Different travellers note different things, and William Chambers, the publisher, in his _Tour in Holland_ in 1839, selected for special notice another type of Rotterdam resident: "One of the most remarkable men of this [the merchant] class is Mr.Van Hoboken of Rhoon and Pendrecht, who lives on one of the havens.

This individual began life as a merchant's porter, and has in process of time attained the highest rank among the Dutch mercantile aristocracy.

He is at present the principal owner of twenty large ships in the East India trade, each, I was informed, worth about fourteen thousand pounds, besides a large landed estate, and much floating wealth of different descriptions.

His establishment is of vast extent, and contains departments for the building of ships and manufacture of all their necessary equipments.

This gentleman, until lately, was in the habit of giving a splendid fete once a year to his family and friends, at which was exhibited with modest pride the porter's truck which he drew at the outset of his career.