IK) HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



We had, therefore, only time for a walk to the church and 

 the market-place of a town where so many Scotsmen have 

 fallen,' both as defenders and assailants; as defenders at 

 the famous siege by Mareschal Saxe in 1746, and as as- 

 sailants under General Graham (Lord Lyndock) in 1814. 

 In both cases our countrymen were unsuccessful ; but 

 their conduct as soldiers is universally praised. 



As we proceeded on our journey, the fields increased in 

 size, and the crops appeared tall and good ; but the roads 

 became worse, and the jolting excessive. We had now got 

 among the mud-dikes of Holland. The road, if it deserve 

 the name, generally runs along the top of these ; but it of- 

 ten passes from one dike to another, by means of inclined 

 planes, and in descending these we were frequently in jeo- 

 pardy of being pitched out. After some hard work of this 

 kind, we entered, along with our carriage and horses, a bac 

 or large flat ferry-boat, and crossed a small branch of the 

 Maese. We then passed over the Island of Roggenhill ; 

 and the road being smoother and firmer, we soon reached 



Williamstadt. 



This, too, is a strongly fortified place ; but the interior 

 presented us with the appearance of a pretty little town, 

 very clean, and of a flourishing aspect. After some little 

 delay, we embarked in a commodious pinnace, in order to 

 cross an arm of the Maese, between three and four miles 

 broad, called Hollands Diep. 



On the other side we found another post-wagen, of worse 

 construction, and with worse cattle, awaiting us. The 

 roads continued very bad ; but the face of the country still 

 improved. The dikes are here very wide or broad. Neat 

 mi) i ling cottages are scattered along the sloping banks. By 

 ri soring their houses on the sides of the dikes, the inhabi- 

 \ints raise themselves a i'aw feet, above the water, while 



