to announce a man’s death to his friends.  The jewellery of the common women is marvellous; Mr. Krelage (our Dutch friend) says they have sometimes L400 of gold and jewels upon them!!!  A common market woman I saw to-day wore a plate of gold under her cap of this shape—­[Sketch].  Then a white [Sketch] lace cap.  Then a bonnet highly-trimmed with flowers, and a white feather and green ribbons; and on her temples filagree gold and pearl, pins, brooches and earrings; round her neck three gold chains—­one of many little ones together clasped by a gorgeous clasp—­the next supporting a highly-elaborate gold cross—­a longer one still supporting a heart and some other device.  She had rings also, and a short common purple stuff dress which she took up when she sat down for fear of crushing it; no shawl and a black silk apron!!

Thursday. We have been to the Museum.  Below is the “Royal Cabinet” of curiosities, and above are the pictures.  Some of the former were very interesting.  The hat, doublet, etc. in which William the Silent was murdered—­the pistol, two bullets, etc., and a copy of Balthazar Geraardt’s condemnation, and his watch, on which were some beautiful little paintings.  Admiral Ruiter’s sabre, armour, chain and medal; Admiral Tromp’s armour; Jacqueline of Bavaria’s chair, and locks of her hair.  Also a very curious model—­a large baby-house imitating a Dutch menage, intended by Peter the Great as a present to his wife.  A wonderful toy!!  R. was quite at home among the “relics.”  Besides historical relics, the cabinet contains the most marvellous collection of Japanese things.  It is a most choice collection.  There were some such funny things—­a fiance and fiancee of Japan in costume were killing! and made-up monsters like life-sized mummies of the most hideous demons!  Besides indescribably exquisite workmanship of all sorts.  The pictures are not so charming a collection as those at Antwerp, but there are some grand ones.  Tell Mother—­Paul Potter’s Bull is too indescribable!  His nose, his hair, and a frog at his feet are wonderful!  There is a portrait by Rubens of his second wife that would have charmed T.; she is lovely, and the picture has that sunshiny beauty he will remember in “S.  Anne teaching the B.V.M.”  I suspect she was the model for his most lovable faces.  There is a large and wonderful Rembrandt—­a splendid collection of Wouvermans—­the most charming Ruisdael I ever saw.  Some beautiful Vandykes—­a Van de Velde of Scheveningen, Teniers, Weenix, Snyders, etc.  I do so wish M. could see the pictures, she would enjoy them so, and get more out of them than I can.  The collection is free to the public, and the utmost good behaviour prevails.  After that R. went into the town, and I sat down to a hurried sketch on the “Vyfeiberg,” a quiet sort of promenade.  But gradually the populace collected, till I was nearly smothered.  My veil