Dr. Rigby's Letters from France and C. In 1789 PDF Download

Author: Edward Rigby
Publisher: Theclassics.Us
ISBN: 9781230380346
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Book Description
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880 edition. Excerpt: ... AMSTERDAM. dulness! How the canals stink! the inflam mable air rising from them might fill a balloon. We rose at half-past five this' morning, went to the quay, took a boat, and were rowed round the harbour; a very fine sight, a large number of ships, and very commodiously arranged. We went to the Stadt House, a large stone building, with pilasters of no architectural order. Many rooms full of old paintings. From the top there is a fine view of the city, harbour, &c The city is large, and being built on ground gained from the sea, it makes a striking effect. Went on Change; it was not so full as in London, nor did the merchants appear so much like gentlemen. We also visited the house of correction. The prisoners seemed to work hard in rasping wood. An Englishman and an American were confined six months for fighting; all seemed healthy and tolerably clean. Then to the workhouse, which is a large new-built house, containing 8oopaupers. In the workrooms women were picking hemp, carding it, spinning it, and weaving it into a coarse wrapper. Boys were exercising, and performing the manual in the slowest way possible. We also went to the medical, or botanical garden. Amsterdam, September 2, 1789. Wednesday.--Rose at five, could but again remark how dull the place was. I went to the hospital and asked permission to see it, but the porter said he could not give me leave. I returned about an hour later, rang the bell with an air of authority, and marched in without asking any questions or being interrupted by any one. The account this week was 666 patients--ninety-five admitted, fiftyfour discharged, and ten dead. I counted ninety-seven beds in one ward, which was seventy paces long, about 200 feet. At five every morning every patient who is able...