Amsterdam has the honour of being the first city M which a society was formed for the recovery of drowned persons. In the year 1767, a number of the wealthy inhabitants, struck with the numerous instances, in which persons, who had fallen into the water, were lost through want of proper treatment when brought on shore, entered into an association for the benevolent purpose of rescuing such sufferers from a premature death. Their scheme was prosecuted with the utmost zeal, and was eagerly encouraged by the magistrates. Their first object was to instruct the lower classes of the commu pity by what treatment to restore the suspended anima tion ; their next, to encourage them, by proper rewards, to pursue the methods recommended ; and such was their success, that, in the space of our• years, not fewer than 150 persons were restored throughout the United Pro vinces, by the means which they had pointed out.
But while we pay this tribute to the humanity of the Dutch, displayed in their public charities, we cannot too strongly reprobate that mercantile spirit which tole rates and even encourages vice, for the sake of the revenue which it yields. There cannot be imagined scenes of greater profligacy and wretchedness than the Hpie/-houses, or licensed brothels, which are common in Amsterdam and all the cities of Holland. The keepers of these houses, like fiends of darkness, lie constantly in wait for some female victim, whom they may either decoy or drag into their toils. Their usual mode of se duction is, to approach some girl whose extravagance has involved her in difficulties ; they affect to commise rate her situation, offer her money for her present re lief, or her future exigencies ; she becomes their debtor ; in a short time they seize upon her person, and bear her in triumph to their bagnio, where she is confined as a prisoner and a slave, and never suffered to pass the threshold, until she is enabled to redeem herself out of the wages of prostitution. So familiar are these scenes of complicated villany, that they are beheld with com plete indifference ; and the severity of the law is evaded by an annual premium paid to government.
In a city so grossly mercantile as Amsterdam, one would hardly expect that science or literature would meet with much encouragement; yet it can boast of several literary societies, which are maintained with liberality and spirit. Its principal public institute, called Felix Meritis, is supported by private subscrip tions, and is held in a large building, containing some fine apartments devoted to philosophy, music, and the arts.
Before the French obtained possession of Holland, every religion was tolerated in Amsterdam ; but none but members of the established church, which was Cal vinistic, were allowed to hold any office under govern ment. Two pastors were assigned to each church in the establishment, all of whom enjoyed equal and respecta ble salaries. Here the English had three places of
worship; one for the Presbyterians, whose clergymen were paid by the magistracy ; another for the church of England, the expense of which was defrayed by his Britannic majesty ; and a third for the Brownists, whose ministers were maintained by their congregations. These churches were said to comprehend about a third part of the population ; the Roman Catholics, who had twenty seven places of worship, were supposed to amount to another third ; and the remainder of the inhabitants were included under the denomination of Jews, Luthe rans, Anabaptists, Arminians, &c. None of the churches are conspicuous for their structure, except the New Church, which was begun towards the commencement of the fifteenth century, and is said not to have been finished for 100 years. Its pulpit is adorned with vari ous specimens of sculpture ; on its windows are seen some fine paintings; but what particularly attracts at tention in this church, is its organ, whose size and powers of execution have been greatly admired. It has 52 whole stops, besides half stops, with two rows of keys for the feet, and three rows for the hand, and a set of pipes that counterfeit a chorus of human voices.
Since the revolution, all the clergy, without exception, receive fixed salaries, which are raised amongst the in habitants of the parish in which they officiate, each sect being assessed for the maintenance of its own minister. Parish registers of births, deaths, and marriages, are regularly kept, and each parish maintains its own poor, under the control of a council.
The senate or council entrusted with the government of Amsterdam, consists of thirty-six members, who re tam their seats during life. These senators were origi nally chosen by the whole body of burghers; but, rather more than two centuries ago, this privilege was con ferred on the senators themselves, who now fill up the vacancies in their number by a plurality of their own voices. Previous to the election of the twelve echevine, or burgomasters, the senate nominates a double number of candidates, out of whom the burghers must make their choice. These burgomasters are the chief ma gistrates of Amsterdam ; four are appointed annually to execute the duties of the office, and are called burgo masters regent. The jurisdiction of each continues for three months, and may be compared to that of the lord mayor of London. They have the sole disposal of offi ces which fall vacant during the term of their authority; they superintend all public works, and the keys of the bank of the city are committed to their custody. Three of these burgomasters are discharged every year, and three new ones are electecIto supply their places. The new burgomasters constitute a college of justice, from whose decisions, in criminal cases, there is no appeal: but civil causes may be referred from this tribunal to the council of the province.