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RIESBECK’S TRAVELS THROUGH GERMANY, 213
a jealoufy of Hamburg, endeavours by every means in his power to make this place
flourifhing, appears to have it in his head to hurt the brothels and inns of the city, as
well as the trade. ‘Through his care Altona has, in a fhort {pace of time, from a {mall
village, become a town of thirty-five thoufand inhabitants, among{t whom, however, to
fpeak freely, there are far too many rafcals.
The country round about Hamburg, though a flat, is extremely pleafant ; the vari-
ous and flourifhing agriculture gives it a very gay appearance; the water, however,.
contributes much to the beauty. The river conduces extremely to the advantage of
this city, which by taking the laft toll, has almoft an illimited command over it. It isa
mile and three quarters broad at Hamburg, and forms feveral iflands, on which they
make parties of pleafure. The afpect of this mighty river, always well filled with
fhips, and in feveral parts containing very rich iflands, has a great deal of majefty in
it. ’Tis a pity that you enjoy this magnificent profpet only from a few houfes in the
city.
Notwith{tanding the quantity of water, and low fituation, the air of the place is ex-
tremely good; this is owing to the cleanfing it receives from the ftrong winds which.
blow upon it from all quarters. The north wind is very dangerous to the city, it
impedes the courfe of the ftream, and occafions many inundations which frequently
fill the lower parts of the houfes with water, and do a great deal of mifchief to the:
country around.
LETTER LVI.
Hamburg,
HAMBURG is without comparifon the moft flourifhing commercial city in all Ger-
many. Except London and Amfterdam, there is hardly a port in which you fee con-
ftantly fo many fhips as you do here. The prefent bufinefs confifts in great part of
commiffion and carrying ; but the proper and folid trade of the inhabitants is likewife
very confiderable. ‘Their principal trade is driven with Spain and France; and they
gain confiderably by the exchange with the former. Hamburg has hitherto fupplied
Spain with moft of its linens; it alfo fupplies it with large quantities of iron, coppers
and other articles which the north produces. ‘The Pruffians, Danes, Swedes, and Ruf
fians give themfelves a great deal of trouble to be the carriers of their own commodities
to Spain; but it is extremely difficult to turn trade out of an old channel, and many of
the merchants of the north find the carrying trade of Hamburg too convenient, and in.
part, alfo too profitable to: them, for the prefent proprietors to be in any great danger of
lofing this channel of trade. The fums advanced itay too long at Cales, and when a
country cannot pay itfelf in the commodities of that it trades with, the trade with Spain
is very troublefome. At prefent Hamburg is always in debt to Spain, for except in
time of war, (when materials for fhip building, ammunition, &c. make fome difference)
it carries. more things out of the country than it furnifhes.. Another reafon why that.
part of the northern exports. will always go through the hands of the Hamburghers is,
that they can pay for them quickly and regularly; whereas the waiting for the fhips
from the Havannah, without the return of which the Spanifh trade cannot go on, often
puts thenorthern merchant to inconveniencies,
Sugar cane is the great article which goes from Spain to Hamburg; by which the
latter gains great fums. No nation has hitherto been able to vie with the Hamburghers
in boiling and refining fugars.. The trade for; thefe articles extends through all Ger-
many,. Poland, and a great part of the north. Other. important articles which Ham-
burg,
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