happens which makes it necessary to give an alarm, this instrument is used to call assistance.
To prevent the mischiefs of fire, and for other useful purposes, sentinels are nightly placed on the steeples and principal towers of the city, who sound the half hours with a trumpet, and if a house is discovered to be on fire, give an alarm which is soon spread over the city by hanging out a large lantern from the side where the conflagration is perceived. Fires seldom do much damage in Amsterdam, from the abundant supply of water which is every-where to be obtained, and the celerity with which an alarm is given and assistance received. In addition to the watchmen and fire sentinels, four companies of the city militia mount guard nightly in Amsterdam. The city militia is divided into five battalions of twelve companies each, so that the rotation of duty comes in fifteen days. Before the revolution, any person who chose to provide a substitute, which could be done at a reasonable price, was exempt from serving in this corps;
