(^ 9 ) 
be indebted for this Glorious, and Wonderful Peace, that ic now Co 
happily enjoys, and which will always be recorded by Hiftorians, to 
the immortal Praife of the Great J{ing William , and to the Admira- 
tion of all Pollericy. 
The Dutch are not now torn and divided into Fa6i:ions, and Par- 
ties, but are generally unanimous in their Counfels , calm in their De- 
liberations , and foon refolve on fuch Supplies or Taxes , as are ne- 
celTary for the fafety and welfare of the State. Formerly indeed, by 
the influence of French Etnijfaries, they have laboured under Divifions 
and Animolities, to the detriment , and danger of the State ; and they 
have not alvtays hearkened to the zuifeji Counfel, witnefs their hafly con- 
-clufion of the Peace at Nimeguen. But it is now become a frequent 
Obfervation among the Dutch, as a Gentleman cf theirs of good un- 
derflanding , and conflderable employmen-, informed me, that in alt 
things wherein they have been found to follow the Wife Counfel and 
Advice of 6ur frefent I{ing , they have always found therafelves to be 
fuccefsful V and whenfoever they have rejeded, or not followed the 
fame Wife Counfil, they have as often proved unfortunate , as the 
Events themfelves have afterwards demonflrated. And hence it comes 
to pafs , that now the State of the IZ'ar for the next Year can there 
be determined in as few days , as it is in months in forae other Coun- 
tries^ And now the Fenfionary of Holland Confulting two or three 
days with the Stadtholdcr , does bring matters of the greateft moment 
to a fliorter iflue, than can be eafily expeded from the different Sen- 
Sentiments of a* great number of Counfellours , though never fb 
Wife. 
Holland does contain a greater number of large, populous, and con- 
frderable Towns, than poflibly are to be found fo near together in any 
other part of the Univerfe. But though ic abounds with multitudes of 
Inhabitants, and is enriched with fo many great Towns , fuch as Am- 
ferdatn , the Hague, Leyden, Dort, Delf , Rotterdam, Haerlem, the 
Brief dec. and others , as remarkable as the Chief Cities in other 
Countries, yet it yields to their fuflenance little or no produd of Corn 
or Grain. They are fain to fetch from the Baltick, and other Pla- 
ces, where it is plentiful , Corn enough to fupply fhemfelves, and 
their Neighbours, who want it. And they do fend out great fleets 
every year for that purpofe. All this Country is a low level , lower 
than the Sea it felf in many places , and defended from the inunda- 
tion of the Sea by incredible Dykes , or Banks. All the feventeen 
Provinces, are commonly called the Low Countries ; not that they arc 
all a Zow level like unto Holland, hut becaufe they are fleuated to- 
wards the Lower part of the ^Ffhini, and therefore are now called b? 
Authors Germania inferior, or Lower (term any. The Country of Hoi 
