Page:A Tour Through the Batavian Republic.djvu/229

Rh affairs, or liberally to compromise with their creditors, so that few are sent to prison on account of the embarrassment of their circumstances.

A man may not be arrested in his own house in Holland, or even standing at the door of it, though all the previous citations should have been made; and should his wife be lying-in, he is humanely privileged, during the period of her illness, to go abroad without any molestation from his creditors or bailiffs.

There are some exceptions to these benevolent rules, regarding bills of exchange; debts due to the government, as taxes, duties, or fines; and house-rent, when the arrears exceed four quarters. It appears, however, from the small number of debtors confined in Amsterdam, that in few cases are the laws against insolvent persons very rigorously applied. An inferior court, composed of intelligent and upright citizens, has a power to determine small claims; and by means of this tribunal much expensive litigation is prevented. Its decisions are absolute,