burden of which they run off at a long trot, and fometimes when driven by young men or boys at full gallop the whole mile and an half, which is the distance from gate to gate; nor on their return are they fuffered to come empty, being filled not only with the aforesaid men or boys, (for almost every Dutchman hates walking when he can ride though half a mile); but with fuch commodities as cannot be had at the village.I have feen thefe poor brutes in the middle of fummer, urged beyond their force, 'till they have dropped on the road to gather ftrength; which is feldom the cafe, however, except when they have the misfortune to fall under the management of boys; for the Dutch are the farthest from being cruel to their domeftic, dumb animals, of any people in the world; on the contrary, an Hollander, of whatever rank, is fo merciful unto his cattle; whether horfe, dog, cow, &c. that they are the objects of his marked attention, as fleek fkins, happy faces, and plump fides, fufficiently demonflrate. The cows, and oxen for draft, they rub down, curry, and clean till they are as gloffy as the most pampered steed in England. Nay, you frequently fee them with a light fancy drefs, to guard them from the flies and other annoying animalculă, in the meadows, which are the finest in the world, and in a warmer fuit of cloaths

cloaths during the winter; even these canine flaves look hale and well, as to condition, and being habituated to labour, feel little hardship in it. Happy, however, thrice happy, is the dog, who has the luck to be born of humbler and lowly parents, and is facred, by his infignificance, from labour. Like many a man, who, having neither talents nor fize for a hero, derives a fnug enjoyment from his unfitnefs to take an active part in the toils of ambition. But dogs of this defcription have yet greater privileges in Holland than you may imagine. Like other little things, they are held precious, and fo fondled and patted, that either a lapdog, or a lover in England, where thofe animals, you know, are fometimes neglected, as indeed, in that country, are all favourites,-might envy them; for if you think a Dutch woman and a beautiful woman are incompatible, you are mistaken, as I fhall

take occafion to fhew.

In my first visit, a winter one, to the Hague, I entered into the interefts of thefe poor daylabouring dogs fo truly, that I wondered they did not go mad, or that I did not hear of the canine diftraction more in this country than in ours; and on being told there were certain times the dog days) when a heavy fine was to be paid

upon

upon any dog being feen in the street, I supposed this was the cafe, till the fummer following, being at this delightful fea-fide village of Scheve ling, I obferved feveral times in the day these draft dogs brought down to the beach and bathed, a practice, which no doubt equally pres vented them from the dreadful diforder before+ mentioned, and gave them strength to go through their work.

It is fortunate, alfo, that Holland is a country fomewhat prone to be strict in the ceremonies of religion, by obfervance of which the dogs, like their masters, find the feventh a day of unbroken reft for "Sunday fhines a Sabbath-day tỏ "them." The first impression, which is allowed a grand point, you know, being much in favour of thefe industrious creatures, I had an eye on them as well in the hours of their repofe as toil; and felt my heart warm to fee feveral, whom I had obferved very heavily laden on the Saturday, taking a found nap, out ftretched and happy at their masters' doors, on the day in which their leifure is even an allotment and bounty of heaven. All the morning and afternoon they have remained basking in the fun, or in the fhade, in profound tranquillity; while a number of unthinking whelps, and lazy puppies, who had been paffing

VOL. II.

F

paffing their time in idleness all the week were playing their gambols in the street, not without a vain attempt to wake the seniors, and make them join in their amusement. Towards evening I have, in my funfetting rounds, been much pleased to notice the honeft creatures fit at their respective thresholds, looking quite refreshed, giving occafionally into a momentary frolick, and the next morning returning to the labours of the week abfolutely renewed.

Reader-Stranger-art thou too proud of heart-or too full of the dignity of human nature to enter into the fe brute concerns? Pafs on then, and pity my weaknefs, but not without remembering that

If therefore thou haft no feeling for their fufferings, refpect at leaft their virtues :

"Mark but h, true, his faithful way;

"And in thy fervice copy Tray."

Since I have adopted your fo frequent hint, my

lov'd friend, of making thefe papers publick, after they have served the once fole defigned end of your private amusement, I. of course, occafionally yield to addreffes, as from an author to his very different claffes of readers; many, indeed most, of which can apply neither to you nor yours. For example, could I have thought of entering a caveat against the rigour of your heart, or the lofty vanity of your feelings, in confecrating a few pages to thefe dumb fervants? It would have infulted that tenderness which is the most grateful mark of a female temper. Adieu.