A Journey Made in the Summer of 1794, through Holland and the Western Frontier of Germany, with a Return Down the Rhine, Vol. 2 (of 2): To Which Are Added Observations during a Tour to the Lakes of Lancashire, Westmoreland, and Cumberland; Second EditionRadcliffe, Ann Ward
History
A Journey Made in the Summer of 1794, through Holland and the Western Frontier of Germany, with a Return Down the Rhine, Vol. 2 (of 2): To Which Are Added Observations during a Tour to the Lakes of Lancashire, Westmoreland, and Cumberland; Second Edition
Radcliffe, Ann Ward
Europe -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Lake District (England) -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Radcliffe, Ann Ward, 1764-1823 -- Travel -- Europe
than the power to enforce it.
The loss of Dusseldorff, we were assured, was the less, because the
pictures of the celebrated gallery had been carried off to meet those
of Manheim, at Munich.
It was now dark for two or three hours, but we did not hear of any town
or view worth waiting to observe. The first object in the dawn was the
island of Kaiserwerth, on which there is a small town, twice besieged
in the wars of Louis the Fourteenth, and now in the condition, to which
military glory has reduced so many others. One of the mines in the last
siege blew so large a part of the walls over the island into the Rhine,
that the navigation of the river was, for some time, obstructed by
them. The dominion of this island, for which the Elector of Cologne and
the Elector Palatine contended, was decided so lately as 1768 by the
authority of the Chamber of Wetzlaar, who summoned the King of Prussia
to assist them with his troops, as the _Armée exécutrice de l'Empire_,
and the Elector Palatine was put in possession of it, notwithstanding
the remonstrances of his rival.
As the morning advanced, we reached the villages of Kreuzberg,
Rheinam and Einingen; and, at five, stopped at Urdingen, a town on
the west bank of the Rhine, at which the Elector of Cologne takes his
northernmost toll, and a place of more commerce than we had expected to
see short of Holland. Great part of this is in timber, which it adds
to the floats annually sent to that country; a sort of expedition so
curious and useful, that we shall make no apology for introducing the
following account of it.
TIMBER FLOATS ON THE RHINE.
These are formed chiefly at Andernach, but consist of the fellings of
almost every German forest, which, by streams, or short land carriage,
can be brought to the Rhine. Having passed the rocks of Bingen and
the rapids of St. Goar in small detachments, the several rafts are
compacted at some town not higher than Andernach, into one immense
body, of which an idea may be formed from this list of dimensions.
The length is from 700 to 1000 feet; the breadth from 50 to 90; the
depth, when manned with the whole crew, usually seven feet. The trees
in the principal rafts are not less than 70 feet long, of which ten
compose a raft.
On this sort of floating island, five hundred labourers of different
classes are employed, maintained and lodged, during the whole voyage;
and a little street of deal huts is built upon it for their reception.
The captain's dwelling and the kitchen are distinguished from the other
apartments by being somewhat better built.
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