1803.] 
great emporium of Europe during every 
naval conteft, as it has been the fore-houfe 
of the north of Germany for along fe- 
ries of years. From the upper regions 
of the Elbe, vefiels are continually arriv- 
ing, freighted with the produce of the in- 
terior; and return, laden with the necef- 
fary fupply of imports, for the countries 
depending on the navigation of this far- 
flowing ftream.. In its foreign commer- 
cial relations, Hamburg is intimately 
connected with Great Britain, France, and 
almoft every maritime power in Europe, 
with the United States of North America, 
and with fome of the Welt Indian iflands. 
With the Mediterranean and the South cf 
Europe, a direét communication being pre- 
vented by the depredations of the piratical 
ftates of Barbary ; the produce of thefe 
countries is imported in foreign veflels, to 
which indeed Hamburg is tributary for a 
confiderable proportion of its trade. Lu- 
beck afferds té the Hamburgers a readier 
meais of commercial intercourfe with Ruf- 
fia and the other ftates of the Baltic, than 
the more circuitous paflage of the Cattegat 
and the Sound; fince goods can be tranf 
ported from thence either by land or wa- 
ter, at no great expence, and with a confi- 
derable advantage in fecurity and dif- 
patch. Hamburg is confequently fre- 
quented by the vefiels of various countries, 
and becomes the refort of the en'erpri- 
ing merchant {rom the greatelt portion of 
the civilized world. 
The lofty towers of Hamburg, and 
its mally ramparts, form a prominent fea- 
ture in the external prospect, rifing above 
the furrounding fcenery, and crowning 
the beauties of the whole. Verdant 
greves, and walks fhaded with lindens, 
diverhify the appearance of a fandy plain, 
which the indufiry of man has cultivated 
and embellifhed with no common care. 
Altona, the now afpiring rival of Ham- 
burg, inopulence and commerce, bounds 
the territcries of the Hans-Town at a 
fort diftance on the welt fide of the city ; 
whilf to the eaftward a chain of outer 
fortifications comprehends within its li- 
mits the beautiful and extenfive fuburb of 
t. George, the dependent bailiwick of 
Ham, and the buildingson the City Dyke. 
The majeftic Elbe, interfperfed with nu- 
merous iflands, flows to the fouthward of 
the city, partly wafhing the fortifications, 
and partly feparated from the ramparts by 
an exteniive marfh, fubje&+ in wiater to 
{sequent inundations, but in fummer af- 
fording exceilent pafiurage for caitle. On 
the north, or rather the north-eaft, the 
Alfter, expanded.to a fpacious lake from 
Monruiy Maa, No, 108. 
Defeription of Hamburgs 
413 
the confluence of fome {mailer ftreams a 
few miles diftant from the city, enters 
within the ramparts by the Lombards 
bridge, and forms there a beautiful bafin 
hefore it penetrates, by canals, through 
the interior, to mingle its waters with the 
Eibe. Numerous pleafure-gardens, villas, 
and other edifices of a public and private 
nature, line the margins of the Aifer, 
and deccrate the appearance of the adja- 
cent plain. Thus, on every fide of Hama 
burg a highly cultivated councry, adorned 
with wood and water, forms an intereiting 
and variegated profpect; the whole of 
which is comprehended within the bounds 
of the horizon from fome elevated ftations 
in the city. 
The beauties of Hamburg vanith with 
the external profpeé&t ; and the eye of tafte 
will {carcely receive one foliiary gratifi- 
cation within the walls of this important 
city. It approaches in form towards an 
unegual circle, or rather an. oblong, the 
length of which may be eftimated at two 
miles and a half, the breadth attwo miles, 
whilft the circumference {carcely exceeds 
five. A population of near one hundred 
thoufand inhabitants, crowded withia this 
{pace, ina city abounding with ware. 
houfes and manufacicrks, interfeGed by 
canals, and containing within its bounda- 
ries two fpacious havens and an extenfive 
bafin, where alfo numerous areas and 
markets, churches and other public builds 
ings occupy a confiserable portion of 
ground, admits not the poffibility of thofe 
arrangements which bealth and conve- 
nience equally require. The fouth eaft 
divifien of Hamburg is built in the very 
wortk ftyle of ancient cities; the ftreets 
are narrow, dirty, and il!-paved, winding 
in various and complicated direCtions, to 
the great annoyance of the inexperienced 
traveller, who, difdaining the affiftance 
of a walet de place, attempts unguided to 
explore his way. ‘The houfes of the prin. 
cipal inhabitants are lofty, commedious 
rather than elegant within, and _prefent, 
after the fafhion of many continental cities, 
their gables towards the ftreet. Though 
their height almoft totally excludes the 
rays of the fun, rows of trees are planted 
in front of each, which, however pleafing 
their appearance in {pring and fummer, 
muft, with their falling leavesin Antumn, 
inevitably become a nuifance, equally in- 
tolerabie to the paffenger, and injurious to 
the bealth of the city. The habitations 
of the poor are wretched hovels, crowded 
together in narrow lanes, and feldom con. 
taining more than oneortworcoms. The 
greaielt contraft to thefe abodes of wretch- 
30 ednefay 
