67 



shape of the gables and fanlights. The city was once ten times as 

 large as it is now, and there are still three cathedrals to adorn 

 it. Then followed a description of the habits of the people, their 

 food and mode of cooking, the love of tobacco and its use by 

 children. An enormous number of persons suffered from spinal 

 disease, and this was doubtless accounted for by the little milk 

 that was consumed, and the indigestible character of the bread 

 given to the childi'en. Alkmaar had a celebrated weekly cheese 

 fair : particulars of which were related. In the park stood a 

 magnificent statue of Liberty. Alkmaar was the first city which 

 threw off the Spanish yoke : and the statue commemorates the 

 signal defeat of the Sj)aniards which they here experienced, and 

 which proved the turning point in the campaign. The museum 

 with its trophies, the cathedral, and the city gate were all de- 

 scribed in turn. 



The growth of Amsterdam was undoubtedly one cause of the 

 decay of these cities, though some day they might perhaps regain 

 their ancient prosperity. Agriculture was spreading, exports 

 increasing ; and there was evidence of stii' in some of the cities, 

 in the pulling down of old houses, and modern adaptations. Dr. 

 Brumwell then spoke of Friesland, touching briefly upon its 

 principal places Leeuwarden, Sneek, and Groningen. The chief 

 objects of interest were enumerated, and the results given of 

 observations as to the pursuits, and enjoyments of the inhabitants. 

 Next came the account of the visit to the province of Drenthe 

 and its stone monuments. Drenthe was the Wales of Holland. 

 It contained the remains of the earliest colonists of the country. 

 At Assen, where it was noticeable that while the ornaments of the 

 Friesland peasantry were of silver and gold, in other parts, the 

 people of the Drenthe had no ornaments. There was a museum, 

 fuU of priceless objects of interest. Many of them were relics 

 of Eoman and pre-historic times, obtained from neighbouidng 

 remains of antiquity. The paper then explained in detail the 

 situation, and construction of the stone monuments for which 

 the place is renowned. They are collections of huge stones, — 

 dolmens — erected over the remains of famous men of former 

 ages. There have been foimd beneath them bones, ornaments, 

 and weapons of war. The cost of erecting the monuments must 

 have been great : for the material had to be conveyed long dis- 

 tances. Assen possesses several of these dolmens. They stand 

 side by side, and are carefully kept by the Government, who 

 purchased them. The age of these hoary relics is unknown. 

 They have a title deed of antiquity which Stonehenge has not. 

 Tacitus said that they were considered antiquities in his day. 

 The Dutch say that they are the graves of Huns. Another 

 memorial is known as the Forum, and is a large circular embank- 

 ment, probably used as a place for the celebration of religious 



