The political importance and relations ofthe United Provinces are at
prefent completely immerged in thpfe of France. Any conleqpence
among the European powers can fcarcely be refumed, except by the
hopelefs union .with the other Netherlands; but the. moft natural and
neceflary political relations arc with England, under whofe protection
they might ftill have afpired to lucrative commerce.
'■ C H A P T E R ^III.
C i v i l G e o g r a p h y .
Manners and Cufioms. —*Languaged— Literature. — Education..— Univerftties.—
p itie s andTmns,-^-Edifices.— lnlandMa^igathn,r—,Mamf^ures.Mnd Lorrmerce. {
A ST RA N G ER vifiting Holland is furprized at th e extreme cleanlinsefs
J - * - obfervable in 'tfh h houfes andf Arêets,, even hamlets, .inhabited h y
poor fi(hermen, difplaying^ai peatoefs and frefhnefs-; which'* forms a
ftriking contraft with the- Apialid. appearance, o f th e ' German.-viliagest-
T h e air being always moift, and-^commonlyi9co'ld,<.the Du tch "drefs is
jcjfleulatedrfor warmth and n o t'fo r elegance.’ Yet ’thef'pèople hre'fowfd
©f'fplendid exhibitions,' and rfemarkably fubmiffive to the ir 'fuperïofcS/
.T h e Dutch' are ö f aph legm ^ tiè ' temperament’; . and. the ir cohri^eah-fea
^ s jra th e r obftihacy th an ardovfi f w hile from th e famè^capÉe the ir labour
j^ i& th ^ riilow perfeve-ranpei*‘than*nhipetuóüsi:'ftfêngth like that o f the
Englifli. In former times thehr knowledge, was chiefly reftridted tto
two channels j aSairs :o f-fta te , óri -whichi ey en ^ th e vulgar,
honyerfe with propriety ;’ and th e arts o f getting ,th d h ey r4 'But, as\>uAtaf
iti th e decrepitude and fall o f a ftate, as well . as in the old age o f th e •
individual, the miferable love o f 'money at length, fuppiant^u-'eyetfp.
noble^.thought and (generous -feeling.? This Ariking. ehara&eriftic ha*s
hnpreffed; every^ fpe fta tor, fr-qm^the days.of R ay th e in a tu ra lift,‘.Who-
vifited ■ Holland till' 1663, even to the "prefeht hour.. A late amiable
téaéellef obferyes th a t “ the infatuatio'n o f . loving! m o n ey not .as! ahiiËekn
b u t as an end, is p a r am o u n t'in .the mind» o f ahftoft jsdery» Dutch man,
whatever may he his o th e r difpofitions and qualities; th é a d d itio n to
it is fervent, inveterate, invincible, and nniverfal, ifiram;yo‘uth, tohthe
feebleft old age.” *
’ Ray, 53, ■ ' - j* Mts. Radcliffe, ïigS... ,
‘ ; T h é
MiKNBRÏ'
' . ■ " I
Gdstows.