The Prospect Of Hamburg At A Distance, As Well As The Fine Road
Shaded With Trees, Led Me To Expect To See A Much Pleasanter City
Than I Found.
I was aware of the difficulty of obtaining lodgings, even at the
inns, on account of the concourse of strangers at present resorting
to such a centrical situation, and determined to go to Altona the
next day to seek for an abode, wanting now only rest.
But even for
a single night we were sent from house to house, and found at last a
vacant room to sleep in, which I should have turned from with
disgust had there been a choice.
I scarcely know anything that produces more disagreeable sensations,
I mean to speak of the passing cares, the recollection of which
afterwards enlivens our enjoyments, than those excited by little
disasters of this kind. After a long journey, with our eyes
directed to some particular spot, to arrive and find nothing as it
should be is vexatious, and sinks the agitated spirits. But I, who
received the cruellest of disappointments last spring in returning
to my home, term such as these emphatically passing cares. Know you
of what materials some hearts are made? I play the child, and weep
at the recollection - for the grief is still fresh that stunned as
well as wounded me - yet never did drops of anguish like these bedew
the cheeks of infantine innocence - and why should they mine, that
never was stained by a blush of guilt? Innocent and credulous as a
child, why have I not the same happy thoughtlessness? Adieu!
LETTER XXIII.
I might have spared myself the disagreeable feelings I experienced
the first night of my arrival at Hamburg, leaving the open air to be
shut up in noise and dirt, had I gone immediately to Altona, where a
lodging had been prepared for me by a gentleman from whom I received
many civilities during my journey. I wished to have travelled in
company with him from Copenhagen, because I found him intelligent
and friendly, but business obliged him to hurry forward, and I wrote
to him on the subject of accommodations as soon as I was informed of
the difficulties I might have to encounter to house myself and brat.
It is but a short and pleasant walk from Hamburg to Altona, under
the shade of several rows of trees, and this walk is the more
agreeable after quitting the rough pavement of either place.
Hamburg is an ill, close-built town, swarming with inhabitants, and,
from what I could learn, like all the other free towns, governed in
a manner which bears hard on the poor, whilst narrowing the minds of
the rich; the character of the man is lost in the Hamburger. Always
afraid of the encroachments of their Danish neighbours, that is,
anxiously apprehensive of their sharing the golden harvest of
commerce with them, or taking a little of the trade off their hands-
-though they have more than they know what to do with - they are ever
on the watch, till their very eyes lose all expression, excepting
the prying glance of suspicion.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 93 of 98
Words from 47719 to 48246
of 50703
