UTHECHT TO BREDA. 263 



must doubtless result to individuals occupying the lowest 

 districts ; but in this way only can any prospect be in- 

 dulged of the former state of things being restored. The 

 soil or mud annually left by the overflowing of waters, 

 would not only meliorate the lowest meadows and corn- 

 lands, but would gradually raise them ; while the main 

 dikes would afford far greater security to the inhabitants 

 in general. 



To revert to our proper department. — We have be- 

 come somewhat reconciled to the Dutch style of gardening, 

 as suited equally to their limited territory, and to their na- 

 tional character. The villa gardens, being necessarily of 

 very circumscribed dimensions, often literally a " nook of 

 earth," formal trimness is all that can be looked for ; and 

 the garden harmonizes with the small painted dwelling- 

 house, or " country-box, 11 as it would be termed by a Lon- 

 don tradesman. Even the best of the larger gardens which 

 we have seen, consist chiefly of a series of straight alleys 

 and of green parapets, with sometimes a regular serpentine 

 walk, and perhaps a formal berceau. The ideas and ha- 

 bits of the people are formed in crowded commercial towns : 

 these they carry with them into their rural retreats, produ- 

 cing stiffness and trimness, but a supreme regard to com- 

 fort and utility. A tasteful pavilion and pier on the mar- 

 gin of the principal canal, facilitates communication with 

 the treckschuyt ; and a subordinate canal is generally car- 

 ried up to the kitchen-door, for the more convenient sup- 

 ply of all heavy articles from the towns. Small bridges 

 and boat-houses are frequently the chief ornamental struc- 

 tures of the pleasure-grounds. The garden-walks are both 

 sheltered and shaded, and are smoothly laid with broken 

 sea-shells of the purest white colour. We may here re- 

 mark, that both in Amsterdam and Rotterdam we observed 



