310 NETHERLANDS. CHAP. XXVI. 



dispersing of whose productions, they extract their 

 wealth. 



The Scandinavian kingdoms, Denmark, Sweden, 

 and Norway, are too poor and too homely to need 

 or to use much of either silver or gold, but what 

 they do use is chiefly fabricated in their respective 

 capitals, or some little is supplied from England 

 or France direct, or through the cities of Lubec 

 and Hamburg. 



In the kingdom of the Netherlands, though 

 from recent events no longer distinguished by 

 that name, the use of gold and silver during the 

 period here adverted to was perhaps greater, in pro- 

 portion to the population, than in any other part 

 of Europe. In the northern part of that kingdom 

 especially, the personal ornaments of gold and 

 silver descended to a lower class, chiefly of females, 

 than elsewhere. Large plates of those metals 

 fitted to the shape of the upper part of the head 

 were a remarkable part of dress in the provinces 

 of Overyssel, Utrecht, and Dreuthe; and neck- 

 laces, finger rings, and earrings, were to be seen 

 in great profusion and of unusual size and weight. 

 The richer inhabitants were proportionably sup- 

 plied with the personal and domestic ornaments 

 appropriate to their respective ranks in society. 

 Although, from the habitual economy of the 

 nation, there was perhaps less positive waste than 

 in other countries, and perhaps much fewer 



