Series 02: Journal of a tour in Holland, 12 February - 22 March 1773 - No. 0044

[Page 44]

Amsterdam

which took half an hour in the representation the other an hour & three quarters the action I could not be a judge of but the musick which was something in the french taste was not unpleasing.

25. This morn spent in visiting Mr. Boreel & some other people & walking about the town which we found made up furnished of Canals all in a semicircular form one without the other new ones having been originaly made as defences to the town as it encreased these are communicated each with the other by other smaller canals & the whole filld with an innumerable concourse of all kinds of boats bringing every kind of goods to the very doors of the people who are to make use of them.

On the sides of these canals are planted rows of trees which flourish vastly well in this damp soil & make the look out from the houses uncommonly pleasant indeed was it not that these canals howsoever beatifull they look are