HAARLEM. 171 



The collection, again, of Widow Van Ecdcn and Son is 

 but small. The most extensive collection is doubtless that 

 of Mr Arie Cornelis Van Eeden. We have much 

 reason to regret that we did not meet with this gentleman ; 

 for we afterwards received, from good authority, the 

 strongest testimony to his merit as a cultivator, and also to 

 his general intelligence regarding every thing connected 

 with the gardening of Holland. To make some amends, 

 however, we have since established a correspondence with 

 this excellent horticulturist. 



The Palace Garden. 

 We next visited the gardens of the Palace of Haarlem, 

 This was formerly the country house of Mr Hope, the 

 eminent banker and merchant, and was built by him at a 

 vast expence. When the French took possession of Holland, 

 this was by much the most elegant residenoe in the coun- 

 try : and it did not fail to attract the eyes of Louis Buona- 

 parte, who, upon his elevation to the regal dignity, disco- 

 vered immoderate fondness for splendid mansions. The 

 royal wish to purchase was signified in such a way to the 

 respectable owner, that to have refused would have been 

 pretty evidently equivalent to losing all. The price was 

 therefore left to the generosity of the King, and his Ma- 

 jesty tendered 120,000 florins (L. 10,000 Sterling), a sum 

 not equal to the prime-cost of the materials ! It has in 

 this way come into the hands of the present King of the Ne- 

 therlands, and its possessor at this time was the Dowager- 

 Princess of Orange. We could wish to have added, that 

 full indemnification had since been made to the original 

 owner ; but this has not hitherto been done. The front 

 of the house has a very light and elegant appearance, and 



