Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

35^
TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
the definition which a great authority, Sir William Temple, has
given of that country.*
On the nth, at seven in the morning, we embarked in a Dutch
passage-boat for Helvoetsluys • but as it blew a fresh gale from the
westward, with showery and uncertain weather, we were not able
to reach our destination, within six miles of which we were landed
at ten o'clock. Having procured carriages, we arrived at Hel-
voetsluys at noon. The country through which we passed is flat,
intersected with dykes. It is cultivated in corn, flax, clover, &c<
On our arrival, we found the Diana, an English packet, Captain
Stewart, ready to sail, but waiting
for a favourable wind.
Under these circumstances we took up our residence at the English
hotel, where we were detained for the two following days.
Helvoetsluys is a poor, but fortified town. An extensive basin,
or dock, was, at the time of our arrival, under repair ; and in the
harbour were lying two fine ships of war recentlv built.
On the 20th, the weather being more moderate than it had been
for some time past, we were called
early
in the morning, and having
embarked, sailed at seven o'clock. The wind, which was
northwest, not being favourable, we were under the necessity of
making short tacks ; but by the help of the title, were clear of the
flats at ten o'clock. These flats, or sand-banks, are very nume-
rous, and attended with much hazard.
On the morning of the 21 sr, the wind Having become more fa-
vourable, from the east-south-east, land was descried on the larboard
quarter, at nine o'clock, by the seaman at the mast-head; and
at half past ten we were gladdened by the view of what our captain
announced to us to be Orfordness. At three in the afternoon we
anchored at Harwich, where we immediately landed. I shall not
undertake to describe the sensations I felt when I set off to rejoin
my family, after so long an absence; nor shall I attempt, what is
beyond the gift of expression, to mark all the gratitude I felt to
the Supreme Being, who had safely conducted me through the
many perils I had had to encounter, and to which I had been more
particularly exposed by my professional situation with the British
Military Mission.
* This definition, which is singular, and replete with aphorisms, is as follows :
,{ Holland is a country where the earth is better than the air, and profit more in request
" than honour. Where there is more sense than wit; more good nature than good
" humour ; and more wealth than pleasure. Where a man would chuse rather to tra-
** vel than to live ; shall find rrtore things to observe than to desire ; and mere persons
M to esteem than to love."