'Een Beytie Hollansche'

Dutch Compositions

[p. 10]

4: c. 6 February

Ik bin heel gelukkig t'Utreght, meer gelukkig als eening Scotsman seedert myn eerwaardig Vrind de Heer Dalrymple was hier geweest. Ik heb veel bekenden en allen die volken van uytmunde rang met groot beschaafdhyd myn ontvangen. Goed gedrag is noodzaakelyk in allen laanden, mar boven al in Hollande. Zoo veel vreemden daar comen en zoo veel vreemden die voor quaaden zaagen ontvuluygten hebben, dat men vreeze een gunstig onthaal zyn te geeven. Mar Mynheer Dalrymple heeft myn een Brief van recommendatie te Londen gezenden, welk ik heb hier gebrogt. Dat Brief was te Mynheer de Graaf Frederic van Nassau, de Hooft Officier van deeze Stad. Hy heeft myn ingevoerd te de Assembly, dat voor de eerst maal dit winter naar zyn Schoonzuster, de Gravine van Beverweert is gehouden geweest. Zy is een bevallig en heel voltooide vrow en zy heeft myn te verscheiden anderen personen van aanzien gevoorstellen.

[p. 11]

4: c. 6 February

I am very happy in Utrecht, happier than any Scotsman since my worthy friend Mr Dalrymple^6. was here. I have many acquaintances, and all the people of distinction receive me with great politeness. Good behaviour is necessary in all countries, but especially in Holland. So many foreigners come here, and so many foreigners who have fled for sinister reasons, that people are afraid to give them a favourable reception. But Mr Dalrymple sent a letter of recommendation to me in London, which I have brought here. The letter was to Count Frederic of Nassau, the chief magistrate in the city.^7. He presented me at the Ball, which was held for the first time this winter at his sister-in-law's, the Countess of Beverweert.^8. She is a charming and very accomplished woman, and she has introduced me to various other persons of quality.

6. Sir David Dalrymple, later Lord Hailes (1726-1792).

7. Boswell had a letter of introduction from Sir David Dalrymple for Jan Nicolaas Floris, Count of Nassau La Lecq (see Boswell in Holland, 7). For some reason Boswell gives Nassau the name Frederic, which is either a mistake on Boswell's part or indeed the name the Count was usually called by his friends and more intimate acquaintances (in Dutch, his roepnaam), possibly in honour of Prince Frederik Hendrik.

8. In 1764 Countess Johanna van Nassau-Beverweerd was 31, and the wife of the 70-year-old Hendrik Karel van Nassau. The ‘Assembly’ which Boswell speaks of in his Dutch Composition was in fact the first of a season of closed Balls, which opened at the house of the Countess and her husband (see Boswell in Holland, 68 n.1; and Une Liaison dangereuse, 80 n. 69).