Page:A Tour Through the Batavian Republic.djvu/126

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114
TOUR THROUGH

be found in my intentions, which were to contribute, as far as my limited powers would permit, to both.

The road from the Hague to Scheveling is so justly praised by the Dutch, and pointed out as an object of admiration to strangers, that I should be liable to well-founded censure did I not attempt to describe it. The length of this avenue is near two miles, and its breadth about twenty paces, or rather more. It is a perfectly straight line, so that the entrance of the road commands a view of the whole; and happily a picturesque object, the church of Scheveling, terminates the prospect. On each side it is shaded by beeches, limes, and oaks of an astonishing growth, which are so closely and skilfully planted, at the same time without incommoding each other, that they form to appearance an impervious forest. Great care, but certainly not more than it deserves, is taken to preserve this magnificent grove from injury or depredation. Here the fond lover may brood in solitude over his passion, but must not wound the bark of a tree with the initials of his