The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-30

- noor anu walls are formed chttrciy VI uio nAoS'
beautiful Italian marble, and profusion OF admira-
Die sculpture and carving adorns its lofty sides Inc
urniture of the palace very incomplete and OF mol
very regal splendor, the royal family do not very
,ften honor ii with their presence From the dome
IN the top Of the palace enjoyed boundless we"
If that uninterrupted fairness, varied only by Canals
.ivers and villages which characteristics the whole
surface of Holland to the north, the Zuyder Zee
illed large part of the horizon,-il surface was
rot more even than that of the land, and the whole
seemed so nearly on the level, that the differ
,nce of color alone marked the outline between land
md water. While Twas contemplating this singular
landscape, the chimes in the dome began to play
should have mentioned this by the bye, among the
,eculiarites of Holland. Every public clock has
is sci of chimes, which play tune every time 1t
strikes There is little air tor each quarter OF an
l,,ur, and minute or two before the hour arrives,
much longer one played; when several Of them be-
gin together you may have some idea OF the chorus
that they form At first liked this bell music amaz-
ngy and could not help stopping to listen every lime
it commenced, but before had been three days IN
Holland, had become heartily tired of it, and wor
ried me necessarily until wished bells and hammers
at the bottom of the sea. While in the dome of the
palace at Amsterdam the striking of the clock afford
ed me opportunity Of seeing the modus opsrandi
of this musical ding dong. There are some score OF
bells of various size and tone, each of which has Its
corresponding hammer, set in motion by means OF
wires pulled by machinery, which is concealed IRON
the view. You cannot imagine funnier sight than
the playing of the apparatus, which looked like
hundred little legs suddenly seized with commissions
and though the chimes heard at stance make pref
~ fair music, must say that the pleasure of hearing
dmini hes in proportion to the square of the dis
lance. Fancy to yourselfthe effect produced upon
the ears by Changing of hundred bells within slx
feet Of ones head and loud enough to be heard by all
the two hundred and odd thousand inhabitants Of
Amsterdam
have not space speak of the interesting churches
which visited, nor Of the Jewish Synagogue of
the Jew ish population ITSELF (amountng to one-tenth
Of the total population of the city, Of the admra
BILE picture gallery, with its uncquaIled specimens of
All who admire truth to nature in painting, and
great perfection of drawing and coloring, must admire
the Dutch school, and no where its merits be bet
ter studied than in the rich Museum OF Amsterdam,
which contains an extraordinary number of real
master peces.
did hope to finish my travels in this letter, but |
find that four sheets do not allow me to complete
even what had to say about AIMS erdam: promise
faithfully to get through with another instalment,
though might fill dozen letters with the description
of Holland which is the -mosl interesting country
visited with the exception (aways) Of Swilzer
land
received last night Gan l4th) twoletters ofintro
duction to Mr.. Boulwale and Mr. Everett and papers
to the 25th December. am delighted with Judge
Upshur's recommendation in relation to m increase
of the Navy, &C., and l don't think we the people
ought to count The cust-fr will have to fight,
and we may well get ready for it at once. hope
the steamships won't be left out Speaking of ex-
enses--would you like to what sort of thing a
French budget isl The expenses of the French Go
vernment last year amounted to 1916 millions of
francs receipts ll60 millions: deficit Is millions
and yet there is less complaint about extravaganza
and taxes among the people, than there is with
US; they don't even quarrel with Louis Philippe for
keeping up an army Of $50 to 45O, OOO men, To give
you an idea of how the French smoke and snuff (hey
don't chevy l may mention that the annual receipt
f.om the government monopoly of the manufacture
and sale of tobacco amounts TO IS millions of francs.
Among the most amusing items of European poll
tics which occupy attention at present. are the
Of etiquette in which France has been engaged with
Ru STA and Spain. Nicholas is arstocrat, il seems
as well as autocra and don't like Louis PhppeS
upstart and mushroom dynasty. So about two months
ago. he recalled his Ambassador at Paris because be-
ing the eldest of the diplomatic corps, be would have
b,a I;,oJ H.. IN
complimentary address to Louis Philippe the grand
reception on tine lsl of January. Louis Philippe
vexed at this and ordered hi- Minister ST. Peters
burg to absent himself from grand reception of Mich
oas which took place LIST month, plea of indispo
sition. The French Minister did he was ordered
bur appeared in public the day. as well and hear
y as possible Neilled at this cut Direct Michel wlites
word to his charge left Paris during the absence
Of his Ambassador, TO serve Louis Philippe The same
tick on the Isl Of January The charle according
y plead sickness aud stad away, but he showed him
self during the day at some public place, and being
asked how he was, replied, "ji souls indspose par
ordre." This W1r Of purgation, as one Of the pa
pars called it, created good deal Of scandal and hard
words but the two cabinets returned to their senses,
and arranged the affairs in this way the Russian
char was to 20 the bal at the Tuileries on the 18th
inst provided the French Minister, at ST. Petersburg,
would go TO the Empelor's presentation on the 18th.
So courier was depalched to st Petersburg with the
necessary instruction.; the Russian appeared Wed
nesday according to promise, and salts are longer
in demand at either court. The Spanish, affair is
more serious. You know that the Queen of Spain is
girl of IL years Ct age, and that Espatero is Re-
gent. The French Ambassador late sent to Ma
drd was accr, ded to Queen Isabella bat Espartero
informed him that he receive the credentials and
that the Queen out of the question The French
man refused to address himself to any body but the
Queen Espartero obstinate, so the Frenchman
demanded his passports and returned to Fance leav-