LETTER XXV.CharlestoEmilia.
My friend William has acquitted himself so well, that I have very little more to say of our late excursion. I shall soon be with you to tell you all, as our voyage to England is fixed for the end of next month. Your brother is grown very idle, and our time is almost entirely lost in amusements. We walk, or ride, from one village to another; go to the play, pay visits, &c. Yet, now I think of it, I cannot call it time lost, I endeavour to get all the information I can respecting the customs and dispositions of the people I am now with. I shall send them to Dr. Bartlett, and as he has been frequently in this country, he will rectify my mistaken opinions when I return. Indeed,I wish to see as much as I can, for I should be ashamed, when any one asked me what I had seen in Holland, to be only able to speak of the air, the ground, the sun, the houses, the fields, the cattle, without being able to add, that the air is warmer or colder, the houses better or worse built, the fields more or less fruitful than in England; in short, not to be able to give a discriminating account of the country and the manners of the people.
I will now give you a slight sketch. The Dutch appear to me to be sincere and honest; they have the politeness of the French without their levity. Their peasantry and mechanics are the most industrious set of people I have ever seen, and so honest, that it is as safe in the evening and night in the streets as in the houses. We hear of no duels, murders, or robberies; nor any of those dreadful vices which prevail so much in England, or of those barbarousdiversions which please the mob in our country. We never hear of a boxing match for money; nor do they fight cocks, or bait bulls; so that they appear to be a mild people.
The land is fruitful and well cultivated, and the climate, I am informed, very wholesome; I only regret the year being so far advanced, that I shall not see half the beauties of the country on that account.
We are going this afternoon to a village in the neighbourhood of this place. Annette has just now left the room, after shewing me her writing, which her young master had praised. But why do not you lay aside your work for an hour, and write an answer to William? or we shall not be good friends.
CHARLES.
CHARLES.
CHARLES.
CHARLES.