THE BATAVIAN REPUBLIC
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LETTER XII.
Streets of Amsterdam. — Canals. — Shopkeepers. — Begging prohibited in Amsterdam. — A little pedlar boy. — The Exchange. — A literary society, the Felix Meritis. — Extent of Amsterdam. — Number of houses. — Population. — Police. — Watchmen. — Fire centinels. — City militia. — The Rasp-house of Amsterdam. — Labour of the criminals confined in it. — Expedient formerly used to oblige refractory criminals to work. — General appearance of the prisoners. — Terms of confinement. — Account of a man sentenced to perpetual imprisonment. — Exemption from labour to be purchased. — Figure over the gate of the Rasp-house. — The Spin-house or Bride-well for women. — Licensed brothels of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam, 1800.
THE streets of Amsterdam are not to be compared for neatness or cleanliness with those of Leyden or Haerlem. With the
