ROTTERDAM, a city of the province of Holland, standing at the conflux of the Maes, or Merwe, and the Rotter; from the latter of which, and Dam, its name is formed. It is 13 miles from the Hague, 28 from Amsterdam, and 15 from Leyden; and, next to the two last, it is said to be now the greatest city in Holland. Its streets are spacious, adorned with lofty trees and noble canals; by the last of which ships of the greatest burden run into the heart of the city, and load and unload at the merchants' doors. The trade here is very great. Over the Maes, which is here very broad, is a bridge, on which is placed a brass statue of Erasmus. The Haaring-Vliet, and the Boom-quay, are very fine streets. The latter lies along the Maes; and on one side has a magnificent row of trees and houses, or rather palaces, extending above half a mile; and on the other the river, where ships are continually sailing up and down, or at anchor. This key, being very broad and clean, serves instead of a mall. The principal buildings in the town are the exchange, the East and West-India houses, the bank, the arsenal, and the great church or that of St. Laurence, near which is the little obscure house in which Erasmus is born, with his picture, and this dishich over the door:
Edibus his ortus, mundum decoravit Erasmus,
Artibus ingentius, religione, fide.
i. e.
“Erasmus, who adorned the world with arts and sciences, religion, and virtue, was born in this house.”
There are three high tribunals in this city: that of the admiralty of the Maes; of the high-bailiff, or dyke-graaf of Schieland; and that of the judges of Schieland. On the east and west sides of the city are docks, where they are continually building, repairing, or lanching vessels; but the largest ships belonging to the admiralty of Rotterdam lie at Helvoetsluys; and, as there is not a sufficient depth of water at the mouth of the Maes for ships that draw above 15 feet, they are obliged to come hither by the way of Helvoetsluys, and the Haaring Vliet. The glass-house here makes abundance of glass-toys, and enamelled bowls, which are sent to India, and exchanged for China ware and other oriental commodities.