J.HK HAGUE 149 



Fish-market. 



We traced the steps of some of our Schcveling compa- 

 nions to the fish-market. As might be expected, the market 

 proved commodious and clean, and well supplied with water. 

 Salmon was pretty common ; carp was plentiful ; and a single 

 John Dory and a single sturgeon appeared on a stall. At 

 some sea&ons, we believe, sturgeons are abundant, being 

 taken in numbers at the mouths of the Rhine, when about 

 to ascend that river. Four tame storks were stalking up 

 and down in the market. They were in full plumage ; 

 and did not appear to have been pinioned, so as to disable 

 them from flying. Their food consists wholly of the gar- 

 bage which they pick up about the fish-stalls. A small 

 house, like a dog's kennel, is appropriated to their use ; for 

 the stork seems to be held as sacred by the Dutch as by 

 the Mahomedans. 



The Hof. 

 In returning home we visited a great square of brick 

 buildings called The Hof or Court, being the place where 

 the Assemblies of the States used to be held. In this 

 neighbourhood, a fine sheet of water, called the Vyver, has 

 a refreshing appearance at this warm season of the year. 

 At our own hotel, we were surrounded with palaces ; for 

 the houses of the foreign ambassadors, and of the represen- 

 tatives of the different States, deserve this title. We had 

 a letter from the Right Hon. Sir John Sinclair, recommend- 

 ing us to the notice of Mr Hope, the nephew of the distin- 

 guished merchant and banker, who inhabits one of those 

 mansions ; but, unluckily for us, he was at this time absent 

 4Vom the Hague, 



