February i.
We had hitherto found Westphalia a desolate and wild country, overrun with heath, except here and there adorned with small groves of stately oak, in the middle of which we commonly found a single farm house, enclosed with rude pales like a park, which in summer time must be truly pleasant. In several places by the road side are seen posts, with iron boxes on the top, for the receipt of charity, as if the land it self confessed its poverty. However in this day’s journey the appearance began to alter, for about ten a clock we arrived at Lingen, a pretty compact and well built town, which lately belonged to King William, but now to the King of Prussia. The neighbourhood is well stored with woods; the skirts of the town adorned with frequent gardens, and alleys of trees orderly planted; and the whole place by a show of riches and beauty confessing, as it were, the benefit of a moderate and protestant government.
Just beyond the limits of this town we cross the Ems, or Amasia, by a ferry boat, and afterwards continue our journey to Northern, the first town of the United Provinces, in the limits of which we now pass out of Westphalia into Overissel. After a short bait we proceed to Otmarsh, and there lodge. This is the first place, since I left Hamburg, where I was offered a bed, having hitherto slept in my cloaths upon the straw.