fo express himself as to be fufficiently understood, which is the fole aim of this very humble endeavour and experiment, the good effect of which I have tried myself before I recommend it to others. Neither let the erudite critic frown on it. Should it ever be his fortune to come into thofe parts of the Continent, armed as he may be with all the facred knowledge of the ancient world, and the more refined graces of the modern (by which I would be understood to mean the polite languages of France and Italy,) I am well convinced, even he would relax of his lettered gravity, and not only smile upon, but derive great benefit from this certainly doggrel and whimsical mode of making himself intelligible; fince all the wisdom of all the fathers could not effect it half fo well. Without, therefore, making any apologies (what has been hitherto faid I confider as neceffary explanations) for a good-natured intention certainly not very amuling to the writer, I here promise to execute it in the best manner I am able in its due time and place.

warn you.

Of one thing while it is in my memory let me The common Dutch innkeepers, porters, boatmen, and that clafs of people are as great goffips and babillards as any in France, in our own country, or in any other upon the

earth,

about it goddess, and

earth, and will talk "about it," on the most infignificant occafions, for an hour together, while minutes might fettle all they can have to say to or to do for you. Never therefore feem to liften. Fix to your point-point to your order, or your question, or else pronounce it and stick there--hold him to it as to the one thing needful; and if he flies off into irrelevancies bring him back to the point by the aid of the remark I will put into your mouth. This will fave you the hearing "an infinite deal of "nothing," and fave time as well as patience for much better ufes.

I will at prefent put an end to this very neceffary fubject with one general remark on the Dutch language, namely, when a perfon speaks very bad, broad, and coarfe English, it will for the most part,-feven words out of ten,-be good pure Dutch. But, of this, the pronunciations I mean to fet down for you will fufficiently convince you. And were the natives to speak flow, (every language to a perfon ignorant of Jeems to be spoken fast,) an Englishman, though he might be at fault as to particular words, would be au fait as to the general topic, and the turn it was taking; which reminds me you will derive a double advantage from my

that

little vocabulary:-while you are trying to make out meanings by falfe orthography you will infenfibly get into the true; and thus accommodate the wants of the prefent and future with which encouraging hint we will release one another from this fchool-boy's exercife, and get to fomething more entertaining to us both for you cannot fuppofe thefe fchool-mafter leffons have been very delightful to their author. What F promife in an appendix fhall ferve as a pocket companion refpecting fome points neceffary to be immediately known to the traveller: it may be all-fufficient to fuch purpose-which affuredly has not been effected by any guide, trip, or tour hitherto made public. I propofe to annex it to my Gleanings.

And now, courteous ftranger, the Seven Provinces are, "all before you which to choose." In thefe primary pages you will find them needful for your fafe guidance. Suppofing this and the two promised queftion and-answer-dialogues to become a feparate fheaf from my general Gleanings, I am here to bid you farewell. On the contrary, if you defire to fee objects and read of circumstances as they ftruck me in a furvey of them at different times and feafons,-amongst which I truft many will be not unpleasant, and

not

not a few useful, particularly if you pass beyond the limits of the republick into other countries,→→→→ we shall still in a manner be converfing together, and the whole of my Gleanings will be a part of your company. In this cafe I repeat we fhall ftill travel together.

But at all events from you my friend, and your dear circle whom I more particularly address, and from whom if I seem to deviate a little to admonish others, it is but in imitation and adoption of that bounty which has induced you fo often of late to tell me our correspondence, by being occafionally broadened in its application, may become more extensively useful and amufing. From you and your's I fay I am fure of finding a hearty good will, let me wander about with you where I lift, and fhift the scene upon you as irregularly and rapidly, taking you backwards and forwards as I think proper. Under fuch encouragements we will now take a trip to the Hague, which indeed I have already thrice vifited fince my quitting that fire-fide where I have always found" a ready chair," and so long as circumftances permitted, a delightful home. May "eternal bleffings crown" the owners of it!—a prayer of fuch "earneft heart," that I will not fuffer it to be "mixed with bafer matter.'

LETTER XXXI.

TO THE SAME.

Hague.

Ат T the first blufh the following fact, my dear loved friend, may feem ftrange. There is far more diligence of attention required of a Gleaner, to pick up any thing worth carrying to his fheaf in great and populous towns and cities, than in the undistinguished villages, and "ftill "fmall" receffes, where the broad and common highway, thoroughfare traveller seldom goes; and where, though the violet perfumes the air, and the fresh grafs fprings up in the beautiful paths, thofe "garish beauties of the world" are wanting, that are alone gratifying to a heart devoted to the publick. For although in this latter scene every thing is in motion before you, or standing fixed in proud but mute magnificence for your infpection as if almoft to infift on your paffing homage; they have yielded up their charms to fo many ftrangers, that like one of our fair drudges of fashion, whofe face has been fo long in publick exhibition, it is become "familiar as one's

cr

garter;" and to give another defcription would be to force on you what memory would perhaps turn from with disguft.

Ah!