THE BATAVIAN REPUBLIC
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LETTER XVIII.
Climate of Amsterdam. — Dutch physiognomies. — The village of Broek. — Custom of having two doors to each house in North Holland. — Carvings over the doors. — The houses and gardens of Broek. — Extreme cleanliness of its streets. — Phlegm of the inhabitants of Broek. — Saardam. — Number of windmills. — Decay of trade. — House where Peter the Great resided. — A funeral. — Departure from Amsterdam. — The canal from Amsterdam to Utrecht. — Utrecht. — Its surrender to Lewis XIV. in 1672, and to the Prussians in 1787. — The university of Utrecht. — Nimeguen. — Return to Rotterdam. — Departure for England. — Detention at Maaslandsluys.
Maaslandsluys, December, 1800.
THE atmosphere of Amsterdam, from its marshy situation, is at all periods of the year loaded with humid vapours; and I believe we had not the good fortune, during a residence
