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9)
of 2 of them more than I knew before, although I
repeated the names of a score or two in 3 or 4 different
languages after as pretty a Dutch girl as you will
see in a hundred. When we came to the Nat: Hist:
room another still prettier girl made her appearance
for the purpose of and ran over a score or two more
names in her department but to very little better
purpose. I be was astonished to find females so
well informed in such matters; it must have cost
the Professors some pains to have instructed them.
I believe however I spent about an hour at this
lecture and when I was going my guide gave me
to understand that it was necessary they should have
11 Stivers a piece. I could not very well grudge
it and when I had given it and was coming out of
last room the guide being gone before la premiere
dit à l'oreile que (en parlant de la seconde) "elle veut
n baiser." Eh bien donc ce fut une taxe dont je ne
souhaite que personne ne m'imposeroit de plus opressife.
They both spoke french pretty well english
and German I believe enough to shew their curioities.
It was vacation time and there was not a male
the human species to be seen. It was a great
chance that I found the Professor as the Va
at this time of the year is for 3 months,
and teachers are all away. There are a
great many Russians educated here. This Professor
intimate with Dr Musgrave. He spoke of him
a fellow student of the Greek guage. They
died it together at this place his man does
appear from the very little I judge to have
died much else. He was charmè
l'honneur d'avoir fait onoisance
t that he knows even my name.
We have just this instant passed a saw mill, the
construction of which was very simple so much so
t I have got a very clear idea of it only
in passing by it it was worked by the wind.
It is very difficult to persuade
oneself but what the boat goes much faster than
the horse which draws it. I have been pushing
myself to account for this deception. One reason
is you cant that as the horse is a good way from
one and before you at the same time you cant
no Scholl make no hand of it now.
I suppose the boat is moving through water
now not that I can see a drop. The surface of the Canal
is covered with a vegetable bearing very small
10
leaves intertwined with another sort which has broader
leaves and a few flowers like butter flowers. It is
however in general as pleasant as you can possibly
expect a flat country to be. It is no wonder that
the canal side is preferred as the situation for
Maisons de plaisance as no higher ground could
be found by going ever so far from thence and
they can have the conveniency of ège having
everything pass by them without the inconveniency
of a dirty road. I will now turn back and
finish a part of this letter which you will have read
before you come to this.
I can scarcely believe my eyes but I really think
I see a little chain of barren hills. We are
now within half a Mile of Harlem.
If I were to be banished to Holland (and banished I
must be to make me live there) I should prefer
Harlem to any place I have seen yet. I walked
through it and wished much to see the organ
in the great church. It is a remarkable large
one: but the Church was not open and there
as no time to have got the key if I could have
able to have made the people understand I
wanted it.
Amsterdam at the Middle Bible 9 o'Clock
Sept. 9. Thursday night.
I had never smelt the Canals since I had been in
Holland till we came within ¼ of a mile of this
City. It was about ½ past 8 when we got ashore
landed and a good deal past 7 before I got home
to my lodgings. I thought I should have had
a momentous sum to pay for partinage but the
man asked me but 11 Stivers. I gave him 12
Stivers because I had no smaller money; but this
was the first time I have ever given a Dutchman
more than he has asked. One of the people of the
house, the Cook I believe he is, speaks french; but
not the Master. They have given me a large rambling
room for tonight with a promise of a better
tomorrow morning. I have been changing my
cloaths partly for comfort sake & partly with a view
of going out to night but I find it is too late.
I have had no dinner and therefore shall make one
at the supper presently. I told them I was
recommended by a German gentleman and that I was
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Identifier: | JB/538/375/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 538.
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1779-09-09 |
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538 |
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375 |
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001 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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