rge vessels and small craft, which
are continually changing their position with the tide, renders this noble
river, the vital stream of Hamburg, very interesting; and the windings
have sometimes a very fine effect, two or three turns being visible at
once, intersecting the flat meadows; a sudden bend often increasing the
magnitude of the river; and the silvery expanse, scarcely gliding, though
bearing on its bosom so much treasure, looks for a moment like a tranquil
lake.

Nothing can be stronger than the contrast which this flat country and
strand afford, compared with the mountains and rocky coast I have lately
dwelt so much among. In fancy I return to a favourite spot, where I
seemed to have retired from man and wretchedness; but the din of trade
drags me back to all the care I left behind, when lost in sublime
emotions. Rocks aspiring towards the heavens, and, as it were, shutting
out sorrow, surrounded me, whilst peace appeared to steal along the lake
to calm my bosom, modulating the wind that agitated the neighbouring
poplars. Now I hear only an account of the tricks of trade, or listen to
the distressful tale of some victim of ambition.

The hospitality of Hamburg is confined to Sunday invitations to the
country houses I have mentioned, when dish after dish smokes upon the
board, and the conversation ever flowing in the muddy channel of
business, it is not easy to obtain any appropriate information. Had I
intended to remain here some time, or had my mind been more alive to
general inquiries, I should have endeavoured to have been introduced to
some characters not so entirely immersed in commercial affairs, though in
this whirlpool of gain it is not very easy to find any but the wretched
or supercilious emigrants, who are not engaged in pursuits which, in my
eyes, appear as dishonourable as gambling. The interests of nations are
bartered by speculating merchants. My God! with what _sang froid_ artful
trains of corruption bring lucrative commissions into particular hands,
disregarding the relative situation of different countries, and can much
common honesty be expected in the discharge of trusts obtained by fraud?
But this _entre nous_.

During my present journey, and whilst residing in France, I have had an
opportunity of peeping behind the scenes of what are vulgarly termed
great affairs, only to discover the mean machinery which has directed
many transactions of moment. The sword has been merciful, com