They dress their meat in aqua caelesti; for it springs not, as ours, from the earth, but comes to them, as manna to the Israelites, falling from heaven. This they keep under ground, till it stinks, and then they pump it out again for use. So when you wash your face with one hand, you had need hold your nose with the other; for, though it be not a cordial, it is certainly a strong water.

The elements are here at variance, the subtile oversway, ing the grosser; the fire consumes the earth, and the air the water, They burn turfs, and drien their grounds with windmills, as if the cholic were a remedy for the stone; and they would prove against philosophy the world's conflagration to be natural, even showing thereby, that the very element of earth is combustible.

The land, that they have, they keep as neatly, as a courtier does his beard, They have a method in mowing. It is so interveined with waters and rivers, that it is impossible to make a common among them. Even the Brownists are here at a stand, only they hold their pride in wrangling for that, which they never will find. Our justices would be much at ease, although our English poor were still among them; for whatsoever they do, they can break no hedges. Sure had the wise men of Gotham lived here, they would have studied some other death for their cuckoe.

The ditches they frame, as they list, and distinguish them into nooks, as my lord mayor's cook doth his custards. Cleanse them they often do; but it is, as physicians give their potions, more to catch the fish, than cast the mud out.

Though their country be the main land, yet every house stands on an island; and that, though a boor dwell in it,looks as snug, as a lady, that hath newly lockt up her colors, and laid by her irons. A gallant, masquing suit sits not more completely, than a coat of thatch, though of many years wearing.

If it stand dry, it is embraced by vines, as if it were a❤ gainst the nature of a Dutchman not to have Bacchus his neighbor. If you find it lower seated, it is only a close ar

bor in a plump of willows and alders; pleasant enough, while the dog days last, but those past once, you must practise wading, or be prisoner until the next spring. Only a hard frost, with the help of a sledge, may release you. The bridge to the house is an outlandish plank, with a box of stones to poise it withal. When the master is over, this

stands drawn, and then he is in his castle.

It is sure his fear, which renders him suspicious. That he may therefore certainly see, who enters, you shall ever find his window made over his door. But perhaps that is tō shew you his pedigree; for, though his ancestors were never known, their arms are there, which in spite of heraldry shall bear their atchievment with a helmet for a baron at least Marry, the field perhaps shall be charged with three bas kets to shew of what trade his father was. Escutcheons too are as plentiful, as gentry is scarce, as every man is his own herald.

When you are entered the house, the first thing you en counter is a looking glass; no question but a true emblem of politic hospitality; for, though it reflects yourself in you own figure, 'tis yet no longer, than while you are there before it when you are once gone, it flatters the next comer, without the least remembrance, that you e're were there.

The next are the vessels of the house, marshalled about the room like watchmen, all as neat, as if you were in a citizen's wife's cabinet; for, unless it be themselves, they let none of God's creatures lose any thing of their native beauty.

Their houses, especially in their cities, are the best eye beauties of their country. For cost and sight they far exceed our English; but they want their magnificence. Their lining is yet more rich, than their outside; not in hangings, but pictures, which even the poorest are there furnished with. Not a cobler but has his toys for ornament. Were the knacks of all their houses set together, there would not be such another Bartholomew Fair in Europe.

Their artists, for these are as rare, as thought, can paint you a fat hen in her feathers. And, if you want the lan

guage, you may learn a great deal of Dutch by their signs; for what they are, they write under them. So by this de vice they hang up more honesty, than they keep.

Coaches are as rare, as comets; and those that live looses ly need not fear one punishment, which often vexes such with us. They may be sure, though they be discovered, they shall not be carted. Their merchandize is drawn through the streets on sledges, as we drag traitors on hurdles tó ex

ecution.

Their rooms are but several sand boxes; if so, you must either go out to spit, or blush when you see the mat brought.

Their beds are no other, than land cabins, high enough to need a ladder of stairs. Up once, and you are walled int with wainscoat. This is good discretion to avoid the trou ble of making your will every night; for once falling out else would break your neck perfectly. But, if you die in it, this comfort you shall leave your friends, that you die in

clean linen.

Whatsoever their estates be, their houses must be fair. Therefore from Amsterdam they have banished sea coal, lest it soil their buildings, of which the statlier sort are some times sententious, and in the front carry some conceit of the owner. As to give you a taste in these;

Christ Vs aDIVtor mEVs;
Hoc abdicato perenne quâero

HIC MEDIo tVtIVs itVr.

Every door seems studded with diamonds. The nails and hinges hold a constant brightness, as if the rust there were not a quality incidental to iron. Their houses they keep cleaner, than their bodies; their bodies, than their souls. Go to one, you shall find the andirons shut up in net work; at a second, the warming pan muffled in Italian cut work; at a third, the sconce clad in cambrick, and, like a crown, advanc ed in the middle of the house; for the woman there is the head of the husband, so takes the horn to her own charge.

The people are generally boorish, yet none but may be bred to a statesman, they having all this gift, not to be so nice

conscienced, but that they can turn out religion to let in policy.

Their country is the God, they worship; war is their heaven peace is their hell; and the Spaniard is the devil, they hate. Custom is their law, and their will reason. Their spirits are generated from the English beer, and that makes them headstrong. Their bodies are built of pickled herring, and they render them testy: These with a little butter, onions, and Holland cheese, are the ingredients of an ordinary Dutchman, which a voyage to the East Indies, with the heat of the equinoctial, consolidates.

To be continued:

ADVICE TO A STUDENT OF HARVARD UNI VERSITY IN A SERIES OF LETTERS.

LETTER IF

DEAR FRIEND,

IN my last I urged on you the diligent improvement of time. I did not then advise you on what studies to employ it. This subject was reserved for the present letter.

On this topic you have doubtless heard a variety of contradictory opinions.

Some recommend, that your attention should be principally devoted to authors from the library, distinct from those, which are appointed for your daily studies. They estimate your scholarship by the number of volumes, through which. you pass, without considering the plan, you pursue, the authors, you read, or the manner, in which you consult them.

This mode of study does not however come recommend→ ed by the best authority. It is for the most part proposed by superficial scholars; and you will invariably find them, who pursue it, but smatterers in science.

Others consider it important to devote their principal at attention to the abstruse sciences. They regard the Belleslet

tres, as adapted rather to amuse, than to improve the mind. They therefore urge you, as you would most effectually eultivate and strengthen your mental powers, to be intent most on metaphysical and mathematical investigations.

But a more frequent opinion is, that pursuits of this kind are of trivial consequence; nay, that they even obstruct the advancement of the mind in more useful studies. Hence you are confidently advised by some to neglect them alto gether.

Many are the prejudices, entertained by those, who are not acquainted with them, against the learned languages. They tell you that it is unreasonable to spend so large a por tion of early life, as is commonly employed, in understanding them; as they are not living languages, and as their most interesting works have been long since translated into our ver nacular tongue.

It is the recommendation of others, that, in our literary pursuits, we should follow the bent of genius. Such will direct you to attend to those studies only, for which you are conscious of possessing a taste.

ences.

Notwithstanding the plausible arguments, on which these opinions are founded, I am not ready to relinquish the be lief, that the mode of study, prescribed at the University, is by far the best. It is intended to furnish the students with the elementary principles of the various liberal arts and sciIt is happily calculated to fix these principles deeply in the mind; and the authors, selected for this purpose, are for the most part the best extant. It is not formed with the expectation, that ever so close attention to it will render you a complete scholar. The early age, at which you enter College, the easy terms of admission, and the short period of your academical course forbid such a presumption. Within a term so limited you can at best lay a foundation for future eminence in literature.

To proceed therefore to general reading, before the plan, here recommended, is pursued, is to erect a superstructure without a foundation. Your design will of course be frustrated.

-A a a