142 IIOIiTICULTUKAL TOUR. 



with water. The Sootermerse Meere was well seen, and, 

 in the distance, the inland Seas of Leyden and Haarlem 

 appeared. We paid a visit also to the Oude Kerk, and 

 saw the monuments erected to the philosopher Leuwen- 

 hoeck of animalcular celebrity, to Admirals Van Tromp 

 and De Heine, and to a Lady Meruix, whose history we 

 have forgotten. We remarked that small villa gardens are 

 numerous at Delft, many merchants having chosen this spot 

 for retirement ; but we could hear of no garden peculiar- 

 ly distinguished for its excellence ; nor do we think that 

 Delft is likely to afford any thing interesting in the way of 

 horticulture. What is called the Wyn Appel seems here 

 to be much cultivated : we may add here, that a horticul- 

 tural friend informs us, that he regards it as the same va- 

 riety which is called in England Sops of Wine, from the 

 reddish tinges of its pulp. 



In the course of the forenoon we again took our places 

 in a treckschuyt for 



The Hague. 



The approach to this place is really beautiful ; and the 

 chief part of the beauty depends on the trees. With these 

 the roads, in various directions, are bordered, to the extent 

 of several miles ; and they seem to unite in a great mass of 

 forest, north of the town. Having thus been at first judicious- 

 ly disposed, they have also now attained to noble dimensions. 

 We knew well that the Hague had long been the seat of 

 government ; and although, like Manchester, it ranks only 

 as a village in books of geography, we were aware that it 

 matt be a considerable place ; none of us, however, expect- 

 ed to !><• ushered into so large and elegant a city as we 



