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Rh colleges of magistrates took possession in state of the apartments designed for their several uses. The principal architect was John Van Kampen, who was assisted or controlled by four burgomasters of the city; and the expence of the whole, as estimated by various authors, amounted to two millions sterling.

To describe the various apartments which the stadthoufe contains — the chamber of the burgomasters, the treasury, the secretary's office, the hall for petty causes, the great hall of justice, the chamber of domains, of insurance, of orphans, the counsel-room, the offices of the bank, the citizens'-hall, &c. &c. — were a task of too great magnitude for a tourist to undertake, with any reasonable expectation that he could competently execute it. A few apartments, however, may without impropriety be noticed. The hall where criminals are brought to receive sentence is on the basement floor of the stadthoufe, and is decorated with basso-relievos analogous to the use to which it is dedicated. In one compartment is represented the story