commodity is capable of improvement, it is impoffible to say to what a pitch of wealth and profperity any trading nation may arrive by its own energy of advancing.

Holland, it is true, has had at different periods of her history very heavy drawbacks, as well from within as from without; from the enemy in her own bowels, as from a publick invader. Often have the fruits of her genius and industry been fwept away by rebellion and war: often has fhe been drenched in her own blood: but with all thefe depreffions, her efforts refifted thefe calamities, and repaired them fo well, that at this very hour The may ftand perhaps foremost amongst nations, as an example of human industry producing human profperity.

The defcription of Alexandria by an ancient author has been applied, and juftly, to this Republick, particularly its capital. "Rich and opulent "Provinces that abound with

"where nobody can be idle.

" and blind have their exercifes

t

every thing, and

The very lame

and ufeful occu

pations, and even thofe who have the gout in "their hands are not fuffered to be ufelefs." This is fo true of Amfterdam, that in almost every córner of it amazing examples of induftry are

to be seen, even in those whofe age, fickness and bodily infirmities would obtain a difpenfation from work any where else. Those who think therefore, that the Dutch have more of matter than spirit in their compofition may undeceive themselves. Other cities of Europe have had the models of most of their useful contrivances, and machines of various forts from the towns of this Republick. Even those who arrogate all wit and all art to themselves, have been obliged to borrow from hence feveral of their most ingenious utenfils: and upon the whole, Voltaire's character of the States is well merited. "La Hollande," fays he, "merite d'autant plus d'attention, que c'est un "etat d'une Efpece toute Nouvelle, devenu puif"fant fans poffeder prefque de terrain, riche, et "n'ayant pas de fon fonds de quoi nourir la

ferent countries in which I fojourn from the undue measure of cenfure caft on them, and to fettle them, without prejudice on the one. hand, or partiality on the other, in every candid mind, juft as they are,

66

Nothing extenuated,

"Nor aught fet down in malice."

The Welch being part of ourselves, fuffer little from us in point of prejudice; and therefore little was left for a liberal traveller to do away. But the Dutch demanded a sturdy champion, and yet one who in the zeal of administering justice, should avoid flattery. In various inftances, I am difpofed to believe that your correfpondent has approved himself this even-handed advocate. I truft he has defended them where they were defenfible, and blamed them where they deferved reproach. In the fpirit of this principle he began, and will have the honesty and the fortitude to maintain it unto the end.

Amongst other afperfions from which it has been his office to exonerate the people of this country, is their imputed infenfibility; an afperfion which very generally, prevails. You find

he has obferved their hearts and minds in the operation of various events, as well happy as

disastrous.

difaftrous. He has had an eye on them, when. a man lefs impreffed with conviction of the im portance of little things to afcertain the great ones of character and principle, would have over looked their feelings. He has obferved them too, when great occurrences called forth their strongest paffions, or their most fubtle hypocrify. In both cafes he has found their affections as powerful, as fervid, as expreffive of upright principles and of tender emotions as our own.

There are you know, certain occafions fo abfolutely demonstrative of real heart and foul, that the most profound diffembler would find it impoffible to keep on his mask, however neceffary it might be to his intereft, his fame, or even his life. Of this omnipotent class of incidents is the perufal of letters, the contents of which, as to general fenfation, whether of pain or pleafure, is as clearly read by the fpectator as by the party concerned: I mean of course, fuch letters as are read in company immediately on their being received. Something beyond the power of human refiftance urges a man almost universally to open the letters that are brought him by the poft; nay, we often break the feal infenfibly; and the utmost forbearance which good breeding enjoins, fcarce ever extends to the putting them quietly

into

into our pocket, when from a recognition of the hand-writing, we expect any thing of heart, or even when we are ftrangers to the characters, of the fuperfcription. Curiofity feizes us in the one cafe, and more than curiofity in the other. If therefore we do gain this degree of good manners, it is by a painful exertion, which often makes us with our company at home; though induced by a fort of fellow-feeling, they often prevent this wish by difpenfing with etiquette, and enjoin the reading our letters. For the most part we apologife for the rudenefs, but are rude.

Then it is, that fineffe, weakness, folly, stratagem, and even treafons BETRAY THEMSELVES. Then it is, that we are perfidious to our truft, without any other accufers, any other language than what is furnished by confciousness of our being tricksters, fools, or traitors: fo ingenuous is our invifible bofom judge, fo all-powerful is confcience; though guilt firft faftened her with chains, that very guilt only waits for a fit opportunity to break them afunder, and forces the culprit to avow his crime, even to those who are fure to punifh it. It is thus that in the act of reading any written mifchief, done or to be done, confcience flies into the face of the delinquent, feizes every limb of his body, and by a ftrange

power,