FROM ANTWERP TO ROTTERDAM. 115 



told, that we should probably accomplish our journey by- 

 three in the afternoon, but that, if the wet weather conti- 

 nued, it might perhaps be 5 P. M. before we should reach 

 our destination. The rain had ceased during the night ; 

 and, as the morning advanced, the clouds cleared away, 

 and afforded us a view of the country through which we 

 passed. For several miles, each side of the road present- 

 ed coppices of oak and alder, with occasional fields of 

 corn. Soon after passing Sandvliet, and entering the pro- 

 per Dutch territory, the soil became poor and waste. 

 Extensive moors and sand-hills continued, with little inter- 

 mission, till we approached Bergen-op-Zoom. The moor- 

 ish ground was generally covered with heath (Erica vulga- 

 ris principally, with a mixture of E. cinerea) ; and at this 

 season it was seen to the best advantage, the heath being 

 clothed with flowers. 



Berg-op-Zoom. 

 After passing many outworks with palisadoes, we came 

 in front of a half-moon battery, flanked by a fort with se- 

 veral redoubts ; and crossing, by means of a wooden bridge, 

 a broad canal, formed, we believe, by the river Zoom, we 

 entered the gates of this formidable place, accounted the 

 chef-d'ceuvre of the great engineer Coehern, and celebrat- 

 ed for the many sieges it has stood. It was now about 

 10 A. M., and we had only done about six-and-twenty 

 miles in the space of six hours ! Our Dutch conductor in- 

 deed complained of the slow pace occasioned by the heaviness 

 of the roads, and, by way of consoling us and proving his 

 zeal for furthering our course, would not listen to a pro- 

 posal of our getting breakfast, assuring us that the post- 

 wagen (for by this title the diligence was now to be dis- 

 inguished) would set out again in a very few minutes. 



h % 



