ii 
Hellevoetsluis contains upwards of two thousand inhabitants, 
among whom there is scarcely a poor one to be found. The town 
properly consists of but one street, on both sides of the harbour, 
haying walled quays, and united by a double drawbridge, built 
two years ago. Where the town terminates, the dock-yard com¬ 
mences, which contains most of the fortifications. Near the dock¬ 
yard are the barracks, which can, if necessary, contain two 
thousand men. The frigate Rhine lay in harbour as guard-ship. 
There was one ship repairing in the dock, none building. For 
the purpose of repairing there is, behind the basin of the dock¬ 
yard, a dry, terrace-shaped, walled basin, or dry dock , large 
enough for a ship. When the ship is brought into this dock, the 
gates are closed, and the water pumped out by a steam machine of 
thirty horse-power. This being done, the ship is dry, and may 
be examined on all sides. When the repairs are completed, the 
gates are again opened, the water admitted, and the ship floated 
out. A boat-gate is better adapted to this purpose: a boat-gate 
consists of a box which exactly enters the canal leading to 
the dry dock: when brought to the place where it is to be used, 
a quantity of water is admitted sufficient to sink it to the level of 
the shores, and then it forms a bridge. When it is necessary to 
open the gate, the water is pumped out, and the box is with¬ 
drawn from the canal. The frigate Kenan Hasselaar was in the 
basin getting ready for sea, and with the crew of the guard-ship 
under command of Captain Dibbetz, she was to sail for the East 
Indies. The frigates Scheldt Maas , Yssel , and Java , with the 
brig Havic , and about twenty gun-boats, were laid up in or¬ 
dinary. One of the gun-boats was built after a Danish model, 
which allows the upper part of the rudder to be taken down and 
two ports to be opened, by w T hich the stern can be used in bat¬ 
tery. The magazines and smithies are not large, but are kept in 
very neat order. 
The admiralty have a very large building here which is used 
as the residence of the marine commander in chief. From abel- 
videre of this house there is a fine view of the harbour and sur¬ 
rounding country. In the former, the frigate Jhnstel , corvette 
Pallas , brig De Gier , and transport-ship Zeemeeuw rode at an¬ 
chor, the two latter bound to the Mediterranean. In the dock¬ 
yard we remarked a very large mast-crane, wdiich may be seen 
far at sea, and serves mariners as a landmark. There is also a 
light-house upon one of the two dams which secure the harbour, 
also built two years ago. 
[From the 11th to the 25th of April, contrary winds detained 
the corvette at Hellevoetsluis, during which time an excursion 
was made to Goedereede , Stellendam , &c. After various changes 
of winds, and a storm while 1 ying at anchor, nothing of interest 
