame
time are eafily converted to profit of whatever nature the
country moft requires, whether it poffeffes or not the ad-
vantages of navigation, and good roads. There is much
ufe in ftudying the hints thrown out in fuch memoirs as
th>3 ; becaufe they fhew what are the ideas of foreigners
concerning their waftes ; and when they coincide with
the opinions of the beft improvers at home, it is a ftrong
prefumption that the general notion is well and truly
founded.
HOLLAND. 279
■would, by their culture and their various
works, raife a vail addition of wealth to the
Hate.
" Ought fuch a plan to be laid afide for
any trivial objection, which men may make,
authorized by the indifference with which
they behold thefe vaft countries wafte ? Moft
ofthofewho know them, agree, that the
foil equals in goodnefs that of the belt, neigh-
bouring ones that are cultivated. We have
in effect proofs too ffriking of their fertility,
and that they want nothing but hands for
enriching a multitude of farmers, and the
ffate. But fay they, we have not hands for
the improvement : all our cultivators are
employed in our good lands, you muff
therefore give us men to break them up.
" If the abbeys, too opulent and too nu-
merous in the Auftrian Provinces, who have
been enriched alone by the immenfe im-
provements which they have antiently
made* had been ffopped by the pretended
want of hands, they would have remained
in the nrft indigence of their inftitution :
there would have been no inhabitants in the
country which they have improved, and the
cultivated lands, which they reclaimed from
defarts, would not have been peopled at this
day. The number of cultivators are equally
T 4 proportioned,
f So TRAVELS THROUGH
proportioned, in the mo ft populous countries,
to the extent of the lands in culture. The
fame objection would therefore have pre-
vented the draining of fome millions of acres
of marfhes, which in our days have been
done in Holland, and in Auftrian and French
Flanders, in Artois, Picardy, and Poitou,
&e. works which demand manvmore hands,
and greater expences than breaking up
heaths. The want of hands prevented
none of thefe enterprizes, fo happy and fo
ufeful ; and we may always obferve, that the
culture of the other lands never fuffered the
leaft diminution. We might add to thefe
examples that of England, of which half
the territory has been broken up and ame-
liorated fmce the end of the laft century ;
and where they prefer the treafures of a
good culture to the miferable interefts of
lmmcnfe commons. It is by this that
that nation has fo confiderably augmented,
in our days, her natural productions,
and her territorial power. They have
broken up in England lands as extenfive as
what we occupy here, and many of a quality
much inferior to ours; and it is principally
with the affiirance of artificial grafles, that
the Engiiin have infured the fuccefs of their
improvements, and which has rendered,
even
HOLLAND. 281
even upon ungrateful foils, their agriculture
the moll: flourilhing in Europe. If we can-
not here impute the defect of culture to the
quality of the land, lb neither can we rea-
ibnably attribute it to the want of cul-
tivators.
" It is certain, that the bell: countries re-
main wafte, when in want of labourers, and
that the leafl fertile become abundantly rich
by an afliduous labour ; but in the one and
the other cafe, it is not in the want or num-
ber of labourers that we muil feek the caufe
of rterility or abundance. We fhall cer-
tainly find the caufe of fterility, either in the
excefs of taxes, or in a want of a market for
the productions of the earth. The cultiva-
tor abandons his profemon, when lie cannot
procure a commodious lubliliance ; and that
he can never find, when taxes devour the
fruits of his labour, or carry off more than
his fuperfluity ; nor when he cannot enjoy
the fruits of his labour by an eaiy fale of his
products, to procure thole commodities he
wants for his comfortable fubiifrance. The
farmer, who is forced to lay up the fruits
which he cannot fell, will be unable to pro-
cure hlmieif cloaths, &c. and is forced to
abandon a fertile country, to go elfewhere
for the neceflaries of life. It is this which
renders
t9a T R A V E L S T K R 0 U G H
:t certain countries, where it is
i earth, m order
to c crops in abundance. But if a
mark :h a country,
it; is prefentiy gov
For it is with agricu::
is the fir It
.id encouragement. 1
then I ri tha g to proiit,
rdft in engaging. Men mnl-
like the productions of the earth, in
L- to .the : .ge> ana refpi
which they firidin their labours.
4t The neighbouring farmers to the waite
. complain generally of the want of
» ; ::sid that they are obliged to have re-
course to the turfs from the heaths to an-
>fe, . : which yields a manure
of a v_:v moderate virtue. It is the only
reaibn which makes them reftraiu their cul-
ta a fmall quantity of land, and neglect
For moil: of them agree,
c!
; 5, if they were
ly obit
: tS.
••
il rices, i ob-
idsa
HOLLAND. 283
lands, which might eafily be done by giving
them an example of this hufbandry. In all
this country they know no other lort but
ipurry ; and in a few parts clover. We
have found, that fpurry is limited to the
yielding pafturage for about three months.
In regard to clover, they bound themfelves
to the quantity they can low with wheat or
oats, and are abfolutely ignorant of the ufe
of lucerne and iaintfoin, which yield abun-
dance of food, which lair, at leafr. five or fix
years, and which will not fail fucceeding in
foils that demand only the common manage-
ment in the production of all forts of grain.
The inhabitants might, with the affiflance
of thefe graffes, multiply their cattle at will,
and thus £nd themfelves abundance of dung,
with which to fertilize all their lands, as
well as thofe they break up. It would be
more advantageous in cantons, where the
market for corn is difficult, to turn the tafte
and cares of the inhabitants to the commerce
of cattle, of which the transport is eaiy, and
the fale always certain. This commerce
would foon become #ery extended, by the
eaie with which the artificial grafies would
be^increaicd. It would be eaiy to make an
experiment on lucerne and faintfoin, of
which the fuccefs might be regarded as in-
fallible,
a*4 T R A V I : S THROUGH
fallible, being the principal fource of
dance and riches in a great extent of country.
" Thefe g . which of therml-ives in-
finitely ameliorate, by their duration of lome
years, the lands upon which :
give an excellent nourishment to cattle
ing winter; and the lands {ov
from the month of April to that of I
ber, will furniih abundant . d of
the heft quality, during ail the fun.::
" The neceiVary funds for the e"
required in great improvements, efj - -
tor iniuring the fucceis of them, could only
be found in an afibciation of a com: . The
fimple cultivators can find hands only, and
thofe hands are ufeleis without the funds
necefiary tor buildings, for the - fe of
cattle, feed, and the lubf. F 1 -
pie until the time they I - wyoi's ti :
fruits of their labour. From I i of
flerility of thefe lands. :
-t, we cannot hoy; trry
to lorm a company ior w : ^nig
their improvement. N,
compare an en:
that of ad: . y ex-
actly the expences and produce, we fhall find
Eery near the fame advantages in th: . a
.? in that of the other. But
HOLLAND. 285
prejudicc is for drainages, and this preju-
dice will not allow them to hope for
advantage from enterprizes, fuch as would
he required in the breaking up wrafte lands.
It is the government that mould give the
example; and a commiffion eftablimed to
employ themfelves with care, in fearching
the means of improving an extent of coun-
try lb great and intereiting, could fcarcely
want iuccefs. In remarking the event of
ibiiie particular grants, and fome modern im-
provements in Guelders, the country of
"Zutphen, in the marm of BoiQeduc, &c.
. would be convinced, that it would an-
swer the ends of government to take part by
offering grants, and advancing the fums ne-
ceiiarv to each farmer that demanded them,
whether for the purchafe of cattle, for build-
ings, for feed, and for lubfiftance till the
crops were reaped, and waiting a few years
for the reimburfement. It is not to be
doubted, but if thefe conditions were offered
to the countrymen, they would be accepted by
a fumcientnumber to improve all theie waftes*
" This propoiition is authorized by lbme
examples which bright to be generally known,
or, at leaft, attract more attention than they
pofftis at preient. Why mould not the re-
rublic execute in great, what a nobleman of
Holikm
zS6 TRAVELS THROUGH
Holftein has dene in fmall ? This nobleman,
an enemv to iervitu.de, and a friend to man-
kind, gave in 1739 to a countryman, his
bondman, the property of fome wafte and
deiart land. He built for him a farm, fur-
nifhed him with moveables, with cattle, im-
plements of tillage, and ieed. In lefs than
£ve years this countryman reimburfed his
benefactor, and found himfelf rich. Since
that epocha, the fame nobleman has efta-
b limed every year two iimilar farms, which
have been attended with the fame fuccefs.
He has thus fucceflively carried on this efta-
blifhment to the number of thirty families,
who are rendered happy, and who of a defart
have made a fertile country. If a iingle in-
dividual, if a nobleman, who has o_ily his
private eftate, with both lands and fortune
very limited, has been able to make fo happy
an improvement, what could not be effected
by a powerful frate, by following the fame
principles, and the fame method r No one
can deny but the flate might execute in
great, what this nobleman has performed in
fmall with fuch great fuceis.
ct TChe wafte lands of the republic would
demand the eftablifhment perhaps of forty
thoufand families. It feems, at firit fight,
that this would be an enormous expe-nce to
the
HOLLAND. 2$7
the ftate. It might be eftimated at fifty
millions, and is certainly a great object.
" But let us for a moment fuppofe, that
fifty thoufand families were efbblifhed in a
ilate of profperity on thefe lands, and the
farms in good culture, and the whole be-
longing to a foreign power, and that this
power ottered to fell them to the republic for
fifty millions, there is no perfon that can
think the republic would hefitate to make
the acquisition at that price, or that half the
value would be paid. By imitating the no-
bleman of rlclitein, the republic might gam
to herfelf thefe riches much cheaper, fince
me might be repaid her expences in five or
fix years, and reduce the expence to the
charges of adminiifration, and the lofs of the
interefh of the firft expenditure."*
* Then follows the particulars of-M. Ray's improve-
ment, a more circumftantial account of which I have
given above.
CHAP.
*SS TRAVELS THROUGH
CHAP. X.
Of the Taxes cf Holland,
THE amount to which taxes are carried
in Holland, forms a very remarkable
criterion of government. Are we to eiteem
the countries where taxes are low, as the
molt free and happv ; or thole where thev
are the hioheit. r It is amazing that this
queftion cannot be anfv/ered in the manner
which the firft confederation of it dictates ;
which is, that the lower the taxes the more
free and happy the people. But this is not
the affair : taxes run higher in fome of the
free flares, &c. of Europe, than in any of
-the abfoiute monarchies ; of this the country
I am now writing of is a ftrong initance ;
for in Holland, a given number of people,
pay near double what the fame number do
in France ; and in England, the people,
though not lb high taxed as in Holland, vet
pay more than in France. This lhews very
evidently, that taxes are not inconfiftent
with liberty, and that arbitrary power is not
able
HOLLAND. 2S9
able to iqueeze out of the people lb much as
a free government gets with eaie.
The cauie of this will mew us in a full
light the advantages of freedom. It is the
nature of deipotifm to impoverifh ; taxes are
carried to excels under an abiblute monarch,
but with all their excels they produce but
little. All lower claffes are miierably op-
prefled ; agriculture lies under a conftant de-
cline ; commerce is not lo attended to as in
free governments ; manufactures are alio in-
ferior ; and an irregular, oppreffive adminif-
tration on all ranks, are generally the confe-
quences of an arbitrary government. Thefe
are all impoverishing circumftances, and
their effecT: is lb ftrong, that we fee France,
which is upon the whole a more flouriihing
kingdom in feveral of thefe particulars than
moft of the other abiblute monarchies in
Europe, much more opprefled with paying
twelve millions fterling, than England, with
not half the number of people, from paying
ten, which is an enormous dilproportion.
And it is to be noted, that many writers,
who treat of the French commerce and ma-
nufactures, boail much of the flouriihing
ftate of thefe foundations of national power ;
fo that fuppoling commerce and manufac-
tures to be ever lb flouriihing in that king-
Vol. I. U dom,
z9o TRAVELS THROUGH
dom, it only proves, that the cultivators of
the ground and all other ranks of people are,
as it were, in utter ruin ; that is by far the
molt confiderable part of the kingdom.
In Holland, England, and other free go-
vernmentSj taxes are laid pretty equally on
all ranks of people, and proportionably to
fortune or income ; in which method but
little or no oppreffion can be found ; but in
France, &c. taxes are laid moil unequally.
All thoie ranks that depend on the crown,
are moif partially favoured, fuch as the no-
bility, clergy, men in office, foldierv, &c.
the confequence of which is, that all the
other ranks pay as much too much as thev
do too little ; and alter this general oppref-
fion, follows a particular one, which is fuf-
ricient to cruih all the lower clafles : fome of
the taxes, efpecially the Taille, are levied
according to the iuppoled ability of every
individual ; and the iuppofition is founded
on appearances. Farmers pay according to
their crops, the number and goodnefs of
their cattle, and the value of their imple-
ments and furniture; from which it muft
appear extremely plain, that the more they
improve their lands, and the more they
bring themfelves into an ability of doing ei-
kntial fervice to agriculture or the arts, and
the
HOLLAND. 291
the kingdom, by fo much, more are they
lure of being opprefled and burthened by
the load of frem taxes ; which is a iyftem of
abfurdity and deftruction fufficient to ruin
any nation under heaven. Hence the in-
finite number of beggars that diigrace all the
roads of France, and the general poverty
which is ihtn among all the lower claries of
the kingdom.
Thefe are the reafons that taxes produce
fo little, in proportion to the number of the
people, in all the arbitrary governments.
Their want of a free and proper constitution
expoles many of the clanes to fuch oppref-
fion, that poverty is the conlequence ; and
all the power and defpotifm upon earth can-
not force wealth from a people that are poor.
Whereas in republics and free governments,
taxes being equal and proportionable to every
man's ability of bearing them, they im-
poverish no one ; and the aggregate of the
people feem not at all opprefled.
The quantity of taxes which can be raifed
on a given number of people, mult every
where be proportioned to the wealth of fuch
people; consequently, that government is ca-
pable of railing the greateir. lums on its fub-
jects, which takes the heft means and molf
care to enrich them : and upon the very fame
U 2 principle,
*9* TRAVELS THROUGH
principle it is, that the iums railed in arbi-
trary monarchies muft be Imall.
In Holland, the government is free; and
though taxes are immenle, yet the people
are the moll: wealthy, upon an average, in
Europe. As to the various di virions of thefe
taxes, I cannot do better than infert the ac-
count given by the author quoted above.
fct No peribn can deny the neceffitv oi
taxes. Whoever contributes to the expence;
of the State, contributes to his own welfare,
to the prelervation of his fortune, and his
repolQ. But if the wants of the ibciety re-
quire the imperious aid of taxes, nothing is
more interefting to the welfare or humanity,
than fearching the means of conciliating the
Failing a tax with the rorm of it, and the form
of the collection with the interelts of popula-
tion, of agriculture, of arts, and of com-
merce ; in one word, with the prelervation
of the iburce of the tax, and with the in-
creafe of which that iburce is almoft always
futceptible among all nations. If it is very
difficult to remove arbitrary power from
taxes, and to attempt a perfect equality in
the repartition of them, it is not impollible
to approach very near it, and to pleale the
people, at lea ft with the form and the mild-
nefs of the collection.
" The
HOLLAND. 293
" The tax on timber, the verponden, or
duty upon immoveables, the duties upon col-
lateral fucceilions, upon the government
bonds, upon the iales, are very juft ; they
are not burthenibme ; the fame of the duty
upon domeftics, which is laid upon the rich,
and affeci.s not induftry, or the means of
fubfifting the people, but very indirecty ; no
otherwife than thefe duties exciting the rich
to a greater oeconomy, and rather itraitening
their confumption.
" It is not the fame with duties upon
commerce, cuftoms, and duties upon all ar-
ticles of confumption. The actual intereits
of commerce confidered, relatively to the
general fituation of the commerce of Europe,
and the competition which the Republic ex-
periences at preient, require that means be
found to reconcile a reduction of thele duties
to a moderate ftandard, with the public
wants. A diminution in the cuiroms might
be made up by a greater oeconomy in the
collection, by the decreate of many employ-
ments in collecting them, and by an atten-
tion more exact and more levere to frauds,
and in diminifhing the duties upon the con-
fumption of the neceflaries of life ; fuch as
the duties upon bread, butter, milk, pota*
toes, fruit, coal, turf, &c. They might
U 3 augment,
294 TRAVELS THROUGH
augment, perhaps, the product of the duties
upon other parts of coniumption, lb that en-
couragement would be given to population ;
and the luxurious coniumption would extend
itfelf the more. They might alio indem-
nify the exchequer for this diminution, by
throwing them upon the coniu.mptions of
luxury ; for example, the ftrong liquors,
the beverages, above all wine, tobacco, cof-
fee, tea, fugar, which do not pay enough ;
while the other articles, without which the
poor cannot fupport themfelves, pay too
much.
" The duties upon confumption are the
jnildeft and moil: juft taxes that can be made
uie of, efpeciallv among a people whole ter-
ritory is very limited, who have not many
manufactures, and whofe riches confift ef-
fentiallv in a very exteniive commerce,
which maintains a great population: among
fuch a nation, in all the cities that are the
feat of its commerce; this impoft. being laid
: alheoniumption, even of the necefl
of life, (eems to street neither population nor
', nor commerce ; becaufe population
is fupported by the commerce, which fuf-
:.: the lame time the Induftry limited
to the interior parts of the country, and agri-
culture, by a great interior coniumption. It
may
HOLLAND. 295
may be faid, that if" every thing is dearer, all
labour will be dearer in proportion ; that all
is relative and muft balance ; and that com-
merce pays all.
" Thefe general reflexions are (educing ;
but it is a great error to believe, that they
authorize an administration to increafe the
excile without meaiure upon all the necef-
faries of life. This imprudence would have
fatal effects, even in the cities which are the
feat of the greateft commerce, efpecially if
their commerce is a trade in freight, and
would quickly deflroy the greateil advan-
tages. It is an obfervation extremely juit,
that has been made, on the interefts of
France with her neighbours, under the name
of the Marq. D'Argenfon, relative to Hol-
land : " That in the places where the Re-
" public joins upon monarchial ftates, it
" is eafy to know the lands of the Republic
" from thole of the monarchv, by the good
" fbate of public works ; and the fame of the
" eftates of individuals ; here they are neg--'
" lecled, but there they are flouriihing and
4< in order."
The lame author again obferves, " that
" in the provinces of Flanders and Brabant,
H we iee cities one upon another, boroughs
" flouriihing, the country well cultivated,
U 4 " every
z95 TRAVELS THROUGH
" every thing in abundance, every thing in
M health."
" But the obfervator falls into a maaifeft
error, in attributing thefe advantages of the
lands of Holland to the republican govern-
ment ; and thole of the lands of Flanders
and Brabant, to the municipal adminiitra*
tion. If he had carried his obfervation a lit-
tle beyond the objects, which immedL .:
ftruck his view, he would have found the
taxes much more exceffive than in any other
country, and in many districts, the adminif-
tration loaded with abufes and erroneous exr
pences. He would have feen in feme pro^
vinces, and in many cities, about half the
impoft diihpated in its road from the people
to the coffers of the Sovereign ; and he would
have been aftonifhed to fee, in io great an ex-
tent of country, a flourishing agriculture,
refitting for many ages a destructive admi-
niltration. With more reflexion, he would
have found the caule of the flourishing Irate
of theie countries only in the fituation of
thefe provinces, which, by an eafy naviga-
tion, carries every thing: to a certain con-
fumption : a conlumption uniformly fuf-
tained for a long time by the trade of the
commercial cities of Holland. He w
J)aye feen towns carrying on commerce, or
occupied
HOLLAND. 297
occupied by manufacturers, equally well peo-
pled ; but in all others, a very bounded po-
pulation, fome even in indigence, and the
people only fubiiiting by the confuinption
and very limited expences of landlords and
cultivators. The cities themlelves, the
richeft, as Amflerdam, Rotterdam, &c.'fen-
iiblv impoverifh themlelves by the excels of
their taxes upon conlumption. Anvers,
Malines, Brullds, Louvain, Gent, and the
other cities of Brabant, and Auft dan Flan-
ders, are very badly peopled ; they would be
totally deferted, if their population was not
yet iuftained by the fabrication of linens
and laces ; lor agriculture is verv lenlibly
affected. All taxes which give a damp to
conlumption, deilroy the moft active agent
of agriculture and induftry, and weaken the
iource of taxes. This is what has happened
in all thefe provinces, that have much ex-
tended their duties upon the conlumption ot
the necerYaries of life. It is that which
happens at prelent from the fame realon in
England ; the induftrious workmen dilap-
pear, and carry with them their wealth and
great conlumption.
*' In all countries, fays M. Roufieau, a
man's hands are worth more than his lub-
fifhnce ; but this is only true in countries
where
298 TRAVELS THROUGH
where they are employed, and there onlv bv
general confumption, which furnifhes at the
lame time the means of fubliitance to a
world of women, children, old men, inva-
lids, and to men, in a word, who have no
hands.
" Thus it is that in a great confumption
we fee equally the fource of a flouriihing
agriculture, a great population, and the true
iource of taxes, and the power of a State. It
is the maintenance of that fource, which
ought to be the true object of administration.
And the free administration of one man is
a Shelter from the contradiction of perfonal
intertSts, which predominate in a Republi-
can government, and in the municipal ad-
ministration, with a greater means and faci-
litv of eftablifhino- and maintaining: this
fource of public felicity.
" Nothing is more ufeful to the public
than writings upon political matters, which
are the moft interesting. Obfervations on
thefe matters may give birth to an infinity of
happy difcoveries, and the greateft progrefs
of genius and arts. It is to them, the legif-
lative Spirit and the genius of adminiftration
owe the principles of the moSt. uleful regula-
tions ; for it is very clear from thence, what
will make induftry and commerce flourish.
It
HOLLAND. 299
It feems, that the more induftry and com-
merce there is among a nation, the more it is
forced to multiply regulations ; and fuch is
the weaknefs of the human mind, that there
is no nation among whom there remains
nothing in this refpect to wilh for. There
are ftates, where they feel without ceafing
the want of new laws, although they have
multiplied laws to an excefs, which are be-
come a load moft. burthenfome to the people,
and a great obltacle to the progrefs of agri-
culture, induftry, and commerce. There
are others, which have few ufeful laws; and
others, that want all to be made.
" Commerce, confidered in all its con-
nexions, in all the combinations of its uti-
lity, is an immenfe object. If we would
run through all its branches with advantage,
we ought to remember, that it is impoilible
for a Angle man to embrace all with that le-
giflative lpirit which adminiitration re-
quires. Thus they ought to know at will
the enlightening obfervations of thofe, who
have occupied themfelves in throwing light
upon all the different branches ; and who
would, like the Engliih, have laws, regula-
tions, and projects, for the improvements in
agriculture, manufactures, and commerce,
pals a crucible of public contradiction. It is
thus
TRAVJLLS THROUGH
:'.:v might indicate the limits of pru-
dence, and the wifdom of legiflation.
" It is in this point of viewing the public
Utility ; it is upon thefe principles that we
go here upon imports, and to examine ibme
other branches, the moft interesting to in-
duftry and commerce, which have the
.:eit influence upon their progrefs, and
coniequently is more interefiing to a nation,
who has no other lburce for her prosperity
than induftry and commerce.
" The impoils in Holland are divided
into three capital branches ; the duties upon
rtation and importation ; and the duties
on valuation, which is not under that deno-
mination an ufelefs title, but an additional
dutv upon exportation and importation. This
i> the firft branch of taxes, and the only one,
which is equal to all the inhabitants of the
Seven Province?, which ipreads itlelf over
all, end generally in an uniform manner; and
this the States General directly order, and
the produce of it is carried to the treafury of
the Republic. The two other principal
branches confift in duties upon weights in
the provinces and cities, in duties upon con-
sumption, and in others, perfonal and real.
Thtfe two branches, whereof a part of the
produce belongs to the cities, and the other
to
HOLLAND.
■ : l
to the provinces, are iiubdivided into an in-
finity of other branches, all directed by a
great number of laws, different and parti-
cular to each province, and to each city.
For the ftates of the provinces, and the re-
gency of the cities, are the legiflators of their
interior adminiftration.
" We do not propoie to give a table of
the adminiftration of the finances, which re-
quires a great detail, and is foreign to our
iubject, but limply to offer ibme obierva-
tions, which the utility and the advantages
of manufactures and commerce demand.
We owe alio this attention to the curiofity
of foreigners, who feek, in the knowledge of
the wiidom and ceconomy of the Dutch ad-
minift ration, for examples uleful to imitate.
" The laws of the cufloms ought to have
eflentially for their object, the favouring and
encouraging agriculture, manufactures, and
in general, all national induftry, and exterior
commerce. It is very difficult to make a
general law univerfally wife and uleful upon
a matter of lo vail extent, among commercial
nations ; becaufe, independently ot the necef-
fities of the finances, which demand impe-
rioufly ot adminiftration, duties upon com-
merce ; the duties on exportation and im-
portation, in general on all materials raw.
or
502 TRAVELS THROUGH
or manufactured, which come in or go out,
the progrefs, and even the prefervation of
agriculture, manufactures, and commerce,
do all require prohibitions, or the impoli-
tions of duties, which, in taking place,
either upon importation, or upon the expor-
tation, coniift of an infinite number of arti-
cles, both raw and manufactured. France
and England ought to favour the importa-
tion of all the raw materials of their manu-
factures, which foreigners furniih them.
Both the nations fhould clog the exportation
of the raw materials of their own produce,
and alib the importation of all fuch foreign
manufactures as would be prejudicial to
their own. They ought to facilitate as
much as poilible, the exportation of the pro-
ducts of their own, or their colonies growth,
and of all the manufactures they do not
confume ; for procuring all the advantages to
agriculture, which thofe nations cannot en-
courage too much in Europe and America.
The burthens, which agriculture, the prin-
cipal and molt precious fource of their com-
merce, obliges them to throw upon the li-
berty of foreign trade, and the necefiitv of
lupporting their own manufactures, or of ac-
quiring new ones, made them imagine the
.;rces of free ports, for remedying as
much
HOLLAND. 303
much as poffible the infinite inconveniences
given birth to by prohibitions. Among
thefe two nations, the adminiftration of
commerce is perhaps the branch of the go-
vernment of the ftate which requires con-
tinually of their minifliers the mod attention,
care, and labour.
" The admin iftration of the commerce of
Holland is infinitely lefs difficult ; me has
none but objects of detail, {he has not to
manage or conciliate in legiflation lo great a
diverfity of interefts, as feems a contradic-
tion ; although her commerce embraces se-
nerally whatever is in Europe, and which
Europe carries on with the other quarters of
the world, yet her trade is neverthelefs of a
nature wholly different from that of France
and England. Thefe two nations, are upon
the whole, kingdoms of agriculture, manu-
factures, commercial, warlike, and powerful
in territory, and marine. Holland is
only a warlike, maritime, and commercial
nation. Its adminiftration of commerce is
lefs complicated, and its legiflation ought to
be infinitely more iimple. Holland has not
any natural productions to encourage by pro-
hibitions on importation, nor by privileges
on exportation. As much as the quantity
of commodities ■coniumed in Holland, fur-
pafTes
30+ TRAVELS THROUGH
pafles that of the productions of its foil, agri*
culture becomes one of the moil lucrative pro-
reilions ; fhe can be difcou raged or destroyed
only by depopulation, which muft be very
coniiderable to be felt in the coniumption of
the productions of fo limited a territory.
" Almoft all her manufactures, reduced
to a fmall interior coniumption by the dear-
nefs of labour, demand iome ailiftance in
the cuftoras ; it would be uielefs to under-
take to revive them by prohibitions, or by
exemptions. Even with this affiftance, it
would be impoiiible to produce them at a
price low enough to withftand the competi-
tion of foreigners ; and beiides, the intereft
of the aggregate of her trade requires, that
her magazines have always an equal aflbrt-
ment of her own manufactures, and thofe
of all other nations.
u We can only except the fifhery, which
we mav regard as a fort of culture natural
to Holland, which is one of the moll: pre-
cious branches of national induliry ; but the
induftry, which is occupied in the building
of (hips, the whitening of linens and wax,
the manufacture of ftarch, paper, and por-
celain, cannot be too much encouraged ;
but not by prohibitions of importation,
which are contrary to the interefts of the
Dutch
HOLLAND, 305
_ Dutch commerce, and the freighting trade;
but by interior exemptions, by an exemp-
tion from the duties of exportation, and by
the liberty of importation among other na-
tions.
" Butter, and certain liquors, are almoft .
the only productions of national induftry; of
which the interior confumption ought to be
enfured by duties upon importation, equiva-
lent to a prohibition.
" The object of the cufroms ought there-
fore to be principally to favour, as much
as pofiible, the importation and re-exporta-
tion of all forts of merchandize, and foreign
commodities ; and adminifrration ought to
attach itfelf to railing as little as pofiible,
the price of merchandize and commodities
imported and re-exported, for fuftaining
the advantage in the buying and felling
trade. This favour, which is demanded by
the nature and commerce of Holland, feems
not to require, in the laws of the cuftoms,
any dilpolitions but what are extremely fim-
ple : Neverthelefs, this law, notwithftand-
ftanding the changes that have been well
conducted, is yet very complicated ; it em-
barraffes commerce, and gives great advan-
tages to the Hanfe-Towns, and efpecially to
thofe of Hamburgh and Bremen, whole
Vol. I. X com-
3o6 TRAVELS THROUGH
competition acquires every day a fuperiority,
becaufe their duties upon importation and
exportation are fcarcely any thing.
"It is commonly reckoned, that the
♦cuftoms amount to 5 per cent, of the value
of the produces and merchandize, both on ex-
ported and imported in general ; but an exa-
mination of thcfe laws, will not permit us
to make this eftimatibn with precifion.
" T»he duties upon importation and expor-
tation are only one per cent at Hamburgh,
and half per cent at Bremen ; which na-
turally enfures to thole cities a decifive per-
ference among foreign merchants, on all
occasions wherein they -can give a prefer-
ence ; and thefe occafions prefent themfelves.
every day, very often in the ordinary courfe
of commerce. Duties fo moderate, invite
not to fraud ; they do not offer advantage
enough, to engage a merchant to expote
himielf to the fmalleft rifques ; and for this
reafon, they produce more money to the
public treafury, than if they were higher ;
but inducing traders to be fraudulent.
"There is no nation able to leave all ex-
ports and imports entirely free from all duties,
and which confequently would want no
cuflom-houfes, either for the intereft of the
finances,
H O L L A N D. 307
finances, or for encouraging its agriculture,
manufactures, and commerce : but the par-
ticular confiderations, which would enter
into the compofition of fuch a freed ftate,
could not be combined with too much care
and attention, for conciliating at once the de-
. mands of the revenue, with the neceflity of
of preferving agriculture, manufactures, and
commerce, which are the only fources of
revenue.
" The actual lituation of the commerce
of Europe, and that of Holland, which is
fo intimately connected with the reft of Eu-
rope that it depends entirely on it, requires
not only that re-exportation be exempted
from all the duties of exportation, but alio,
that the duties payable on importation be re-
turned.
" If we give any attention to the mar-
kets of the preient commerce of Europe, and
the circulation of products and merchandize,
we (hall be convinced, that the profits of
commerce in general are much reduced at
prefent, by excels of competion ; the induf-
try of thefe nations is much greater than
that of the abilities of the merchants, who
mult, pay for labour, circulation, freight,
or the tranfport by land ; the expences of
infurance, commifllon, wharfage, and ma-
X % gazines ;
3o8 TRAVELS THROUGH
gazines; and laftly, for the profit of ciro>
lating the figns of the value. When every
nation, that adds all thefe expences to the
price of the merchandize, in paffing from
the firft hand to the laft, alfo raifes the value
by the duties which are laid on them, it
mull make them neceflarily and quickly lotc
all profit in the circulation ; it muft im-
poverish a commerce, efpecially if it be a
trade of buying and felling. This is a na-
tural and infallible caufe of a decreafe very
fenfibly felt in the univerfality of trade,,
where the difadvantages are not to be ba-
lanced by the profits made by certain indi-
viduals from fpeculation, even with uncom-.
mon fuccefs ; for in this matter, we are only
to confider the general trade, its common
and daily courfe, independant of the revolu-
tions which take place from time to time
in fpeculative commerce ; and which ought
not to enter into the fpirit and motives of
the cuftoms on exportation and importation.
" But the ftate of the finances of the Re-
public, and the expences which (he muft
iuftain, will not permit the ufe of a rule,
which ordains the return of the duties of
importation upon re-exportation ; or for
freeing foreign commerce of all duties of ex-
portation and importation, and to reduce thole
upon
HOLLAND. 309
upon the entry, to the interior. confumption ;
but it the diminution of the public revenue,
will not allow of giving fuch an affiftance to
commerce, would it be impoffible to find,
in a matter fo important, the means of giv-
ing, at prefent, that encouragement which
is indifpeiifably necefiary, without altering
the revenues of the ftate ? Would it be im-
poffible to form the idea and project of new
rates of cuftoms to be fubftituted for the pre-
fent ones, the duties to be more moderate,
the collection more eafy and certain, to give
the fame product, and perhaps a fuperior
one, and at the fame time to fpread through
the Dutch commerce, a part of thofe pre-
cious advantages antiehtly enjoyed ?
" We mould fall into a great error, if we
regarded, in general, the excife upon con-
fumption, and upon houfes and lands, as in-
different to commerce, upon the foundation
of Holland not having many manufactures to
conduct ; and becaufe the confumption there
is fo fuperior to the productions of a territory
extremely limited, that it is not to be feared
culture would ever be negtecled on account
of thole imports.
" We generally confider the duties upon
confumption, like the imports, as lels bur-
thcnfome, the moil jiift, and the mort equal.
X 3 This
3io TRAVELS THROUGH
This is true, 12 in the impoiltion of the ex-
cite it falls upon the confumption of the
neceflaries of life, and the iubitance of the
people, without destroying induftry, and the
means of iubfiftance. In admitting theie
conditions, the impoft becomes as juft, and
as little burthenfome, as any tax can be.
" The weight of this tax is laid upon the
confumption of all the nc of life, in
the cities where the wealtjb eflentially con-
iifts in a vtry extended commerce, which
naturally maintains a great population, and
is, without doubt, the lefs fenfible of it ;
but all is the dearer, all labour is dearer in
proportion, but all is relative, all is ba-
lanced, and the commerce pays all.
" But though this exciie, laid upon the
confumption of neceflaries, in the commercial
cities, is lefs burthenfome than elfewhere,
it is nevertheless very deltrucVive, e'fpeci
in cities where the commerce cdnfifts of
buying and felling. ' It cannot be coritefted,
but that thefe excifes render the neceflaries of
life much dearer to the people, and confe-
ntly increafe the prices of labour ; and
from thence, it mufr. neceffarily arife, that
all the works, required in the fhipping and
navigation of an infinite detail, will become
dear, and the maintenance of the c
equally
HOLLAND. 3n
equally dearer ; the nation mint therefore
lole the advantages of a low freight : and it
further follows, that the labour in loading
and unloading merchandize, and the ex-
pences of magazinage being dearer, the com-
miflions from foreigners will infallibly di-
minifh and pafs to rival nations. The fimery
becomes alio infinitely dearer for the fame
reafon, and much lels ufeful to the mer-
chants ; the nation mult therefore impo-
verish itfelf, by continual decreafe of com-
merce and navigation.
" The influence of the excife, upon com-
modities of the firft neceility, with relpecl to
population, and the welfare of the people,
is much more lenlibly felt in cities at a dis-
tance from maritime commerce, where the
evil has a progrefs much more rapid ; there
it produces a failure of all manufactures,
that are not lupported by the interior con-
iumption, or which cannot fupport at home
the competition of foreigners, by the fin-
gie effect of the dearnefs of labour, which
gives too high a price to all works of induf-
try ; and the lofs of an induftrious clafs of
the people, by diminifhing population and
confumption, will neceflarily impoveriih all
the other claiies, and weaken the frate.
The people, who have only induflry for
X 4 their
; i z TRAVELS THROUGH
their fupport, are become very poor in the
cities of Holland at a diftance from com-
merce. The decline of manufactures has al-
ready flopped a part of the uiual quantum of
induitry in the commerce of retale, while
the traders in that branch can fcarcely lub-
fift ; they are now too great a number. The
lofs of manufactures has diminiihed the
number of purchafers ; the population aifo
of cities, diitant from maritime commerce,
can hardly fuftain itielf in the ftate of me-
diocrity ; which we fee bv the luxury and
confumption of thofe, who live on their
fortunes or rents, and of the inhabitants of
the country.
"' If we examine with attention the dif-
ferent branches of taxes, among different
nations, we fhall find, that the intereils of
neral induilry diminiih, or are totally de-
frayed in iome, while in ethers they arife
and augment, only becaufe they fall alone
ipon luxury, riches, and fupex^fluities. We
might find, without falling upon the means
of the people's fubiiilance, enough to fupport
the public expences ; and we might t.
preferve the fources of the finances, and the
ftrength of the if ate ; for if we reflect well,
we might iee, that the riches of individual;,
and thofe finances, have ec their ionrcc
in
HOLLAND. 313
in the induftry of the people. The wealth,
from which the ftate fupports her exchequer,
in whatever hands it may be tound, is all
produced by the induftry of the people ; de-
ftrov this induftry m a ftate, and the riches
of landlords, and thole of the proprietors of
houfes and lands, as well as thole or com-
merce, become at once annihilated, and
with them thole of the linances.
" If we examine upon thele principles the
different branches of taxes in Holland, we
ihall rind, that the duties upon bread, meat,
milk, butter, fruits, turf, and coal, deftroy
without cealino; the fources of all taxes, and
that they ought to be infinitely reduced, or
totally fir i. The excife, on the con-
trary,-upon the commodities of luxury,
might be infinitely augmented without
hurting induftry, and without giving any
interruption to the means of the people's fub-
illtance. The duties upon tobacco, tea,
coffee, fugar, cocoa, oil of olives, wines,
brandies, fluffs, and above all the filks and
the rich ftufrf foreign n.;.:r:f;cli:re, are
3 low, and hi cities upon all thefe
Luxury could well fupport ; there
iing, for the m t, t confump-
tion 01 them, which would reComperice
very advantageoufly (without doing any
miichk i
314 TRAVELS THROUGH
miichief cither to commerce or any branch
of national iuduftry) for a great diminution^
or a total fuppreflion of all the exciles upon
the neceilaries of ii
" The impontions upon lands, houfes,
mortgages, horles, carriages of all forts,
upon all iorts of domeilics, upon marriages,
upon the public lales of moveables and im-
moveables, in fuppofing the imposition upon
the footing of a juft valuation and tine, the
duty upon timber, and the rights of iuccef-
fion, whether teftamentary or ab i?itcftato9
or by the direct line of defcent, are jufl im-
poiitions ; they do not attack the induitry of
the people, they fall only upon wealth or
fuperfluitv, and might be imitated in the
whole, or in part, with great advantage by
I . other nations of Europe.
" It is not the fame with the duties im-
pofed upon cows, whether under the name
It for cow-keepers, or under other de-
dications, whiqh raife the price of the
r, and choeie, a precious part of
ilimentofthe people, and abiblute ne-
' ies of life. Thele duties may be re-
garded as an indirect excife upon milk, for
ovv-keeper muft fell it dearer, in pro-
ion to the tax upon cows. They do not
; to the the confumption is
made
HOLLAND. 315
made by falsing the butter and cheefe,
which cannot be carried to market without
fait. By this euftom, the cow-keeper re-
fells his fait with great profit, and the tax
is not burthenfome to him, becaufe the price
which he has for his milk, butter, and cheefe,
throws the duty upon the confumer.
" The duties upon consumption raife the
price of commodities, and this augmenta-
tion of value, may produce different effects
among different nations. It is true, in ge-
neral, that the duties upon confumption are
paid by the confumers, becaufe they do not
change the natural price of the commodity,
which is regulated at market by the abun-
dance or fcarcity of money, and is more or
lefs according to the demand. We mould
not here give any attention to the expences
of the proprietors, in bringing their goods
to market ; thofe who are neareft, enjoy in
this refpect, an advantage which is foreign
to the tax, and in which the tax makes no
difference : but it happens often, that the
duties much reftrain the confumption, either
in removing the conlumers, and leffening
their number, or in exciting them to a
greater oeconomy ; and the defect of con-
fumption eftablifhes fuch an abundance of
the commodity, that the proprietor is forced
to
3i6 TRAVELS THROUGH
to give it for a low price, though only to
pay the duties upon conlumption ; in this
cafe, thefe taxes on conlumption "are the oc-
ifiuite evils. This inconvenience
is not the only one to be feared in Holland ;
it cannot happen, that the proprietors of
commodities mould pay no part of the du-
ties on confumption, becaule the conlump-
tion of commodities is much iuperior to the
territorial production : thus, it* they would
raife a duty, at the expence of the inhabitants
of the country (who are almcit all cow-
keepers or turf-cutters, and the richeft part
of the lower people, and, at the lame time,
the onlv ones that are rich, are near the
maritime cities) in impoling on the cow-
keerers the tax on fait, and other duties
upon cows, and iikewne a lpecies ol capita-
tion upon the turf-cutters, it is certain,
that the legiflator will mils his tnds, from
thefe duties being paid by the coniumers, to
whom they are very burthenfome.
" Thefe taxes, as weU as thole upon the
neceflaries of life, would not only be happily
made up by an Lncreafed duty upon the
conlumption (lb much per cent, upon the
value) of fugars, tea, coffee, cocoa, and to-
bacco, and upon which there are very mo-
derate duties at prelent ; and alio v.^oa iilks,
liUn:>5
HOLLAND. 357
fluffs, and other foreign manufactures.
Thefe commodities and merchandize are
fufceptible of a great augmentation of the
duties upon importation and consumption ;
and theie duties would not hurt national in-
duftrj nor commerce, by returning, as be-
fore obferved, the amount of the duty upon
re-exportation.
" If proportional duties were added upon
the confumption of tobacco, lugar, tea, coffee,
cocoa, oil of olives, wines, brandies, filks,
and rich ftufrs, which are the confumptions
of luxury, the finances would finely receive
a produce from them, iuperior to the amount
of that which is drawn irom the entire
exciie upon the neceiiaries ot life, as upon
bread, milk, butter, cheefe, meat, turf,
and coals.
*• We may oblerve, that the countrymen,
or cultivators ot land, are extremely loaded
with taxes in Holland, but they are never-
thelels the clais of people who pay the leeu,
becauie they pay with the money of the cou-
iumers. One is altonifhed, in travelling
through the province of Holland, to lee le>
little land in the hands of the cultivators ;
and though the taxes are io high, yet the
people lo eafy, and for the moil part rich ;
lb that a very great number arc not ieen in
town?.
318 TRAVELS THROUG1I
the towns, without having a chaife with one
or two hories. The reafon is very flmple,
thofe who employ themfelves in the nihery,
find a prodigious coniumption, and, at their
door, the fund of inexhauiuble riches; raoft
of them reckoning their fortunes by the ton
of gold, or 10,000 florins. Thofe, who
undertake turferies, are not poorer; the other
countrymen have only milk and legumes for
the object of their induftry ; they are all
cow-keepers or gardeners, or both the one
and the other ; they fell the fruit of their
induflrv very dear, and proportionally to the
taxes which they pay ; they have all the ad-
vantage of carrying them on canals to a
great market, fo that we are to regard their
taxes no other than imp-oils laid upon the
confumption of the bourgeois, and the other
inhabitants of the cities. This wealth per-
petuates itfelf among the countrymen, be-
caufe they do not permit their children to
quit their own profeflion ; and this is one
of the greater! iburces of the Republic's
ftrength.
" But this fource, this opulence of the
country, differs infinitely by the diminution
of that great coniumption which maintains
it: but the adminiffration mould ftop the
progrefs of depopulation in the cities re-
moved
HOLLAND. 3*9
moved from maritime commerce. We
mould have found, that this fource has al-
ready loft much, if we had taken the pains
to obferve it with care. We have not, per-
haps, given fufficient attention how much
the riches of a cultivating people, and that
oftheftate, depend upon the eaiy circum-
ftances of the inhabitants of cities ; if they,
who have loft their manufactures, which
leaves them but little other induftry, and
who, by their fituation, cannot take part in
maritime commerce, nor in the fifliery,
nor in the building of mips, are neverthe-
less obliged to pay always the fame fubiidies
to the ftate ; it muft neceftarily follow, that
they muft be impoverished and depopulated
by fuch impofitions, and their weaknefs muft
have a lafting effect on their whole neigh-
bourhood, and even upon the profperity of
cities occupied in a great commerce. It
feems, therefore, that the general intereft of
the commercial cities, is nearly the lame
with that of the others who have no com-
merce, and very little, induftry, and whom
they mould aftift, by bearing a greater pro-
portion of the public levies.
" Administration might indemnify the com-
mercial cities, for fuch augmentation in their
mare of the public expences, by funpreffing
the
320 TRAVELS THROUGH
burthen of impofls which fall upon naviga^
tlou ; and which alter or deftroy a part of
the natural and artificial advantages, which
the navigation of Holland has upon that of
ether nations.
" Independantly of the freedom of the
manoeuvres which the Dutch know how to
give their (hips, which from thence require Ids
numerous crews, independantly of their extra-
ordinary extreme oeconomy of Jiving, of their
attention in procuring freight, of having few
expences from delays, and never failing upon
ballafl, of procuring themfelves all the ma-
terials for building at the firft hand, and of
conftrucling in the cheapeft manner, poriible,
they have the advantage enjoyed by few na-
tions of Europe, of having a much greater
number of feamen than their navigation, all
extenfive as it is, can employ in time of
peace, and which eftabliihes, in all their
ports, a moft happy competition for forming
good crews at a low price. This clals of
people is fo numerous, that it is pretended
there were more than 25,000 Dutch iailors
employed in the Engliih (hips.
" This immenfe number of feamen,
is the product of their fmall fifhery, which
laits all the year, more extenfive in Holland
than any where elie, as well as of the whale
and
HOLLAND. ::i
and herring fisheries. Thefe three fisheries
do net ceafe to raile and form every year a
great number of feamen, more than their
marine and commerce can employ.
w We cannot fee without regret, in {o wife
an administration, all thefe happy advantages
balanced by taxes. If M. de Montefquieu
had been more exactly initructed in the com-
merce and finances of Holland, he would
not have laid, that whatever contributes to
navigation is exempted from duties : he
would have faid, on the contrary, that
whatever contributes to navigation, ought to
be exempted from duties; becauie, as he
very well obierved, the oeconomy of the
Hate, gives foul to the commerce of freight.
If the tribute of it is loft, it is recompenced
in fome meaiure by the induftry and riches
of the Republic. Here the molt wife Re-
public would find an example, worthy of
their imitation, in the adminftration of the
monarchial {rates ; for iuch duties. M de
Montefqueieu obferved, to be little proper for
making commerce in general proiperous,
and efpeeially the commerce of freight.
For there is, perhaps, no monarchial ftate,
wrhere we find real duties upon mips, and a
fort of capitation upon their crews.
Vol. I. V " The
3zz TRAVELS THROUGH
" The duties of two and an half per cent.
( ftablilhed upon immoveables, likewiie upon
tlie amount of iales, and alio upon mort-
gages, are extended to all forts of mips,
yatchts, and buildings, covered or un-
covered, compriiing their cannon, rigging,
uteniils, &c. They except from thefe duties,
only thefirft letters of property, and the pri-
vileges of the builders ; and the ordonnance
directs, that the duty upon fale (hall be paid,
half bv the vender and half by the purchafer;
but if the purchafer is a foregner the duty is
reduced hair.
" Befides this, the mips pay another duty
under the name of Lalt Geld. It is a tax of
c;s. per laft upon exportation, and ios. upon
importation ; and the vefiel thus acquitted, re-
mains free all the reft of the year. It is a
duty laid upon the pailport or lettres de mer,
which laft during a year. Ships are obliged
to take every year a new paflport, and to pay
new duties of five or ten (hillings per laft.
" We know of no other exemption from
excife, in favour of navigation, than that of
iome of augmentation, in favour of bakers,
who make the bifcuit for the ihips going
to fea, for their confumption on board.
" Salt pavstive florins per ton, and iome
augmentation. That which is employed in
falting
HOLLAND. 5:3
lairing herrings, and other fifh, is exempt
from this duty ; but there is fince impoied,
from a half to two (hillings per head upon
the crews, according to the different coun-
tries to which they are bound, as a duty
upon their coniumption of fait.
" Thefe duties upon mips, and their con-
fumption, are very burthenfome to the Dutch
merchants, and prejudicial to that competi-
tion which they have at prefent to iuitain,
in the trade of buying and felling, and upon
freight, which is the firft bafis of it.
" In the iyitem of taxes, limited to thefe
duties, and the excife upon coniumption, there
are in Holland two forts of fortunes, and
which are the moll confiderable in the Re-
public, which contribute nothing to the pub-
lic expences ; becaule thefe fortunes are out
of the reach of taxes. For we are not to re-
gard as a contribution to the public charge,
the duties of excile which are paid bv mer-
chants, and the proprietors ol income in the
public funds of foreign nations. The mer-
rs pay nothing to the ftate upon the
product of the capitals which they circulate
in commerce; nor the flock-holders upon
the income which they draw from fo-
reigners ; and yet if we calculate the ge-
neral revenue of the nation, we mail rind
V 2 that
324- TRAVELS THROUGH
that thefe two are the moil: con tide rable part,
perhaps two thirds of the whole.
" The public revenue of a nation is no
other than a part of its general income,
whereof all the branches ous;ht to contribute
to form the public revenue. And it is a moil
destructive evil in the form of taxation, when
the richeft branches of the general revenue
contribute nothing to form the revenue of
the public. Independently of the perma-
nent injuftice, which reiults from the ine-
quality of the divifion of the public duties
among the citizens of the fame ftate, the
exemption from the impolts, enjoyed by the
fortunes of merchants, and of perfons enjoy-
ing wealth in the public funds of foreign na-
tions, throws all the burthen of the public
expenees upon the manufacturing people,
upon indigence itfelf, and upon thofe clafles
of people who are not able to bear it, and
muft necefiarily be very deftructive to the
welfare of the ftate.
" The duties upon the confumption of
luxury, principally the heavy ones, which
enter only into the confumption of the rich,
fuch as the commodities of prime quality,
and the expenfive fluffs of foreign manufac-
ture, are but a weak means of making the
the greateft fortunes, and the greateft wealth
in
HOLLAND. 3zS
In the ftate, contribute in any proportion to
the expences of the public; efpecially in a
country where luxury is {o generally intro-
duced, and where it is fo well known how
to reconcile it with the greateft ceconomy;
and where, in fpite of the efforts of the
mode and of luxury, few of the rich fpend
more than a third or half of their incomes.
" Let the declaimers againft luxury, and
thofe who complain without cealing among
fome nations at perfonal impositions, and the
arhitrarinefs that accompanies them, con-
fider of the inconveniences which muft re-
mit here, from an exemption of fvch perfons
from contributing to the public expences,
who enjoy three fourths of all the fortunes
of the ftate ; an exemption, the evil of which
renders ufelefs the greateft fburces of the
power of a ftate and the induftry of a people!
It is above all things, neceflary in a Repub-
lic, that a fpirit and zeal for the welfare of
the country, mould fuggeft the means of ex-
tending the taxes with a juft equality, and a
happy proportion, as much as poilible ; and
that the weight of the public expences mould
be laid upon all wealth, and particularly
upon the greateft wealth that exifts in the
ftate. It cannot be improper, to fhew by
Y 3 way
326 TRAVELS THROUGH
way of example, what is done in the city of
Hamburgh.
" There they make all the merchants
contribute to the imports in proportion, to
their pofleffions ; but the merchant taxes
himfelf. He knows at the moment he is
going to pay his tax, the wealth which he
pofieifes, and he makes his calculation, and
carries himielf, or lends, in a bag fealed up,
the fum which he impofes on himielf, and
which is received by four commilTaries or
receivers, and put, in prefence of the perlbn
who brings it, into a cheft, without any one
g allowed to count it. It is er.iy to per-
ceive the reaibn of this. No peribn can be
received into that city to carry on any com-
merce, without making oath of contributing,
•in confeience, to the expenccs of the ftate.
fee clearly, that bv this form of im-
port, many men, who had no regard for re-
ligion, might cheaply acquit themielves of
contributing to the public expences. Never-
theleis the good which refults from this
form of taxation, mult, be much fuperior to
the inconveniences which mav accompanv
it, lince an adminirtration, fo wife as that of
Hamburgh, finds the advantages of this
If it is not the mort fure, it is at lean:
noil mild way of making unknown for-
tunes
HOLLAND. 327
tunes contribute to the expellees of the date:
and if there reiults ibme inconveniences from
this form of import, they ought at leaft to be
preferred to the infinite evils produced from
entire exemptions.
" The good administration of the finances,
the mofr. juif and moil exact equal it v in the
divilion of taxes, ought to be regarded among
all nations, but efpecially in Holland, as it
is one of the greateft and raoft important
means of prefer ving or increaiing com-
merce ; and it much imports all the nations
of Europe, that Holland mould preferve her
trade, or increaie it, if poffible, bv new regu-
lations, or by new efforts of national in-
dull r v.
" The commerce of the Dutch confifts
in buying the commodities and merchandize
of the South, which they depoiit among
them for making out afibxtments for the
North ; and the lame from the North
the South. Thev have eftablifhed among
them the bell: market in Europe, tor the
products of the foil, and the induftry of the
four parts of the word. Thus the mduftry
of the Dutch eonfifts principally, and almoft
entirely, in giving a value to the (try of
all other nations. The induftry cr the
Dutch is therefore ex, ulerul to ail
Y j. otl
TRAVELS THROUGH
othei nations, a::d it imports them Infinitely
to perpetuate it. It is the very nature of the
trac'e carried on in Holland, to efbbliih,
a •--" : ail other nations, an advantageous
competition in their fales and their pur-
chaies ; to fell for them, with the greatell
r, and at the befl rrice, their fup tes;
and to procure them at the loweit price,
whatever they want: this confbntly giv
a new activity to their induitiy, and multi-
plies the means of their fubfiftance. This
activity, which the Dutch give to the com-
merce and induflrv of all Europe, by their
navigation, is animated and infinitely in-
prea j the immenfe fum of credit, and
oi wealth which th in,
id which fhey circulate without ceaiing, in
all the places to which they trade. This
Come of the mcfi precious food that gives
..'its to European induitrv. This circula-
. rtant, that if we hip-
po.:, it Gitpended for only a year, in the
prefent fiti it I the commerce of Europe,
all induirry would fall into an univerlal lan-
guor ; the fruits of agriculture, and the arts,
would become a charge to their proprietors,
and the finances of the greatefr. part of the
cowers of Europe, would neeeflarily be af-
fected.
H O L L A N D. 329
fected. The general welfare of all the indi-
viduals, which compofe the great European
family, requires the mod active circulation
of commodities and merchandize. This
circulation cannot he made but with the af-
fiftance of filver, which is the reprefentative
fign of all value ; but as on one fide, filver
cannot circulate itfelf but with flownefs, and
on the other, as the fum of money, which
exifts in Europe, cannot reprefent the tenth
part of the value which agriculture and in-
duftry continually produce, the genius of
commerce has equally fupplied the flownefs
of the circulation of filver, and the infuf-
ficiency of its quantity, by the figns of mo-
ney, by fubftitutes, which reprefent it,
where it is not ; and which exactly executes
all its functions. Now it is credit alone,
that can produce thefe figns in the abun-
dance necefl'ary for giving fo great an acti-
vity to the circulation of products and mer-
chandize ; and Holland furnifhes Europe
with much more than half this credit.
" We ought to confider iikewife, the in-
duftry and the commerce of the Dutch, in
another point of view of utility, yet more im-
portant.
" The
TRAVELS THROUGH
" The equilibrium of commerce is the
object which ought moil to occupy, at pre*
lent, the political genius of the nations of Eu-
rope. It is by the eftablifliment and the
• nefervattion of this equilibrium, that each
nation . I take, in the fum of the He-
neral riches of Europe, the part which na-
turally belongs to her iituation, to her pro-
ductions, and to her induilry. The gene:..!
iutereft of the commerce of Europe, is not
only an enemy of all deflruction, but it ft -
ther requires, that each nation be induilri-
ous, and carry on with freedom whatever
commerce ihe can acquire. This V - : ex-
tends itieir here to navigation and legitimate
commerce between all nations, without
linking at the eilabiifhments of comme
which belong to each nation in particular.
It is in tins, which co:n:::s the equilibrium
of the commerce of Eun
" No naf.
Dutch, in the eftablifhmc
of this equilibrium of commerc ^
necled with all the ual : w rid,
the oat t .If of their commerce rendei
this equilibrium in:
They are, at the time, a -
nation, and a warlike oarit \
and
HOLLAND. 331
and by reafon only of this national intereft,
the other nations may regard this maritime
power as one of the great refources of Eu-
rope, tor maintaining the equilibrium of
commerce, and have a right to claim its af-
fiftance."
CHAP.
TRAVELS THROUGH
CHAP. XL
Of the Manners^ Cufioms, a?: J Genius of the
Du:: ':.
I AM very feniible, that it is an arduous
tafk. for a perion who does not make i
long ce in a foreign country, to pro-
nounce upon theie points with cleamefs and
accuracy ; but I (hall not pretend to give a
minute picture of the Dutch manners, on the
Contrary, I mall venture no further than at-
tempting to trace thoie ftrong distinctions,
about which I had not any doubt ; and at the
fame time, minute thoie particulars, in which
the writers of the laft age ieem to be grown
oblolete. They might be, and fome of them
certainly were competent judges, but :
: ion iticlf is in various circumftances
changed. Nothing is more common than
to read accounts, handed down from writer
to writer, who copy one another with the
minuteft attention, of nations, the originals
oi which, however like and juftly drawn,
arc
HOLLAND. 355
are become as different from the prefent in-
habitants of the countries, as the French
are unlike the Turks.
It is true, that in all countries the climate
has fuch an effect upon the inhabitants, that
lbme ftriking and diftinguifhing marks will
be found in their characters, in all ages.
Tacitus, who was fo deep an obferver into
men and manners, has given many touches
of character in his accounts of the antient
Germans, Gauls, and Belg<e, which are al-
moft as applicable to the prefent French,
Germans, and Dutch, as they were to the
antient nations; although the invasions of the
Northern kingdoms, upon the deilruction of
the Roman Empire, made fo total a change
in all the provinces of the empire, in arts,
manners, languages, opinions, and in all
other circumftances. In a word, a new
people appeared in Italy, France, England,
Germany, and Holland ; and nothing there-
fore can be a ftronger proof of the great in-
fluence of the climate of a country upon the
inhabitants, than to find the prefent people
of thole countries bear, in many particulars,
a ftriking refemblance to the antient inhabi-
tants.
But thefe drong national characters, which
form the grand diftinctions between different
nations,
334- TRAVELS THROUGH
nations, are not the objects, I would wifh to
date on ; fince their being fo ffrong is
alone a fufficient proof, that the authors of
preceding ages gave as juft accounts as any
in the preient one can do. Sir William
Temple has given as judicious and fatisfac-
tory an account of the Dutch, as they were
in the laft age, as can any where be met with
of any other nation ; indeed, that writer was
pollened of a truer philoiophical fpirit than
moil: of the authors of his r.ge and country.
All his works are equal proofs of penetration,
integrity, and reflexion.
If we form an idea of the Dutch in the
lail age from his writings, and thofe of forne
other authors of credit, we (hall find a peo-
ple, if I may ufe the expreflion, rather
emerging out of a molt confummate national
frugaiitv, and beginning to enjoy the wealth
which they had been heaping together for
two ages : but in that gradual change, even
luxury was pariimonious ; it made none of
thole hafty, gigantic {hides* with which it
overwhelms a monarchy ; its approaches
were proportioned to the equality of the Re-
publican government.
In the prefent age, the Dutch are very
much changed ; luxury has made as great a
progrels as it can make in any country, not
under
HOLLAND. 335
under a monarchial government, and in
which the landed eftates are not very confider-
able. Thefe are two circumftances neceflary
to the exiftence of that luxurious profufenefs,
which we fee in the great kingdoms of Eu-
rope. A court concenters all the great and
idle rich men of a nation to one fpot ; there,
example and emulation become ipurs to every
article of profufion, and all the refinements
which attend great wealth, and a luxurious
turn of mind, are fure to be found ; but this
wealth, or at leaft, a considerable part of it,
muft refult from great efhtes ; it is the poi-
feflbrs of them alone that can carry luxury
to the higheiL pitch ; moneved men, how-
ever great their fortunes may be, ieldom or
never fly into that various round of expen-
five diflipation. It is the men of great
eitates that fet the example, and make the
reft eager to follow them.
Several reafons are to be affigned for this :
men, whole fortunes conlift in money, are
rarely brought up in ablblute idlenefs, in
Holland fcarcely ever ; they are either in
fome trade, or fome lucrative poll, either of
which, efpecially the former, gives them the
ideas and the practice of an oeconomy, even
in their extravagance, which men, born to
great landed eitates, never know : a froa*l
attention
336 TRAVELS THROUGH
attention to any regular accounts, will, in
general, keep a man from being boundlefsly
profufe ; and this is fo generally true, that a
very ingenious author remarks, that landed
men, in all countries, are apt to fpend more
than their incomes ; whereas moneved ones
generally fpend lels. Another circumltance
is, that few cr no poffeftions in money, in
any country, arifo- to (o considerable an a-
mount as eftates in land. An hundred
thoufand pounds is a very great fortune in
all the commercial counties of Europe to be
made bf trade, but it forms but a imall
eftate in land ; and where trade raifes one
fortune much more confiderabie than that
fum, land yields twenty ; from both which
circumltances it follows, that the country
which does not abound with great eftates in
land, cannot well come to fuch excefs in
luxury as that which does.
Holland is one of thofe countries which
contains no men of great landed eftates : the
moft conliderable part of the people are en-
gaged in lome trade or lucrative profeiTion :
they hardly know what a landed in te reft is ;
fo that the number of idle perfons that are
rich, coniifts almoft entirely of people in
office, the military, and foreigners. Hence
ariles that moderate degree of luxury, which
is
HOLLAND. 337
is found in their principal cities, particularly
the Hague, which is the principal place of
expence and diffipation. Take a view of
London or Paris, and you fee an immenfe
expence, lavished upon foundations for every
art, and every means of enjoyment. You
fee Gorily operas, fplendid theatres, acade-
mies, exhibitions, with fuch a variety of
public diversions, that it would puzzle an
inhabitant to name them all. Every day
rears new temples of pleafure, each more
coftly than the former. But at the Hague,
you iee very little of thefe fine doings ; they
are expeniive in concerts and private affem-
blies ; but even in thefe, the cities named
above far exceed them. There is a greater
expence in mufic, lavimed at London in one
fpring in concerts, than at the Hague in two
years.
Reipecling great eftabliihments for the
arts and theatres, and for public amufement,
great cities, which are the refidence of a
court, may naturally be fuppofed much to
exceed the celebrated village of Holland.
The one depends very much on the adminif-
tration of the fovereign power ; the other, on
the vafi concourfe of people, crowded into
one town, which mull inevitably cccafion
Vol. I. Z more
3j3 TRAVELS THROUGH
more expenfive and numerous places of pub-
lic diveriion.
And if we tranter the enquiry from an
examination or the public teftimonies of
luxury to the private ones, we ihail find,
that the Dutch are equally below the excels
of the great capitals of the British and French
monarchies. There are few marks at the
Hague of the devouring profuiion of luxury,
which is every day to be ieen in private fa-
milies at London and Paris. Splendid edi-
fices, furniihed with all the profufeneis of
expenilve elegance ; bands of domeflics more
numerous than thofe of ibme ioYereimj
Prince's ; liveries in which every expence of
ploathing is exhaufted ; tables fpread with a
profusion of the choiceft eatables Europe can
afford ; the whole world is ranlacked for
cofily wines ; no expence fpared in all the
articles ot drefs, equipage, and amufement,
and alio deep gaming ; part of the year loent
in the country upon a plan as expenilve as
the very excels of a town life ; every kind of
rural improvement carried on, buildings,
garden.-, parks, lakes, temples, plantations,
1 all the variety of country amuiements.
To thefe may be added, fubferiptions to
public diveriions, patronage to the arts and
learning,
HOLLAND. 339
learning, and an hundred other ways of ex-
haufting the income of an immenfe fortune.
In comparifon to llich a fyftem of luxury,
it mud be confefled, that neither the Hague,
nor any of the Dutch cities, prefent a fimi-
lar fpeclacle ; nothing in them carries fo
profufe, lb luxurious a countenance ; they
have their luxury, but it is coloured in much
milder tints ; nothing fo glaring, nothing that
mews fuch an immeniity of wealth : and let it
ever be remembered, that the degree of luxury
will ever be regulated by the quantity of
money in that circulation, which is inde-
pendent of neceiTaries. This diftinction
will not give a bad idea of the irate of luxurv
among the Dutch : you fee a very different
people from thofe defcribed by the writers of
the lull: century, but you do not fee the ele-
gance, and expenfive profufion of the great
monarchies of Europe, which at prefent
make the principal figure.
In their edifices, the people of large fortune
in Holland are expenlive, but not magni-
ficent. They build great houles with im-
menfe apartments, but compared with the
rooms of our Englifh palaces, they are but
barns; and more wanting in the article of
fitting up and finiming, than can well be
Conceived. In the palaces of London, and
Z 2 in
T P. A •'.' 115 THROUGH
in the numerous feats which ornament our
counties, there is to be round ever, exertion
c: :a::e and mr.gnincence, cirec::-! by the
hand or" . and liberality. In Holland,
the furniture is, what in England would be
called handibme, but not to be named with
that which ornaments the houfes of our no-
bility and rich gentry ; here however let me
';::;rv-.. :.. : :'..: national cieaniineis of the
Dutch, :... _ . :y no means carried to the
excels which the common people delight in,
renders their apartments infinitely more
a leaning thin thole which in Italy and
r :::ce are ornamented in the m ::: luperb
tafte. We certainly are not Co clean as the
higheat ranks i:: H:lla:.a. lat the mi:::
of neata.e:; and decoration in our houfes ex-
ceed any thing we :ee cither in HolL
France, or Italy.
Thus, as far as public diverfions, efta'c ikh-
ments of the art;, architecture, rural:
drefs, and equipage, <5cc. extend, we :1
there is no compari:::: between the
adorns cf Ear: re and Holland ; but it
. :: . : :.. taken :"u: granted, that
all theie things, in that country, are
ducted in a mean, or total:; frugal inle, or
in the manner they were in the lalt age. On
the contrary. :. - ail in a much more
elegant
HOLLAND. 541
elegant tafte ; great improvements have been
made in all. A plainnefs and fimplicity were
formerly found in all thefe, and a humility,
if one may ib exprefs it, but now a ihew and
expence is fpread through them, which
mews, that they want nothing but the
wealth to equal the greateft exertions of our
richeft nobles.
I think the greateft expence, confidering
the object comparatively, in which the
Dutch indulge, is that of the table ; for, in
their entertainments, their tables are fpread
i;] a moft elegant and plenteous manner, and
their wines are much more numerous than
are common in France or England, with
perfons of equal fortune, or even of fuperior
ones ; and this I take to be their principal
expence. I have often feen four courfes, and
a moft rich defert, at the tables of perfons
v hofe income does not exceed four thoufand
pounds a year Englifh : and let me remark,
that their courfes are not like ours, of eight or
ten dimes each for a moderate company, but
of twenty-five or thirty. Plate is more
common at the Hague than would eaiily
be fuppofed ; for many of their rich nobility,
and others retired from bufinels, or from
office, eat off verv fuperb fervices.
Z 3 The
542 TRAVELS THROUGH
The number of their domeftics is not, in
general, equal to thole of perfons of fimilar
fortune in France or England. In the latter
country, we have within thefe few years
difcontinued the abominable cuftom of iuf-
fering them to receive vails from our com-
pany ; but in France the cuftom yet con-
tinues, and more ftill in Holland ; at a fingle
dinner, I have feed no lels than feven at-
tendants.
They make great feafts in Holland upon
certain occafions, luch as weddings, the birth
f f a fon and heir, the arrival of a ion or friend
from the Eaft Indies, &c, in which they
exhauft every lpecies of luxury their for-
tunes will allow them to indulge in. I was
prefent at one of thefe feafts at Amsterdam,
where I believe eight tables were four times
covered, and each courfe above an hundred
dimes.
In England, people of confiderable for^
tunes are much divided between the town
and the country; their houle at London, and
their feat in one of the counties, form almoffe
-a. contrail: ; yet great expence is Javiihed in
both. Great improvements in rural beauties
2re made ; the whole neighbourhood orna-
mented ; fine roads constructed at a private
exipnce, or from a private attention with
fupporting
HOLLAND. 343
fupporting the figure of their anceflors, that
have refided there for ages, with provincial
hofpitality, mixed in this age with much po-
litenefs, altogether form a fyftem of living
totally unknown hi France : and in Hol-
land, the cuftom is neither {o extenfive, (o
beneficial, or fo magnificent. Country feats
there are all compact fnug boxes, with hardly
any appearance of command or territory
about them ; much refembling, in that re£
peel, the houies our London citizens erected
twenty miles round the capital. They are
all neat, fmall, and with gardens of no ex-
tent, but with much dipt regularity ; every
thing in the tafte which England knew
fifty years ago, but not quite lo expeniive.
They have too many fountains in them,
which is as prepofterous in their cold, damp
country, as they are agreeable in the iultry
climes of Spain or Italy.
Relative to the accomplimments and edu-
tion of youth, the Dutch have followed the
French pretty attentively, though with va-
riations that are fenfible. The education of
voung men coniifts in their colleges, and
then foreign travel, under German tutors :
on their return home, they either gain fome
honourable and lucrative pott, or enter into
the army, or go into foreign fervice, of live
Z A at
344 TRAVELS THROUGH
at home upon their own income ; thefe are
their young nobility, or other peribns of large
independent fortune ; hut the inferior ranks
are all very fond of fending their children
to fome of their own universities, though
but for a vearor two ; and rather to boaft of
it, than for any real advantage. The num-
ber of men in counting boufes, that have had
what they call a learned education is very
great, but then it mould be remembered,
that their univerfities being antient, were
regulated upon the frugal ideas of their an-
ceftors ; there is not that variety of diffipation
and expence, which is the difgrace and bane
of thoie of Oxford and Cambridge : a young
man, deiigned for trade, may be ventured to
Ley den or Utrecht, without other danger
than giving him fuch a relifh for literature,
as to induce him afterwards in the counting-
houfe to think of other books than the jour-
nal and ledger ; but at our univerfities, the
man who deiigns his ion for a merchant, had
better hang him than fend him to them ; he
acquires fuch atalle of extravagance, as to be
•utterly unfit ever after for the prudence and
neconomy of trade ; nor is this all, for the
morals of the youth are incomparably purer
at the Dutch univerfities, than the Englim
ones ;
HOLLAND. 34.J
©nes ; which, I muft own, are little better
than leminaries of vice.
It is aftonifhing, that a new fyftem is not
introduced in England, for educating fuch
youth as are not deiigned for line gentle-
men ; for the ions of thole parents who wiih
to preierve the morals of their children, as
well as their Latin and Greek. The preient
method is diametrically contrary to it ; one
of the principal Ichools in the kingdom is in
the capital, and the boys lodged at private
houfes ; and this is an early introduction to
all the vice of London. Inftead of this, I
would have a fchool in as iolitary a place as
poffible ; never in a town, or even in a great
village, but in a retired fpot, to keep them
from the mifchiefs which the capital every
moment prefents to their age. It is talking
very extravagantly to fay, that as the boy
mnft afterwards live in the world, he there-
fore mould experience it from the begin-
ning ; becauie his gaining a knowledge of
the villainies practifed in that low life, to
which children naturally run for amuie-
ment, can never be of any utilitv to them in
the world ; nor do I know of any advantages
gained, from his being p d by twelve
years old, The fame rule mould be followed
at College ; inflead of crowding them all to-
gether
34^ TRAVELS THROUGH
gether, and forming a great town, I would
have them fingle, and in the country : one
ftrong advantage of this would be, the tak-
ing from their eyes conilant examples of ex-
travagance and expence, which all the neigh-
bouring Colleges mud exhibit ; and which
will generally be in proportion to the num-
ber of them, and the iize of the town in
which they are iituated. Youth at College
mould fpend their time in ftudy and recrea-
tion ; but what recreation proper for them
does a town yield ? Do not the adjacent
fields, commons, or forelts, exhibit a much
better fcene of amufement, to brace their
ftrength, confirm their health, and keep them
active and lively ?
For young men, whether educated at Col-
lege or in private, Holland abounds with
numerous matters, who teach the polite ex-
ercifes, iuch as the French tongue, dancing,
fencing, mufic, and the living lauguages, all
which are eafily learned at the Hague, and
feveral of their cities; and they are in general
fo»d of thefe accomplifhments. Their
daughters are moft affiduoufly educated in
them, even with more attention, I think,
fortune confidered, than in England. All the
women in Holland, of any fafhicn, drefs,
ta i k »
HOLLAND.
54?
talk, and affect very much the maimers of
the French.
It is a great miltake to fuppoie, that in
this trading Republic, whole people have :o
long been famous for their frugality and mo-
deity, a knowledge and acq. ce with
all thoie embelliihments of life, which lux-
ury lias ipread through Europe, is wanting,
On the contrary, tho' the Dutch are almoir.
entirely changed, their frugality is vet more
national than any where elie ; but it is con-
fined to the lower dalles, or to people of
fmall fortune ; but among the lliperior ranks,
and the rich, 1 know hardly any country
where they Ipend their money more freely
to pals their time agreeably, and enjoy
whatever their rank and fortune entitles
them to. \ou lee everv where goodhoufes,
well furniihed ; plentiful and elegant tables
kept, numerous iervants, equipages as c
mon as elfewhere, rich dreiies, with ibme
public diyeriions ; and in the education of
rheir children no expence fpared. In
you view not only all the conveniencies of
life, but thoie im ..ents, thole renne-
ts, which rich and luxurious ages only
know.
RefpecHng the temper and diipoiition of
fche people. I (hall not, by any means pre-
tend
34-3 TRAVELS THROUGH
tend to analyfe them. It is at leafl an in-
vidious talk, even in travellers who relidelong
in a country, and much more fo in one that
makes fo fhort a flay : I fhall therefore only
remark, that I obferved a great variety of
character, and, at which I am not furprized ;
for the vail number of foreigners of all na-
tions and ranks, who refide in Holland, mull
certainly take off much from the appearance
of the uniformity of national character.
However, the Dutch are certainly a valuable
people, and in general, pollelling as many
good qualities as any of their neighbours.
They are friendly and lincere, and the better
ranks have a politenefs and an unaffecled eaie,
which render them very agreeable. No
where are to be found more learned men, or
fitch as have feen more of the world, and
fixed at lafl in Holland. Literature is much
cultivated, and the preffes of this country
are amazingly numerous, for they print edi-
tions of all the capital books, (and many
others) that are printed in France, Germany,
Italy, or England ; and though it is often
done with views of exportation and trade,
yet it ferves to fpread a general know-
ledge and tafle for literature and the fci-
ences
CHAP.
HOLLAND. 3+9
CHAP. XII.
Confederations on the Prefent State of the
■Power ', lie. of the Republic, and her Con-
nexions with the other Nations of Europe,
SI R William Temple remarked, more
than a century ago, that the Dutch had
parted the meridian of their trade ; and from
the events of the lair, fifty years, nothing is
more evident than the declenfion of their
power. In the middle of the laft century,
they were a match at lea for the combined
fleets of France and England ; but in the
iucceiiive war, their navy was much funk ;
and in that of 1741, their maritime force
was not comparable to that of England.
At prefent, it is quite funk, if we coniider
it as the fleet of the Republic, which, joined
with England, was called a maritime power.
That they have a fleet cannot be denied, but
Slips are very few in number, in very bad
order, and fcarcely any force ready for real
iervice ; fo that we may lately Ipeak of it, as
211 annihilated marine. It is true, they have
vaft
35» TRAVELS T H ft O U G H
vafl numbers of failors ; but thefe alone d<3
not conftitute a force at fea : mips, regularly
building iu fuccefiion, and kept in excellent
order, ftores, magazines, yards, docks, tim-
ber, and an hundred other articles, all dif-
ferent from what trade employs, are nc
iarv, and mull be kept regularly, or a pow-
erful fleet will never be constituted. The
marine of England coils an immenfe an-
nual fum, and yet the beft judges ot it afTert,
we are much too iparing in our expences in
it ; but in Holland, the expence of the navv
is fo retrenched and curtailed, that it is
hardly an object in the finances.
This neglect of their marine is a mofu
Impolitic conduct in the Dutch ; for a
trading power to rely more on its land
forces, than on its navy, is fuch an infatua-
tion, that nothing: but a verv favourable,
completion of affairs among its neighbours,
can prevent extreme ill con Sequences fol-
lowing. Durin°- the lail war, the Dutch
were driven into an open violation of their
treaties with England, by refilling to :.
die luccours agreed on by treaty, in cale of
a threatened invalion of Britain by France.
The Republic depends on the force of her
land troops, and yet is governed by French
councils; not from affection, but through
fear.
HOLLAND. 3SI
fear. France has little to fear from her anger,
and therefore bullies her without ceremony ;
but this would not be the cafe, if Holland
was poflefied of a formidable marine ; me
would treat the Republic with more refpect,
if an hundred fail of the line of Dutch fhips
could, at at a fhort warning, be added to the
fleets of England.
The Dutch army has generally proved
infufficient for their defence in a land war,
whereas their fleets have, more than once,
brought them off in triumph, and concluded
their quarrels to their advantage. Their
very being depends on the profperity of their
trade, and of what avail are their armies in
defence of that ? In the invaiion of 1672,
when the proud monarch of France kept
his court at Utrecht, their army was of very-
little confequence; but at that dangerous
crilis, it was not fo with their fleet; the
Dutch were matters at feaf or, at leait, fare
from great dangers. France had no force to
oppofe them on that element, whereon all
trade is carried on.
But let us look to future events, agpinft
wThom can Holland ever want to arm ? Cer-
tainly againif none but landed enemies or
naval ones : probably, againil either Eng-
land, through a jeaioufy of trade, and the
domineering
352 TRAVELS THROUGH
domineering difpofition of France ; oragaind
France, through the folicitations of England,
or the impoffibility of complying with the
demands of France. In either of thefe cafes,
the Republic would find that ftrength by
fea would be of the moft u(e to her. Of
what avail would her army be againft Eng-
land r In the prefent condition of her navy,
me would be utterly ruined by the (hipping
of Britain, that is, fhe would have all her
trade deftroyed, and would probably lofe
fome of her colonies and fettlements, at leaft
fufler immenfe lofles. In cafe of a war wkh
France, her treasures, joined with thofe of
England, would be able to defend her by
land, through the afliftance of the merce-
nary forces, and her fleets might be let
loofe on the French trade and fettlements,
to their deftruclion, if they joined an hun-
dred fail of the line to the marine of Eng-
gland; and which, in good politicks, they
ought to be able to do, their vafl trade con-
fidered.
But in anfwer to all this, it is faid, and
in part jufrly, that that the revenues of
Holland are fo deeply mortgaged, that their
government is abfolutely precluded from
all expenfive undertakings ; and that, as to
a renovation of their marine, to any effec-
tual
HOLLAND. 353
hial pnrpofe, it is a bulinefs much beyond
their power : there is feme truth In this, but
not to lb great a degree as aflerted by many
perfons who make ule of the argument.
The arrangement of the ftate expences is
not formed according to the real intereft of
the country ; their army, on companion
with their navy, is too great ; and there is
a negligence and intereitednefs crept into
their finances, which cramps them in all
their operations. It is the opinion of many
very fenlible, as well as candid perfons
among them, that it their navy was once
more the principal object of their attention,
with a fpirited, active, and diliuterefted
administration, that their flare would have
it well in their power to reftore their ma-
rine, if not to io high a pitch of profperity
as in the middle of the lait century, at leaft,
to be extremely formidable to the combined
fleets of France and Spain, and tefpe&able
even to the potent marine of England,
Conlidering how natural a naval force is
to fo great a trading power, I do net think
this opinion has any thing extravagant in it.
Their finances well managed, would allow
it, and at the lame time, keep a reipectable
body or troops in pay, but upon a reformed
fyltcm. It is true, the Republic is much in
Vol. L A a debt,
\ A V E L 5 T H J?0 L G HP
r, but then they have a cuftoni (which
ild at once overturn our public credit) ot
; the principal and the intereft too; but
li exertions is favour-
- • I m ; the expending a great part of
ue, hi the channel mod confident
with tBeir real interefts, and according to the
nd the wiflies of their iubjecls ;
mc .. goes very far, and is well
foei it is- done under inch circum-
itanc. -.
Fra : had a remarkable prevalence in
the councils of the Republic ilnce the lad
ngn of Counts Saxe and Lowendahl.
This h a evidently owing to a fear of
ing over-run by the armies of that monar-
: I ut fuch a radical fear, which is like
a c exigence, mould be fhook off by
. '. i ftatc ; for a dependance on the
H of a neighbour is miferable politics,
and little lefs than being fubject to it. If
great enough to demand this
tentioa, it approaches fo near to an abfo-
kit :;, that any meaiure is prefer-
i : the exigence of fuch a formidable
pov . is argument fufficient to oppofe it,
are ..our to reduce it, by alliances and
inilitarv opperations, to a condition lefs
This was die wife conduct of the
Dutch.
HOLLAND. 35-
Dutch, through the latter half of the pfe-
ceeding century, and the beginning of the
preient : a time when France was more
powerful than at preient ; and the great fuc-
cefs, which attended the plan, was proof
furncient of its propriety.
The ibvereignty of Holland depends ex-
tremely on the power of France being kept
within inch limits, as to prevent her from
giving umbrage to any of her neighbours.
A kingdom that keeps a neighbouring ftatc
in check, and governs her councils, is too
powerful for fuch itate ; and a fubmiilion or
acquiefence in her dictates, only increafes the
difeaie ; an immediate, bold, and reiblute
oppofition, is the only effectual remedv.
This the Dutch' found fo effectual agahiff
Louis XIV. in the height of his power ; but
they have not behaved wTith fo much firmnefs
agaihit his lefs powerful fucceffor.
I have, more than once, heard the con-
duct of the Dutch, in their partiality to
France, commended upon the principles of
leflening the competition of England in
trade. Such peribns afferted, that the power
of any neighbour, who grows great at fea,
and by means of a vaft commerce, cannot
fail of being far more mifchievous to the
Dutch, than any danger they may be in
A a 2 from
#6 TRAVELS THROUG H
From France ; but this is only a fuperficial ar-
gument, it has nothing real in it : they muft
know very little of the trade of Europe, who
afTert, that the growth of the Britifh commerce
is proportioned or occafioned by the decline of
that of Holland. The great increafe of com-
merce in England, arifes almoft totally from
her colonies and Settlements, in which me
bv no means rivals the Dutch ; even in the
Eaft Indies, the great growth of her com-
pany has nothing in it detrimental to that
of Holland. The real rivals of the Dutch
in trade are, Finft, the general lpirit of com-
merce, lately diitufed through all the coun-
tries of Europe, and which has deftroyed
much of her carrying trade. Secondly, the
rife and increafe of commerce at Hamburgh,
and the Hanle-Towns, and, in general,
among the northern kingdoms, who, in
many articles, underfell the Dutch in their
own trade. Thefe are the caufes which
have operated moil againft. them, and not
the competition of* England, any more than
that of all their other neighbours. The
vaft commerce once carried on by Holland,
was infinitely owing to the negligence and
backwardnefs in trade of all the other na-
tions in Europe : while they were the car-
riers, and had the commiiiions of all Eu-
rope ;
HOLLAND. ^57
rope ; while Amfterdam was the only great
general magazine in the world, no wonder
their nation grew great by trade; and it is
as little iiirprizing, that, after their neigh-
bours have found out their interests better,
their great commerce -fhould decline.
England, therefore, is by no means
their rival in trade, iince the proiperitv of
her commerce ariies from fources extremely
different from any that ever flowed in favour
of the Dutch ; to oppofe that neighbour,
therefore, by lubmitting to the imperial
dictates of France, can never be for the true
intereft of their country. France, by land.,
is much more than a rival to them ; fne
threatens their very exillence as an inde-
pendant ftate : it is not by negotiation, that
ihe brings them into her meaiures, but bv
the terror of her encampments. This is in-
conhftent-with the freedom of the Republic $
and an acepiiefcence with fuch violent re-
queues, will, by degrees, pave the way t-ji
more minute -commands.
i\s to the proipects in future of the Re-
public, they are not difficult to conjecture at,
for they are folely dependant on her trade.
The country of the Seven Provinces is too
poor and inconfiderable to fupport the peo-
ple, much lei's to maintain their power
A a 3 an cj
358 TRAVELS THROUGH
and independence ; all reflections, therefore,
on the duration of their Republic, mull
turn on that of their commerce. As to the
events of military opperations, they mult be
thrown out of the queflion ; not that there
is anv, even the ieafr. probability of her faJEe.
being; decided bv them, whether (he con-
Q -
tinues ablblutely neuter, or oppoies that of
France ; for that monarchy is now funk too
low to create any longer in her neighbours
anv fears about their independency, pro-
i they follow the dictates of their intereil
in oppofing her.
I cannot agree with thofe writers, who
predict an early downfall of the Dutch com-
merce. I think, on the contrary, that it
may continue in the degree it is in at pre-
fent, for lome ages ; and my reaions for
thinking ib, are as follow : Thev have, for
fbme years, ftood the oppoiition of as kvcre
a competion as can ever happen to them.
For twenty or thirty years pait, all Europe
has been eager to get as much trade and ma-
nufactures as pohible ; the commerce of Eng-
land has rifen to a pitch beyond which it
cm fcarcely mount much higher ; that of
France has certainly feen its moil flourishing
days ; for thofe, who are heft, acquainted
with the manufactures of the French, aflert,
that
. H O L L A ft D.. 359
that they are much declined, and that they
can never arrive at the prosperity which
they once enjoyed. New neither of the na-
tions which, Holland excepted, poilefs the
greateil trade of Europe, have ever been
able, in their moll proiperous days, to fuc-
ceed the Dutch in their carrying trade: their
commerce has been all of a different nature ;
that people, confequently, can have no fears
in future, of the rivalmip of a declining com-
merce. Hamburgh and the north do them
ibme mifchief by carrying on that com-
merce for themielves, which formerlv the
Dutch executed for them ; but as to their
g . ning a iuperiority in their general trade,
it was never dreamed of; and as to the
other powers of Europe, they are of no
confequence in the enquiry.
Thus we find, that the general rivalfhip of
the Dutch, has .confuted in little more than
their neighbours buying and felling ot o::e
another, inflead of letting the Dutch
navigation come in between ; this they
have ftrenuoufly endeavoured to do, and
have, in part, iucceeded in : but take a
view of the commerce of Holland, and you
will fee, that even in this age, while all
the powers of Europe have been lo eager in
matters of trade, that the Dutch, though
they have flittered much, are by no means
A a 4 driven
5.5o TRAVELS THROUGH
driven to the wall ; even in this point, the
buying and felling trade, they poneis at pre?
fent much more than all the reft of Eu-
rope put together. So difficult is it, with-
out very great changes in war or politicks,
to overturn an eir.ablilhed trade. The ad-
vantages of great frocks, experience, plenty
of {hipping, and numerous manufactures.
will drive on a trade, when almoft every
other circumftance feems adverfe.
But the buying and felling trade is not
the mod: material part of the Dutch com-
merce, their fifheries are of much more
importance; and in thefe, they are, com-
paratively {peaking, without a rival ; thefe
bring in immenfe riches to the Hate, fupport
awaft population, and provide a certain and
independent market for very many of the
beft manufactures in Holland. Betides this
material branch of trade, they pofi'eis ano-
ther, in which they are totally unrivalled,
and which is an efTential part of their Eaft
India commerce, the fpices. In the Weft
Indies, they have fome flourifhing colonies,
and in the Terra Auftralis Incognita, they
have a fheet anchor to avail themfelves or,
when all other refources fail. The mention
c£ this great unknown continent, reminds
me
HOLLAND. 35i
me of a few obfervations which fhould not
be omitted.
I made feveral enquiries at Amfterdam,
concerning the general ideas in Holland
of that continent, and what was fuppofed to
- be the national plan with relation to it. I
found the Dutch univerfally efteemed it, as
belonging entirely to themfelves, but feemed,
at the lame time, to admit, that other
powers had pretentions to parts, which might
prevent them from openly making good
their claim. Parts of this country, they
efteem a national object, of more importance
than any other ; and I found, they think it
better known by the government of their
Eaft India company, and confequently by
the States General, than by any other ad-
miniftration in Europe. Much intelligence
they feem to have received, concerning the
prefent irate, quite unknown to the reft of
the world. Certainly there have been, even
within theie ten years, feveral mips fent
from Batavia on difcoveries, which have
efcaped the bufy Gazette politicians through-
out Europe. The event of the difcoveries
was kept, in general, as fecret as poffible,
under the rnafk of giving out, that nothing
pf moment was {cen or difcovered, and a
pretended regret at an ufelefs expence : of
this,
362 TRAVELS THROUGH
this, however, fome failors gave very dif-
ferent accounts, and feveral circumftances
were whiipered in India, which feemed to
fpeak the difcovery of feveral iflands of im-
menfe extent, very populous in inorTenfive
lavages, and perfectly rich and fertile ; and
what much confirmed thefe reports, was the
difpatch of other (hips, which did not carry
the appearance of regretting the expence of
the firft.
Upon the whole, it is fuppofed, that the
company has discovered feveral tracks of in-
finite importance, not only to trade, but
for colonization, and which may turn out
of amazing conlequence to Holland, in caie
it is ever found necefTary to have recourfe
to new objects to fupport the trade and
commerce of that Republic : it is fuppofed,
that the company have acted, in the whole
affair, under the direction of the govern-
ment ; and -that the particulars will be kept
Secret, till a proper ufe can be made of fuch
difcoveries.
It has been a. matter acknowledged by the
beft voyage writers, geographers, and hil-
torians, that the exiftence of a great fouthern
continent, or many vaft iflands, as large
as the continent, could not be diiputed ;
and we have been informed alio, from the
minutes
HOLLAND. 3^3
•
minutes of various circumnavigators, that
the productions of fome parts of thole vaft
tracks, were as rich as thofe of any other
part of the world. This indeed is perfectly
confident with reafon ; for a country that
extends almoft to the line, muft be pofiefied
of all thofe rich productions, common to
fimilar latitudes : is it not therefore amazing,
that other powers of Europe, who are at
p relent lb warm in the frruggle for trade,
mould not have thought of eftablifhing co-
lonies or fettlements in fome of thefe un-
known regions ? Tvlany tracks of thefe fouth-
ern countries may, probably, contain fuch
rich commodities, and would admit of the cul-
tivation of luch valuable productions, as might
be of more importance in a fettlements than
twenty of thofe little objects in Europe about
which we are fo folicitous; nor can we reflect
on the forbearance of the Dutch without fur-
prize. On what principal is it? Upon what
plan do they conduct themfelves ? To what
end do they point ? Why do they neglect
thefe great difcoveries, till they meet with
fuch misfortunes, that they muft be
looked on as a dernier refburce"? Is a nation
in fuch a fituation able to make ufe of, or
to defend new acquiiitions ?
It
3% TRAVELS THROUGH
It much imports the Dutch to refle&, that
their Republic arofe to the higheft pitch of
grandeur, in the midft of the moft adventur-
ous expeditions. While they were involved
«t home in the miieries of perpetual quarrels,
and defending themfeives in a long war
againft their old mailers, the Spaniards, they
ventured into diftant regions and unknown
leas ; they made numerous difcoveries, and
many conquers in the Ealt Indies, laying
the foundation of that power, which has
fince fo much iurprized all jthe powers of the
Eaft. At a time when it was thought im*.
pofiible for them to defend themfeives, thev
adventured upon a thouiand hazardous ex-
peditions. It was an age of enterprize and
heroiim ; while all this teeming extravagance
continued, fheir Republic flourimed in an
unexampled manner ; trade was perpetually
upon the increafe, nothing could fatisfy the
ipirit of their mduftry; while a cemi:.
was riling, which much exceeded that c:
greaieft kingdoms, they were not farisfied,
but adventured farther, and undertook a
number of important expeditions, which, in
age, would carry the appeal ance of ro-
mance. It was this ipirit ot enterprize that
laid the foundation of all fheir trade in the
id let it ever be rcmembered3
that
HOLLAND. 3r,
that ftom the time it died, their commerce
declined.
While they were upon the mcreaie in
trade and profperity, they never confidered
whether they had trade enough ; on the con-
trary, they ever fought after more, and ad-
ventured boldly in queft of it. It was this
fpirit that created trade. But iince they
have been upon the decline, and have beeM
guided by poorer ideas, we have ken none
of this fpirit exerted ; but in proportion as
their commerce has fallen, they liave been
careful to fmother all fuch eiiterprizjng Spi-
rits ; to damp the noble ardour,, which fired
the founders of their Republic, and to reft
fully fatisrled with what a more ignoble fite
decreed them. They have, for more than
an age, been well fatisned with that degree
of trade which their neighbours, in the or-
dinary courfe of buimefs, left them. It was
therefore very plain, that they would make
no advances ; for tbofe who are willing to
fraud ftill, are not likely to pufh beyond
mediocrity. If their principles were juit,
upon which they firft neglected the proiecu-
tion of enterprizes, and the difcoveries of
new fources of trade, they ought immedi-
ately to have reitored that animating; fpirit
when they fcynd themfelves* on the decline,
which
$66 TRAVELS THROUGH
which is more than an hundred years ago.
The moment that fuch a fufpicion broke
forth, they mould have roufed the latenr. ar-
dour, which once carried them to enterprize
and conqueft. Then was their time fof
making every effort of this kind to raife new
fources of trade, to anfwer thofe which the
competition among their neighbours in Eu-
rope began to undermine.
Nothing can be more contrary to the fpu
rit of enterprize an.d difcovery, than the pa-
cific difpofition of the Dutch for many years
lafl pail. I will venture to lay, that nothing
is more contrary to the genius of trade.
Their commerce arofe and flourished in the
midft of incefTant war ; it falls in the midft
of perpetual peace. Difcoveries, of the na-
ture which I have been mentioning, might
reftore it to its original profperity. The
prefent markets for Dutch manufactures, are
every where hurt by the competition of their
neighbours ; but in the populous regions of
the South, new ones of the molt advantage-
ous nature might be opened, in which no
rival (hip could prejudice them. I cannot
understand the arguments, that are ufed
againft their accepting what is ib liberally
offered them. But to return :
All
HOLLAND. 3^7
All thefe articles of trade, of which the
Republic is yet in a flourifhing pofifeilion, ap-
ir to be fufficient to inline her agakift that
luin, which lome authors are io ready to de-
nounce. They do not properly coniider the
importance of that eftablifhed indu/lrv
which is found in Holland : nothing is more
difficult than to oppofe and rival a nation,
long fixed and eftabliihed in all the articles
that constitute a great trade. The feverai
advantages which I have juft named, all
"unite to favour, in an high degree, the ge-
neral commerce of Holland, bv filling the
national magazines with a variety of com-
modities no where elfe to be had ; this gives
her an advantage, in the preparing aflbrt-
ments of all commodities, well known by
the nations long in trade. It is of the na-
ture of the trade, carried on by the European
companies in the Eafl Indies, in which the-
Dutch have a great advantage from the mo-
nopoly of fpices ; this gives them a iuperi-
ority to other people in every article they deal
in.
Another great advantage to Holland, is the
nature of the countries which may be
reckoned their principal rivals in trade.
England and France are fertile and exteniive
kingdoms, which have an object of much
greater
TRAVELS THROUG H
greater importance than commerce, which
is agriculture ; and or" courfe, they cannot
give that entire attention to the concerns of
trade, which laid the foundations of the
Dutch Republic. Inhabiting a miferable, neg-
lected fpot, which almoft lets culture at de-
fiance, and full of cities, towns, and villages
almoft crowded upon one another, the
Dutch found themfelves under the necefiity
of applying to the lea for a fubhftance.
Fisheries and commerce, in fuch circum-
Itances, throve wonderfully ; the number of
their failors increafed amazingly ; and their
ports were preiently furrounded with docks-
for building (hips ; until they came to poi-
fefs more of that manufacture, if it may be
fo called, than all the reft of Europe put to-
gether. This quick progrefs was much oc-
casioned by the vail number of people
crowded into a fmall barren loot. But
France njid England, being in every thing
different, and although they could raiieavery
considerable trade in their products, and par-
ticularly in the fupply of their colonies, could
never gain that great general commerce of
buying and idling, freighting and commii-
iion, which the Dutch fo long pollened, and
d© vet poiYefs fo much more of than anv
other country in Europe,
TLe
HOLLAND. 359
The other rivals of Holland have no
chance of equalling that country in com-
merce ; Hamburgh is without an Eall: India
company, and has no colonies in the Weft
Indies, balides confifting of a fingle weak
town. And the powers of the North cannot,
in the nature of things, make any greater
advance than fupplying themielves with
their imports, and exporting pretty much in
their own bottoms ; and even this, they will
not be able fully to accomplim :, fo that we
may venture to fuppofe, that the Dutch
have experienced as dangerous a competition
as any they have reafon to expect.
An allowance, however, I am fenfible,
fhould here be made, for the evils which
multiply, when a nation tends more to de-
cline than profperity. When thev are ad-
vancing, every accident almoil: is favourable,
every limb of the body is vigorous and ac-
tive, nothing hurts ; but there is an increaf-
ing corruption in a declining ftate, which no
remedies can cure. This is a truth with the
Dutch ; but then it is alio a truth with every
nation on the globe. It is now the cale
ffrongly with their neighbours the French ;
it was the cafe with their old matters, the
Spaniards ; and probably will be the event
in the hiftory of all other people. Such ef-
Vol. I. B b fe&s,
37o TRAVELS THROUGH
feels, which are in common with all other
countries, are not to be reafoned upon ; we
can only examine the probability of thoie
events which depend upon themfelves.
The Dutch are yet, moft certainly, a con-
fiderable people ; and though not upon the
increase, yet very flourishing. In polieflion
of much more trade, all things compared,
than any nation in the world ; they are more
populous than any country in Europe ; and
continue to give that general protection and
reception to all who will reiort thither.
They are wealthy ; and though burthened
with public debts, yet are formidable, if they
it themfelves. They are in this fituation
at a time when they have long ftood a vio-
lent competition in trade with all their neigh-
bours. That competition cannot probably
be carried farther ; it is not eaiy therefore to
affign any, good reaions for their loon decay-
ing, but many for thinking that they may
long continue a great commercial people.
rolkical disputes may certainly arife, that
may prove more dangerous than trading
ones. But it is not ealy to name any po-
tentate, who has the leaft probability of
making conquefrs on the Dutch. France,
as long as they preferve their neutrality, will
.have no interell or inclination to quarrel
with
HOLLAND. 371
with them ; but in cafe of a French war,
other nations would not allow France to
make a conqueft on them. Holland there-
fore would never have to ftand iingly againfr.
France ; England, and a confiderable part of
Germany, would be fure to be in alliance
with her, which would form fuch an union
that France, in all probability, would never
be able to overpower. The decay of the
French power is fo clear and manifeft, that
me has more reafon to fear fuch an alliance,
than to hope advantages from fighting
againft. it.
Some little difputes have happened within
thefe few years, which manifelled no good
will in the King of Pruffia towards the Re-
public ; but there is not any reafon to ima-
gine, that they will ever break out into an
open rupture ; the Dutch have nothing to
fear from him. That monarch is well
known to harbour too many ambitious de-
signs ever to be allowed to march an army
ngainit. any of his neighbours, without a
force fufficient to repell him being in readi-
nefs : the powers of Germany would never
allow him to make any conquefts on the
Dutch ; and a war which will not bring ad-
vantages, will never be undertaken by his
Prufllan Majefty. In the prefent fyftem of
B b 2 affairs
372 TRAVELS THROUGH
affairs in Germany, France would undoubt-
edly march to the ailiftance of the Dutch ;
and certainly make no fmall merit in future
negotiations of fuch an exertion of their own
intereft. But in cafe France and Pruflia
fell into an alliance, Auftria would be
equally interefled in falling on Silefia, while
the King was engaged in fo diftant an un-
dertaking ; to fay^ nothing of the part which
Hanover, and many other German Princes,
would take.
There are no other potentates from whom
the Dutch have any thing, even in idea, to
fear. And upon the whole, there is not any
probability of their being drawn into a war.
The operations of the laft were very general
in Europe ; and that between the French and
Englifh clofe upon their frontiers ; yet they
efcaped from taking any part. Nothing but
a violent determination in fome of the par-
ties, to force them from a neutrality, by at-
tacking them, in cafe they do not declare
themfelves, will have the effect of driving
them from thjeir pacific fyftem ; but fuch a
conduct in any party is extremely impro-
bable.
From every view that can be taken of the
events which are likely to happen, I think
there is good reafon to fuppofe, the affairs of
Holland
HOLLAND. 373
Holland will continue much in the fame
ftate they are at prefent. Their trade will
not increase ; it may rather decline, but not
dangeroufly ; they will avoid any quarrels
with their neighbours, and continue in
wealth and peace probably for many years.
"End of the Flrft Volume.
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