signify’d nothing. Old Calf being inexorable, interrupted him, saying, I your Father! I have but one Son, who is such a Peasant as I am, and not a Lord, as you seem to be. The young Fellow perceived that his Father took Umbrage as his Dress; therefore he went to a public House, sent for Cloaths after the Sardam Mode, and having thus equipped himself, went upon the Exchange next Day, where his Father received him with all the Tokens of the most endearing Tenderness. After that Day, young Calf, who went in France by the Name of de Veau (which is the Signification of his Name translated into French) always continued to dress in this Manner. This gave Occasion some Years ago to a very pleasant Adventure: A Frenchman who had known M. Calf at Paris by the Name of de Veau, coming to Amsterdam, inquired every-where for M. de Veau, who he said was a very rich Nobleman, of high Rank, as he guessed by his Train of Attendants. It was a long Time before he could hear any Tidings of him, because few People knew that young Calf had frenchified his Name in foreign Countries. At length a Frenchman, who was settled at Amsterdam, offered the Parisian to find out his Friend for him. For this Purpose he carried him to the Exchange; and pointing to M. Calf, Stop, said he to him, there’s the Man you are looking for. The Frenchman, who did not know M. de Veau in his Country Garb, thought that his Guide bantered him. Parbleu Mons. said he, I told you plain enough, that the Person I want is a Nobleman, and not a Peasant. M. Calf hearing the Foreigner speak, and knowing him at first Sight, went up to him, and welcomed him upon his Arrival in Holland. The Frenchman knew him instantly by his Voice, but thought himself in a Trance, because he could not imagine how ’twas
possible for a Person whom he had known a Nobleman in France, to be a Peasant in Holland. M. Calf explained the Mystery of it to him however, as far as was convenient, considering the Place where they were, and desired his Company to Sardam. The Frenchman went accordingly, and when he came thither, ’twas a fresh Matter of Surprise to him to see the Peasant had the House and Furniture of a Nobleman. M. Calf shew’d him, that tho’ he had laid aside the Garb, he had not renounced the Politeness of the French, entertained him with good Chear for several Days, and then sent him back highly delighted to Amsterdam.
The Village of Sardam being in North Holland, I cannot avoid giving you some Account of this Nook of that Province. Here is a perfect Miscellany of Meadows, Canals, Country Houses, Gardens, great Villages, and good Towns, an Uniformity of Beauties, which is only disagreeable by being continued. He that sees one Town or House, sees all, and so of the rest. The principal Towns of this Canton are Horne, Alcmaer, and Enckbuysen, which are all built with the same Neatness, but have nothing of Magnificence belonging to them, except it be the Walks at their Gates. All these Places are so deserted, that it would take up the Emigrants of three or four Bishopricks to people them. Their Trade decays, Amsterdam being the Loadstone that draws all to it. This Part of the Province of Holland is very much infested with Worms which eat into the very Stakes pf the Dykes. The People are in Hopes that the Frost will kill them, and put an End to a Calamity which is one of the worst that can befal this Country. It is not certain how these Insects breed, nor whether it be in the Sea, or in the Timber itself: One would imagine from some
little external Specks of the infested Stakes, these Worms must breed in the Sea, and from thence make their Way into the Wood, no bigger than Needles, after which they grow as big as the Silkworm, and gnaw the Inside of the Timber, in such a Manner that it looks like a Honeycomb. The Spoil they make is said to be in those Parts only of the Stake which are under Water. The Damage they have done to the Dykes is very considerable, and has so very much alarmed the States, that they have prohibited Plays, &c. at the Hague, and ordered public Prayers. A great many People pretend that this Province was visited by such a Scourge fifty or sixty Years ago, and that it was delivered from it by a Sort of Fish, that have never been seen since, which devoured all those Worms. Others treat this as a Fable, and say, that such Insects were never known, much less the Fish by which they were devoured. Be this as it will, several Treatises will shortly be published, to shew the Origin, Nature and Progress of the present Species of Worms. If I am not mistaken, these Books will point out the Method, and the Remedies proper for destroying them; and if any of ’em are printed before I depart this Country, I will not fail to send them to you.
For the rest, I cannot say that I have had any other Satisfaction in my Tour to North Holland than the Gratification of Sight; for Company does not seem to be the Taste of the Country. I never stirred out but every body took me for a very odd kind of a Man: Yet I am no Petit-Maître; nor is there any Thing uncommon in my Make. The Sex in this out-of-the-way Country is very handsome, and here are Country Lasses who have a delicate Complexion, not inferior to the finest Ladies. These Sylvan Beauties are generally fair,
and have such a languishing Look, that I guess they would not prove unkind to any young Faun that courted them. For my own Part, who am too far advanced in Years to attempt an Intrigue with ’em, I content myself with admiring these beautiful Nymphs, whose Favours would perhaps rather mortify than gratify me, and which in either Case, I should not prefer to the Honour of your Friendship; a Thing to me of Price inestimable. Of this I beg the Continuance, and flatter myself, that I deserve it by the Attachment with which I am, &c.
LETTER LII.
SIR,Helvoetsluys, Feb. 2, 1733.