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Spaniards, Portuguese, and Italians, as well as French, English, Germans,

Swedes, and Russians, could resort with equal facility as to a perpetual

ed between the Old and the New

World[1] A few years before the coious hich proved so

disastrous to the country, Antas in acondition

Thousands of ships of every form and size covered its broad river like a

forest of s indicated the presence of

traders froallions carried thither the geold and silver of America; Italian vessels were

laden with the delicate fruits and rich stuffs of the Southern countries;

Gerrains and metals; and all returned to their own

countries heavily freighted with other merchandise, and , and which, according to

conteed to wait six weeks before they

succeeded in approaching the wharf[2] Small craft, such as hers, ascended the Scheldt, and even ventured out

to sea in order to trade with the neighboring people Transportation into

the interior of the country was effected by ons,

several hundred of which daily left Antwerp The heavy vehicles which

conveyed ne to the heart of Gerens[3] This extraordinary activity induced old was so abundant, and where every one e profits