The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-10-06
Correspondence Of the Dispatch.
FRAsKroRT, Aug. 18th, 1853


Mr.. EDiToR:-I left you rather uncere.
momousiy IN Amsterdam, with the promise
OF rssuming on the first opportunity INN
lasti gave you short description of Amster-
as one city Of Holland, in most of ;ts fea
lures, resembles all the others speaking.
of course, of the commercial towns. a further
description of Amsterdam would be but ra.
petition ofwhat have already written abopt
Rotterdam.
The aspect of the town as you approach Il
is rather singular, it being bounded on the
land side with wind mills, which like huge
sentinels, seem to be watching over the safe.
ty of the city, and in fact they act an impor-
tant part in preserving the health of the in
habitants their Office being to pump water
into the canals, thus creating a current which
prevents stagnation and its accompanying
evils
Opposite the city, in village called Bricks
loot, is the commencement of the greatest
ship canal in the world 1t is 124 feet wide
at its surface, and 81 at the bottom it ex-
tends 81 miles to the Texel, and is 81 feet
deep. The level of the canal at Bricksloot is
10 feet below the mean height of the sea. 1t
has locks only at each extremity; the locks
are founded on piles driven through the mud
into the sand. Taking it altogether it is con-
sidered one of the most wonderful undertak-
ings OF the kind ever executed This canal
enables vessels to enter and leave Amster.
dam without any delay from wind or tide.
anu saves them from the dangerous sand
banks with which the Finder Zee abounds
village of Brock, said to be the cleonestv;llage
In the world. On entering the place. a notice
meets the eye, which, translated. sion;6es III st
the stranger must not smoke without ston
per to his pipe, nor ride through the village
but must dismount and lead his horse 81
carriage is allowed to enter. The s.reets &c
narrow lanes or passages can be so d;on;f;e5
are paved with bricks or little stones set in
patterns, which some OF the guides and pu;de.
books call mosaic. The houses are mostly
OF wood painted white and green, and look
ing so fresh, that one would suppose the peo-
pie keep a painter constantly in their houses
The roofs are covered with polished files, Of
different colors. All the front doors and win.
6ows are kept always closed, giving an an.
pearance as if every body was dead in the
place. 1t is, however, the custom to omen
them on grand occasions, as q funeral or wed
ding. To enter one of these dwellings is q
task of some difficulty-fOr some fifteen mi
nutes rubbing and scrubbing ofthe feetis to
be done, before an entrance is allowed. The
inhabitants go about the house, in slippers or
their stockings. The stables, or barns, are
all kept in the same neat order-the pave
ments being all of Dutch tiles, the walls of
board, smooth, polished and clean No filth
is allowed to accumulate, and to such an ex.
tent do the people carry their notions of clean
illness, that they even secure the tails of the
cows to hook in the ceiling, so they NAV not
dangle in the dirt, and besmear their Sides
The principal occupation of the inhabitants
consists in making what is known over the
world as Dutch cheese After witnessing the
cleanly manner with which everything is con
Quoted, one need have no scruples in eating
them.
After seeing all that visitors generally see, and
perhaps little more, we took our departure from
Amsterdam and Holland-and we did so with very
little regret; for though In some respects Holland
NAV be said to be one of the most wonderful co,,n
tries in the world, nevertheless week or ten dav,
stay in ii is full enough to maka one weary of Ir
everlasting canals and dykes, water, mud and
windmills. linen, 700, II requires more than a
Yankees cuteness to escape being cheated mos!
horribly by The hotel keepers porters commission
aires and ALT hat sort of gentryythey all acting on
the good Christian principle OF taking strangers in
The porters and commissionaires are terrific fel.
lows, with bows and smiles inducing you to EN-.
ploy them either to carry your baggage, or guide
you about the city. "All goes merry as a marriage
bell till paying time comes, and then what a
storm OF anpronounceable, jaw-breaking words
assail your ears, If you do not give about three
times as much as you have been in the habit of
paying in other countries for like services II is of
no avail to scold or make fuss, for they will out.
scold you-if you walk away they win follow and
hang about you all day; or, till tired out with their
opportunities, you yield to their demands The
only way to deal with them Is to give very small
sum first, and then, after wrangling and scoldny
for some half hour, give what you may think to be
the just amount. They will grumble little but they
have accomplished their object, which is to get a
little more and satisfied, while you have gain
ed for if you pay them literally at first they will
put in their petitions for more. The beggars, even
seem to think they are bestowng favor by asking
money from you, and expect to be paid according
ly and viii assa you with the looest kind of Dutch
if their modest request is not granted.
OF the character of the inhabitants in general
had no means of judging, except by their works
These would show atthey are an industrious peo-
pleindeed, upon this industry does their existence
depend for their lives are spent in constant strife
with their greatest enemy and friend the sea- which
is always endeavoring TO overwhelm them and
which is repelled by means of enormous dykes,
which are constructed at an immense cost and
amount of labor.
These dykes are always needing repairs and
during storm are watched with the greatest aten.
tion and anxiety, and if the slightest breach
the whole population of the district in which is
situated, men, women and children, Immediately
turn out to repair damages and prevent further
mischief Holland being for the most part below
the surface OF tne sea- an lnundafl0r most dustruc
tive to life and property would be the consequence
If large breach should be effected. So important
is it to prevent irruptions that government has es
tablished special corps of engineers, whose duty
it is to watch the state of the waters and guard
against surprises There 10 also great danger from
internal inundations, arising from the stopping up
ofthe rivers by ice Several most destructive ones
have occurred, so that the inhabitants between the
Rhine and the sea lead very insecure life An
other source OF danger arises from the Dunes, or
immense sand hills which extend along the entire
coast The wind driving them in the country they
would, were they not restrained be as destructive
almost as the sea. But the ingenuity OF the people
has converted this enemy into friend, and caused
to assist them in forming barrier 10 keep out the
ocean. They are sowed every year with plants
congenial to it. "In short time the roots spread
and combine 80 as 10 hold fast the sand and cover
the surface with succession of verdant vegetation
which, growing and decaying on it, accumulates
upon II layer OF earth capable at length Of pro-
ouelng an excellent crop OF potatoes, and even OF
supporting plantations of frs"
writer on Holland speaks of it as acountry Of
paradoxes, for here .honses built on the sand may
be seen standing-straws and reeds holding tognth.
er long line OF coast-for in addition 10 the vege-
tation before mentioned, the Dunes are conseli-
dated by means eff reeds and wisps of sfraw-sths
sea ID higher than the land"'the kesls Of vessels
float above the chimneys of the houses"-"here and
nowhere else does the ocean appear TO have obeyed
the command. thus far shalt thou go and no farth
er'"-and 10 sum up all, even the coscs tails grow
upwardsinstead of downward as IN other countries
Some al fhe customs are rather curious. Thus in
eyerv bouse YOU will the buur stool or foot stove
which forrns one OF the essentials tor Dutch lady,
and with which she rarely dispenses, GUNNER or