Character of the Dutch, —It is well known that a habit prevails almost every where, of underrating and disparaging Dutch character and Dutchmen. Nothing is more unjust, and nothing is more common—nothing testifies more unequivocally the ignorance and prejudice of those who indulge in it, than the habit.—England is called the mother; but if such of our population, whose ancestors emigrated from her shores are proud of their origin, much more reason have they, who are descendants of the honest burgomasters of Holland, to be proud of theirs.—Holland, though occupying a territory not larger than the state of Maryland, was first among the nations of Europe to take a stand in favor of liberty, and, single handed, maintained a six years’ war in its defence, against the greatest odds. At a time when France and England were yet involved in bigotry and superstition, Holland achieved for herself civil and religious freedom, and opened her bosom as an asylum for the oppressed Huguenots; while others, the pilgrim fathers sought a refuge from persecution in the wilds of America. Holland for a long time took the lead of all the surrounding nations in commerce, in science, in arts, and in arms. For the inventions of the telescope, microscope, thermometer, pendulum, gunpowder, and printing, the world is indebted to the Dutch. And the best and most correct translation of the original Scriptures, in any language, is that of the Low Dutch, made under the auspices of the Synod of Dort.