Page:A Tour Through the Batavian Republic.djvu/389

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THE BATAVIAN REPUBLIC
377

that we had before met with; but the objects of curiosity to interest us being diminished, the desire of returning home almost entirely possessed our thoughts. Unterrified with the prospect of encountering the turbulence and dangers of the North Sea at an advanced period of the year, — preferred that we should sail for London in some vessel from Rotterdam, rather than return by the route of Calais, as we once proposed and intended; and a sloop belonging to Mr. ——— being on the eve of departure, we agreed for our passage on board of it. — From this gentleman and Mrs. ——— we received during our stay in Rotterdam attentions and civilities which can never be effaced from our minds.

The accommodations of our vessel (which fails under the Prussian flag, but is English property) are much on a par with those of the sloop in which we were captured; but the captain and his crew, Prussians or Dutch, cultivate the virtue of cleanliness out of comparison more carefully than our English captain and his sailors did.

Change of wind obliged our vessel to come