BATA VIA, the capital of the Dutch settlements in the East Indies, is situated on the north coast of the island of Java, at the mouth of the river Jacatra. It lies in the bosom of a large and commodious bay, which is so sheltered from the violence of the wind, by eighteen islands scattered along its mouth, that it is considered one of the safest harbours in the world, and so capacious, that a thousand sail of ships may ride there in safety. The city is surrounded with a broad wall, fortified by twenty-two bastions, and a deep moat which can be filled at pleasure with wa ter from the river. All the avenues on the land side are protected by forts and redoubts, erected at a con siderable distance from the town. These are mount ed with brass cannon, and are built entirely of square stones. The approach by sea is commanded by a born-work, commonly called the " Water fort," mounting fourteen guns and two howitzers ; and the entrance of the river is defended by the citadel, and several strong batteries of six or seven guns each. There is also a fortification upon Onroost, one of the islands in the mouth of the bay, which completely commands the channel forming the principal passage into the road. Upon this island the Dutch have established extensive dock-yards, where every thing necessary for building, equipping, and preserving the company's ships, is provided in such abundance, that they can build, repair, and relit their vessels, with out the least loss of time, and in the most complete manner. The citadel, situated on the east bank of the river, is a regular square fortification, built of co ral rock, and flanked with four bastions. It con tains the palace of the governor general of the Indies, 'as also the apartments of the counsellors, and other principal•officers of the company. The arsenals and magazines are generally well furnished, and always contain stores and ammunition sufficient for a regular siege, The city itself, though it has been highly ad mired for the beauty of its buildings, and on account of its immense trade, has acquired the appellation of the " Queen of the East," contains nothing of ele gance its particularly worthyof notice. Its town hall, ts hospitals, and its churches, require no de scription. They are such as we see every day in our own country. The streets are straight and, regular, overshadowed and embellished with large trees, which are planted on each side. They.are twenty in number, and run from 114 to 20• feet in length. The houses, which are chiefly built of brick, are commodious and handsome. The windows and doors are wide and lofty, and the ground floors are land .with flags of marble, which, being frequently sprinkled with water, produce a coolness in that burn ing climate particularly refreshing. The form of the city is an oblong square, about three quarters of a mile long and half a mile broad, intersected by the river Jacatra, which runs through the Middle of it, from south to north, and which is crossed by three bridges. In its passage it forms fifteen canals of running water, which are all faced with free stone, and whose banks are beautifully adorned with ever green shrubs and plants. The breadth of the river within the walls is from 160 to 180 feet. At its mouth are two large piers of wood and brick work, running about half a mile into the sea, between which 100 slaves are constantly employed in clearing out the mud which is washed from the town, and which otherwise would choke up the channel of the river._
The suburbs are very extensive and populous, and are inhabited chiefly by Chinese, and the natives of the island.
The environs of Batavia, to a considerable extent, present one universal garden, intersected with rivu lets and canals, overshadowed with lofty trees, and interspersed with magnificent villas. The Dutch have here indulged their national taste to its full ex tent. Every spot is covered with verdure, and the most luxuriant foliage. Whatever can•satisfy the palate or delight the sense, is produced in abundance. ,Fruits of every description grow almost spontaneous ly, and without culture ; and could we but forget the danger which life is every hour exposed to, from the insalubrity of the climate, we might regard this place as the most delightful region in the world. But in the midst of plenty, beauty, and gaiety, every coun tenance indicates debility and languor. To use a strong expression, it is the workshop of death. There is pestilence in the air, and poison in the water. The atmosphere is continually infected with delete rious vapours, which rise from the surrounding -swamps and morasses; and the trees, with which the quays and streets are crowded, impede the free cir culation of the air, and • retain the putrid . effluvia, which otherwise would in some degree be dissipated. Fevers, which are here the general denomination for all kinds of illness, are continually raging in.the co lony. The disorder at first is a tertian ague, which, after two or three paroxysms, becomes a .double ter tian, and then a continued remittent, that frequently carries off the patient in. a -short time. Hence it happens, that preventive medicines are taken as re gularly as food, and every one expects the returns of sickness, as we do the seasons of the year... The inhabitants have thus become familiar with death, and hear of the loss of a friend without either sur. prise or concern. Of.strangers who come to settle at Batavia, three out of five are reckoned to die the first year ;.and it appears, from calculation, that the company lose annually one-fifth of- their servants. The climate, however, is not the only enemy to Eu ropeans : the mortality is greatly increased by the voluptuousness and luxurious effeminacy in which many of them indulge. The change from a life of temperance to that of irregular indulgence, added to the sudden transition from a northern region to the torrid zone, independent of the noxious circumstan ces which are peculiar to the climate, cannot fail to produce these fatal effects for which this place is so remarkable. And such is the general apprehension of the unhealthiness of this colony, that even the temptation of quickly amassing a splendid fortune is insufficient to induce those who can reside at home with any comfort, to seek a settlement in Batavia. Many offices and professions are thus necessarily en trusted to persons little qualified for fulfilling their duties ; and it is worthy of remark, that one of the clergymen and the principal physician had originally been barbers.