the Sovereign and the State, that such men should be employed.

On the General State of Holland.

Holland is far from being a despicable country, and the great wealth acquired by its inhabitants has been well employed in the improvement of their country, and in forming dikes, making canals, erecting mills for drainage, and building substantial habitations. No where are the houses better timbered than the Dutch. The windows are too large and numerous, which makes their houses cold in winter. A medium size, on that account, is much to be preferred.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE NATIVES OF HOLland.

1. THE EARL OF ATHLONE.

After paying my respects to the Prince of Orange, who had been compelled, by the republican party in Holland, to take up his residence at Nimeguen, I proceeded to the Chateau of Amerengen, where Lord and Lady Athlone then lived. The name of the family is De Ginkell, of Dutch extraction, but ennobled by William III., for their services in Ireland. The house was large, and had something imposing in its appearance. It was moated round with ditches, had much wood in the neighbourhood, and seemed, on the whole, a pleasant place of residence. I arrived on the 1st of December 1786, and the weather was still so fine, that we resolved to attend a ball at the neighbouring Chateau of Zulisstein, (belonging to the Rochford family), given by a Dutch gentleman, who rented it from the Earl of Rochford, then proprietor. The ball was kept up with so much spirit, that it was two o'clock in the morning before we returned to Amerengen. Lord Athlone was a warm adherent to the

Prince of Orange, and suffered much from the part he had taken. Lady Athlone was very sensible and intelligent. She was the mother of nine children, and a grandmother *.

From Lord Athlone I received very important information regarding the taxes of Holland and Utrecht. The following communication proves the friendly terms on which we corresponded together:

DEAR SIR,

Having seen your happy return to London, I have sent, according to my promise, the model of a hay-rick to Sir James Harris, with desire to transmit it to you to London; and I have inclosed in it a paper, with all the dimensions and prices in this country. I suppose you will have somebody to translate it into English. The most customary manner to make them is without the foot; but it was necessary to do it in this model, to keep it together. I hope it will be answerable to your purpose.

I suppose you are now in the middle of parliamentary business, and which will take up all your time, for I see by the newspapers that you have much important business to transact, and especially your commercial treaty with France, which I hope will not be the means of leaving out of view a treaty with this unfortunate country, and the renewing of the so unfortunately broken union between them. I hope that your noble friend is convinced of the utility of it for both the countries, and that he will not leave us a prey to the treacherous and insidious conduct of France, who will, if possible, ruin this country only to deprive England of any use of her once flourishing ally. In fact, since you left us, matters do not go backwards for his Serene Highness and his party. But with no support, how can we do against the party supported by the whole credit of France? And you know that, on the

Lady Athlone strongly reprobated the fashion of small waists.

She said,

that any young woman who adopted that fashion, must either be a corpse or a martyr with her first child.

Prussian side, we have nothing to expect. I do not pretend that England should, in this moment, venture a war with France for our sake; but, in my opinion, it would be sufficient to let them understand that England will not suffer a revolution in this country.

We have abandoned the idea of placing Lord Aghrim in the army, on account of some difficulties in the proper manner of effectuating it. I hope there will be another way of settling him in England, according to my wish. I am, with great regard, Dear Sir, your most humble servant,

Amerengen, 3d February 1787.

2.-M. DE FAGELL.

ATHLONE.

the

The name of Fagell has long held a high rank among statesmen of Holland; and I had the pleasure of frequently `meeting with M. A. W. C. de Fagell in London, who represented that family. When he was afterwards appointed one of the Ministers to the King of the Netherlands, I was induced to send a proposal to him, for improving the communication beween Brussels and the Hague, to which I received the following answer :

MONSIEUR LE CHEVALIER*,

La Haye, ce 16. Janvier 1816.

La lettre que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'écrire, ce 12. de ce mois, m'a donné une nouvelle preuve de votre zèle pour tout ce qui peut interesser le bien public. Aussi je vous remercie, Monsieur, de tout mon cœur pour l'envoi de vos

SIR,

* Translation.

The Hague, January 16. 1816.

The letter which you have done ine the honour to write to me the 12th of this month, has given me a new proof of your zeal for the public good. I cordially thank you for sending me your observations upon the means of establish

observations sur les moyens d'établir une communication plus facile entre la Haye et Bruxelles. Je n'ai pas manqué de mettre votre projet sous les yeux du Roi; et comme vous en avez fait passer également une copie à Monsieur le Duc d'Ursel, je ne crains pas de vous assurer, qu'il sera examiné avec la plus scrupuleuse attention.

J'ai encore des remercimens à vous offrir pour l'envoi des portraits des personnes qui ont vecu extraordinairement; ces exemples sont beaux, mais difficile à atteindre.

Je saisis avec plaisir, Monsieur le Chevalier, cette occasion pour vous renouveller l'assurance de la consideration distinguée avec laquelle j'ai l'honneur d'être, Monsieur le Chevalier, votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur,

A. W. C. De Fagell.

3.-BARON DE NAGELL.

I do not recollect to have met with a statesman of more pleasing manners, than Baron de Nagell. We first became acquainted in London, where the Baron had lived for some time as accredited Minister from the House of Orange. On my announcing to him, on the 15th March 1815, my arrival at the Hague, where the Prince of Orange then resided, I had the pleasure of receiving the following friendly note in return:

Monsieur de Nagell will be extremely happy to receive Sir John Sinclair to-morrow, half past one o'clock, at his of

I have not

ing a readier communication between the Hague and Brussels. failed to lay your project before the King; and as you have also sent a copy to Monsieur le Duc d'Ursel, I have no scruple in assuring you, that the plan will be examined with the closest attention.

I have, besides, many thanks to offer you for sending the portraits of persons who attained extraordinary longevity. It would be excellent, but difficult to follow their example.

I gladly take advantage, Sir, of this opportunity to renew the assurance of the high esteem with which I have the honour to be your humble and obedient

servant.

fice, and to make use of that opportunity to renew an acquaintance which has always been to him so agreeable.

Hague, the 15th March 1815.

Nothing could be kinder than the reception I met with ; and he gave me every assistance for collecting information I could possibly desire; in particular, by introductions to General Jassens, the Secretary at War, and to Baron Lampsins, who had the charge of the Prince's library. By his means, I was enabled to obtain very important information regarding the management of the Dutch dairies, which the farmers of Holland are very unwilling to disclose.

4.-COUNT HEIDEN.

The Count was at one time the Prince of Orange's Minister, and a very able man, but rather unpopular. It was said that the Prince did not pay that attention to his advice to which it was justly entitled. Having transmitted to him two copies of the plan I had engraved, of my extensive journey through the northern parts of Europe, I had the pleasure of receiving from him the following polite acknowledgment :

* Le Comte de Heiden a reçu, avec bien des remercimens, le billet du Chevalier Sinclair, par lequel il a la bonté de lui envoier deux exemplaires des cartes de son voyage au nord de l'Europe. Suivant ses intentions, il a eu l'honneur d'en remettre un au Prince d'Orange, qui lui en témoigne sa sen

* Translation.

The Count de Heiden acknowledges, with many thanks, the note of Sir John Sinclair, along with which he had the goodness to send him two copies of the plan of his journey to the north of Europe. According to Sir John's desire, he has had the honour to deliver one of them to the Prince of Orange, who returns him thanks for this mark of attention. Sir John will be kind enough to receive, at the same time, the expressions of gratitude, and the sentiments of esteem and respect of his very obedient servant,

HEIDEN.