120 HORTICULTURAL TOUJK. 



HOTTEUDAM. 



Aug. 28. — On going abroad in the morning, we disco- 

 vered that the great annual fair or kermcss of this place 

 had, after a fortnight's duration, recently closed ; many 

 kniams*, or temporary booths, still remaining in the streets. 

 All that we have read or heard of the neatness and clean- 

 liness of Dutch towns, seems already realised even in this 

 busy trading port. The outsides of the houses are gene- 

 rally painted, and the large panes of the windows are kept 

 perfectly transparent. Before seven in the morning, maid- 

 servants were every where washing the streets before their 

 masters' houses, with mop-besoms, or dashing water against 

 the windows with a kind of force-pump. The streets are 

 paved with stones similar in quality to those used in Edin- 

 burgh, but rounder, and worn smooth with the friction of 

 sledges, which are here in common use. In the principal 

 streets there is a pavement for foot-passengers, made with 

 the small light-coloured and very hard-burnt bricks called 

 clinkers : these, placed sideways, form a very compact and 

 durable path. Cargoes of these Dutch clinkers are some- 

 times imported into Britain, for forming the floors of stables, 

 to which purpose they are well adapted, particularly in be- 

 ing durable. In several of the streets the gutters are cover- 

 ed with boards which can be raised at pleasure, being at- 

 tached to crib-stones by iron-hinges. 



• The Crames of Edinburgh have at length (1817) been demolished, and 

 the name will he unknown to the next generation, ft seems probable, that, 

 like the Icruam.i of Holland, they were originally only temporary hooths, ad- 

 \i< »■ d tO the walls of the Cathedral Church of St Giles, perhaps during the 

 continuance of All-hallow Fair, hut which, hy gradual encroachments on the 



one hand) and rem] men pn the other, had been allowed to become perma- 



, M 'i" tjons. 



