^T. 26.] TOUR THROUGH HOLLAND. 277 



plause, a single hist may stop it all. Very fond of 

 amusements like this ; extremely punctual ; never 

 kept waiting, or disappointed, or cheated by trades- 

 men. Best attendance possible at inns, and by drivers, 

 who carry you to a very second. 



Sweated by France ; pay seventy-three per cent 

 on income; fit out ships for France, and when not 

 needed, have to buy them back. Do not love the 

 French at all. 



No paper money, except bills and actions; all sil- 

 ver, copper, and good gold, which bends between the 

 fingers. 



The wealth and credit of some traders here is 

 astonishing. Hope has placed 100,000, some say 

 200,000, of bills in one morning at " Change." No 

 one, however, comes near him. Payments above a 

 certain sum must be made in bank money, which 

 bears a premium of only two, three, or four per cent 

 at present. Though there are no notes in retail trade, 

 there are bonds of foreign loans as low as 100 guilders 

 in constant circulation. The colonial bonds not lower 

 than 100. 



Water is very bad at Amsterdam, so that the only 

 water used for drinking comes from Utrecht, where it 

 is famous. The price is four stivers a bottle, almost 

 as dear as the worst kind of claret, which one may 

 buy for six stivers. 



Utrecht, Aug. 13. Set off with a small valise for 

 this place at 1 P.M. in the treckschuyt. Day at first 

 dull, then stormy and wet, yet the view rich and fine; 



