BRUSSELS 
 
 msm 
 
 A GUIDE TO STRANGERS IN THAT CAPITAL 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 ' A description of the Public BmldingSi -Ghurclies, -Palaces,, ^ 
 
 : ■ ""Museums, Theatres, PuMic Walks and Gardens, etc., . 
 
 ‘ ' . ’ . . PRt-CKOKO V 1 . 
 
 BY A SUCCINCT HISTORY OF THE CITY OF BRUSSELS. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF 
 
 ALP. WAUTEB.S, 
 
 Archivist of the City of Brussels. 
 
 With a map and plates, 2 fr. 
 
 Brussels, 
 
 PUBLISHED BY C.< FROMENT, BOOKSELLER, 
 
 84, Montagne de la Cour. 
 
 1 1852 
 
 
BRUSSELS 
 
 AND ITS ENVIRONS, 
 
 Being a Guide to Strangers in that Capital 
 
I M PRIM ERIE DE J. H. BRIARD 
 
 Rue Sle-Justine, 31, faubourg de Namur. 
 

 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/brusselsitsenvirOOunse 
 
BRUSSELS 
 
 AND ITS ENVIRONS, 
 
 BEING A GUIDE TO STRANGERS IK TEAT CAPITAL, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 A description of the Public Buildings, Churches, Palaces, 
 Museums, Theatres, Public Walks and Gardens, etc,, 
 
 PRECEDED 
 
 BY A SUCCINCT HISTORY OF THE CITY OF BRUSSELS, 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM TIIE FRENCH OF 
 
 ALP. WAUTERS, 
 
 Archivist of the City of Brussels. 
 
 
 
 PUBLISHED BY C. FROMENT, BOOKSELLER , 
 
 84, Montague de la Cour. 
 
 852 
 
INTRODUCTION . 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 OF THE TRANSLATOR. 
 
 Among the numerous works ilia l have ap- 
 peared within these few years as Guides to 
 Strangers in the Capital of Belgium, that of 
 M. Alphonse Wauters, to the merit of its 
 being the most recent may also justly claim 
 that of its being the most ample and the 
 most correct. At the present eventful 
 epoch, amidst the convulsions which have 
 shaken the foundations of surrounding 
 States, this interesting country, rich in 
 her liberal monarchical institutions and 
 government, has, by the sterling good sense 
 of her people, preserved herself free and 
 
VI 
 
 unscathed from the contagion of the re- 
 volutionary pestilence, which, like the 
 u baleful wind of the Simoom” seems to have 
 spread its deleterious influence over the 
 Continent of Europe. In fact, amidst the 
 lawless anarchy, bloodshed and turmoil of 
 surrounding nations, she presents the as- 
 pect of an oasis in the midst of the desert; 
 and if we add to this, her ancient fame, 
 her proximity to England, and the rapid 
 progress which she has made and is every 
 day making, since she has become an inde- 
 pendent State under the auspices of the 
 most liberal and popular of monarchs, 
 Leopold ; all these considerations combined 
 will, no doubt, operate in attracting to her 
 Capital a vast number of English visitors 
 and residents, as well as other strangers 
 from various parts of the Continent, who 
 may be induced to flock thither as to a city 
 of refuge from the convulsions of surround- 
 ing States. 
 
 The very recent improvements in and 
 extension of this beautiful city, such as no 
 
VII 
 
 other Continental city can boast of, cannot 
 fail to excite the admiration of English and 
 other travellers, as well as prove a power- 
 ful inducement to that class of our coun- 
 trymen who are desirous of residing for 
 some time in a Continental city, to give it 
 the preference over all others, and in parti- 
 cular over Paris, in its ever changing and 
 unsettled state. 
 
 The translator of this Little work, having 
 resided more than twenty years in the 
 country, may justly claim to have a com- 
 petent knowledge of his subject, which has 
 enabled him, in the second part of the 
 work, to make several additions omitted in 
 the original, and which include the latest 
 improvements in this City. 
 
 The original Work, being preceded by a 
 short sketch (forming the first part) of the 
 history of Brussels, it has been deemed ad- 
 visable not to omit that portion of it; for 
 although this part may not suit the taste of 
 every reader, yet, it is presumed that it 
 will be perused with pleasure by a great 
 
VIII 
 
 number, owing to the interesting historical 
 reminiscences which it is calculated to 
 elicit and to illustrate. 
 
 The translator, therefore, with the great- 
 est confidence, ushers this little Book to 
 the Public as the latest, and consequently 
 the most complete Guide to Brussels extant 
 at the present time. 
 
 Edward Weller, 
 English Professor. 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 Supposing the Traveller to arrive in Brus- 
 sels on the Sunday morning, we would 
 recommend the following itinerary of his 
 preriginalions during the week. After di- 
 vine service, a walk in the Park, and, in 
 summer, the Boulevards ; and, after dinner, 
 the fashionable drive called the Allee Verte . 
 On Monday he might visit the principal parts 
 of the Town, and especially those where the 
 recent splendid improvements have been 
 made, such as, the new Street St. Jean, the 
 new Market de la Madeleine, close by; the 
 rue Royale, a splendid street, S/4 of a mile 
 in length and full of handsome buildings, the 
 Place des Martyrs, the Public Library, the 
 Museum, etc. — On Tuesday the Theatres, 
 the Chamber of Representatives and other 
 Public Buildings as well as the Botanic 
 Garden, open to the public on Tuesdays, 
 Thursdays and Saturdays, from 10 to 4. — 
 On Wednesday the Royal Palace, (supposing 
 
— X 
 
 His Majesty to be absent,) and the palace 
 of the Duke d’Arenberg. — On Thursday, 
 Waterloo. — On Friday the churches and a 
 trip to Laeken, and on Saturday the nume- 
 rous etceteras which this delightful City 
 and its vicinity presents. 
 
 Although we have traced this slight sketch 
 to direct the stranger on his arrival, yet. 
 after all, we presume that he might prefer 
 to be guided in his choice by the informa- 
 tion contained in this little book; as also by 
 the state of the weather, which must, of 
 necessity, regulate his movements. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
 
 Stranger’s Manual in Brussels. — Church 
 of England service. — On Sundays at the 
 Chapel Royal, rue du Musee, at 9 a. m. and 
 1/2 past 2, and a Weekly service on Wed- 
 nesday mornings at 1/2 past 10, by the 
 Rev. M. J. Blacker, Chaplain to the King; 
 and in the Chapel, on the boulevard de 
 FObservatoire at a 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 p. § in 
 
IX 
 
 the afternoon by the Rev. W. Drury, 
 M. A. and at the Evangelical Chapel, rue 
 Delliard, by the Rev. George P. Keogh B. A. 
 under license from the Bishop of London, 
 at 1/2 past 9 a. m. and B p. m. — The 
 King’s palaces may be viewed during His 
 Majesty’s absence ; the Museum is open every 
 Sunday, Monday and Thursday from 10 till 
 8 and on every other day to strangers on pro- 
 ducing their passports. — The Duke d’Aren- 
 berg’s palace daily, by applying to the Porter 
 and producing a passport. — The Town Hall 
 daily from 10 till 5 (gratis.)-— The two Houses 
 of Parliament daily, from 10 till 8. — The 
 Botanical Garden (gratis), every Tuesday, 
 Thursday and Saturday from 10 till 4. — 
 The English reading rooms, 84, Montague 
 de la Cour, are open from 8 in the morning 
 till 8 in the evening. — The passport office 
 is at the Hotel de Ville and is open daily 
 from 10 till 4. — The London mail arrives 
 in Brussels every day, except Monday. — 
 Departs from Brussels every day, except 
 Saturday, in the afternoon. 
 
XII 
 
 Letters for the country are now required 
 to be pre-paid by stamps (Timbres postes) 
 of 10 and 20 centimes, according to the 
 distance ; otherwese a surcharge will be 
 demanded of the person addressed. 
 
 This may be effected at the Chief-Office, 
 rue de la Montagne, until 1 /2 past 7 in the 
 evening. — The only Branch-Offices where 
 letters can be pre-paid are as follow : Rue 
 Pepiniere, n. 2, near the gate de Namur; 
 rue du Midi, rue Raute, rue de Flandre 
 and rue Royale, near the Hotel Cluysenaer. 
 Newspapers must be posted by 1/2 past 4 at 
 the Chief-Office and by 1/4 past 4 at the 
 Branch-Offices. Newspapers sent to En- 
 gland do not require pre-payment, but those 
 for the country and other parts require the 
 payment of 1 centime, which may be effected 
 at the Branch-Offices where pre-payments 
 are received, as well as at the Chief-Office. 
 
 Letters for England must be posted before 
 2 p. m. A second mail will be despatched 
 via Calais, at 6, SO. Letters to be posted 
 before 5,45. 
 

A SUCCINCT HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE CITY OF BRUSSELS. 
 
 The hill upon which the upper part of the 
 City of Brussels is situated (and which is cal- 
 led the Upper Town in contradistinction to 
 the Lower Town) as well as the surrounding 
 country, were, during a long period of time, 
 covered for the most part by wood and marsh. 
 Previous to the invasion of Belgium by Csesar, 
 they formed a portion of the country oPthe Ner- 
 vians, who, according to historical records, corn 
 ducted thither their families and their flocks, 
 before setting forth forPresles to combat against 
 the legions. Five centuries later, the domina- 
 tion of the Romans in Belgium, already sha- 
 ken by the disastrous invasions of the people 
 beyond the Rhine, was annihilated by the 
 
 l 
 
2 — 
 
 Francs, who introduced into the country their 
 customs and their institutions. The Cities, 
 within whose boundaries were comprised what 
 had formerly been the territories of the people 
 of Gaul, were then fractioned into Counties. In 
 this manner was formed, between the Scheldt, 
 the Haine, the Dyle and the Rupel, the county 
 of Brabant, in the Nervia or City ofCambrai. 
 
 The kingdom of the Francs, which the con- 
 quests of Clovis extended as far as the Pyrenees 
 and the Rh6ne, was divided, after the death of 
 that prince, into Eastern France or Austrasia, 
 and Western France or Neustria. The Scheldt, 
 in the whole length of its course, separated these 
 two countries. In the seventh and eighth cen- 
 turies Austrasia was illustrated by a glorious 
 succession of princes, who, after having govern- 
 ed the country as viceroys, under the modest 
 ! itle of major-domos or mayors of the palace, 
 look up arms against Neustria, which they sub- 
 dued, and covered themselves with glory. It 
 is to the dynasty of the Carlovingians, but prin- 
 cipally to Pepin of Landen, that Belgium is 
 indebted for her initiation into the Christian 
 faith; Christianity, having hitherto been preached 
 only in the towns of Treves, Tongres, Cambrai 
 and Tournay, was now propagated in the vil- 
 lages and country places. Pepin of Herstal had 
 secured, by his victory at Tcstry, the indepen- 
 
3 — 
 
 dence of Austrasia; Pepin-le-Bref had reaped 
 the fruits of the exploits of his grandfather, by 
 usurping the crown. Charles Martel, son of 
 Pepin de Herstal, had exterminated the Sara- 
 cens at Poitiers, who had nearly brought under 
 their yoke the whole of Europe. Charlemagne, 
 son of Pepin-le-Bref, subdued the Saxons, a race 
 of people then living in a state of idolatry, and 
 whose success might have retarded the progress 
 of civilization during several centuries. But 
 scarcely were the Saxons converted to the 
 Christian faith and Charlemagne descended into 
 the tomb, than another horde of men of the 
 North, or Normans, profiting by the dissentions 
 which had arisen between the descendants of 
 the renowned emperor of the West, rushed on 
 the empire of the Francs, carrying every where 
 with them devastation and terror. The empire 
 is divided into several states, and each powerful 
 baron, taking advantage of the existing anarchy, 
 proclaims his independence. Neustrian Bel- 
 gium, under the name of the county of Flan- 
 ders, becomes a fief of the kingdom of France 
 or the Western Francs*, the Austrasian portion, 
 wherein the power of the bishops of Liege, as 
 well as that of the counts of Mons, of Namur, 
 of the Ardennes, of Luxembourg and of Lou- 
 vain, was daily on the increase, was consti- 
 tuted, during a certain period of lime, a sepa- 
 
— 4 — 
 
 rate kingdom under the name of Lotheringia, 
 or the kingdom of Lothier; after many vicissi- 
 tudes it became afterwards subject to the em- 
 perors of Germany, who established therein 
 dukes, and afterwards, in 965, divided it into 
 two duchies : viz., Upper Lotheringia, the prin- 
 cipal part of which has preserved the name of 
 Lorraine, and Lower Lotheringia, which ex- 
 tended from the Rhine to the Scheldt and from 
 the Ardennes to the sea. 
 
 Situated at a distance from the roman roads 
 which led from Bavai to Tongrese and to Bala- 
 vie, Brussels, in its origin, was only a simple 
 village, which, in all probability was named 
 after a building [sele) built near a marsh ( bmec ). 
 At an epoch when the neighbouring towns, 
 which it now eclipses, were already become 
 towns of some importance, it had not yet in- 
 creased its extent. It is only mentioned for the 
 first time in history in the year 706, at which 
 time Saint Vindicien, bishop of Cambrai, died 
 therein. It is indebted for its first aggrandize- 
 ment to a duke of Lower Lotheringia, Charles 
 of France, son of a king of France, Louis the 
 fourth , surnamed cVOutremer. This prince 
 chose for his residence the castle which was si- 
 tuated between the two branches of the Senne, 
 near the spot where the road from Ghent and 
 Bruges, taking a direction towards Liege and 
 
Cologne, crossed the river. At a very remote 
 period, according to tradition, a chapel had 
 been erected there dedicated to Saint Gery, 
 bishop of Cambrai. Charles de Lorraine, caused 
 to be deposited therein, in 978, the body of 
 Saint-Gudule, who died at Ham near Alost about 
 the year 700. Olhon, son of Charles, having 
 died without issue in 1005, Brussels and its 
 dependencies devolved to his sister Gerberge, 
 who had married Lambert le Barbu, Count of 
 Louvain, avowee of the abbeys of Nivelles and 
 Gembloux. Under the sway of the Counts of 
 Louvain, stirring and warlike princes, who 
 were perpetually at war with the emperor and 
 the bishop of Liege, Brussels was raised to the 
 rank of a city, and increased rapidly in extent. 
 In the year 1040 it was encompassed by a wall, 
 built of stone, a massive construction, which 
 seemed to bid defiance to the ravages of time, 
 and of which some considerable portions still 
 remain. Some years after, on the 16th Novem- 
 ber 1047, the remains of Saint-Gudule were 
 transferred into a new church built on an emi- 
 nence, in honour of Saint-Michael, the patron 
 saint of the city : on the same day the church 
 was consecrated, and the Count Lambert II an- 
 nexed to it a chapter of Canons. At the same 
 time the castle near the Senne was abandoned ; 
 the counts quitted it to reside in a new manor- 
 
- 6 - 
 
 house, situated on the summit of a hill called 
 Caudenberg or Cold-Mount; the adjacent cha- 
 pel, called Saint-Jacques-sur-Caudenberg served 
 as an oratory, and they appointed as guardians 
 of their residence and of the city, hereditary 
 governors, whose dwelling existed during a long 
 time and was situated between that chapel and 
 the palace. The Borgendael (valley of the cas- 
 tle) which, until the year 1776 had served as a 
 place of refuge for bankrupts, and wherein ar- 
 tisans were permitted to retire for the exercise 
 of their profession without being affiliated to a 
 corporation, was the patrimonial properly of 
 these chatelains. 
 
 Brussels continued to increase in extent in 
 the same proportion as the power of its princes 
 increased. The seventh count of Louvain, Go- 
 defroid le Barbu, created duke of Lower Lothe- 
 ringia, in 1106, transmitted to his descendants 
 this new title, which was in the thirteenth cen- 
 tury changed to that of Duke of Brabant. Nine 
 princes of the house of Louvain, the three Go- 
 defroids, the three Henrys, the three Johns, as- 
 sumed this title in succession. Their hereditary 
 valour, so to speak, rendered them formidable, 
 and the most powerful monarchs sought their 
 alliance. Among the most renowned of these 
 princes was Henry the first, whose long reign of 
 more than sixty years, was an uninterrupted 
 
- 7 - 
 
 series of military expeditions. Also is worthy 
 of note John the first, that type of the high and 
 generous chivalry of the thirteenth century; 
 the valiant captain, who at Woeringen effected 
 the dissolution of the league between the count 
 of Luxembourg and the archbishop of Cologne, 
 and who, in a tournament, terminated that life 
 which he had so often risked in battle. John 
 the third was in nowise inferior in brilliant 
 qualities to his grandfather; he also proved 
 himself worthy of his ancestors, when he replied 
 by a war-song to the challenges presented to 
 him by the heralds of seventeen princes. Bra- 
 bant, at that time, extended south and north, 
 from Nivel I cs and Gembloux to Heusden and 
 Grave; its western frontier followed the course 
 of the Dendre and bordered on the Scheldt, in 
 proceeding from the mouth of the Rupel to- 
 wards that river; Hannut, Lannen, the castle, 
 of Dormael, Leau, Diest, formed towards the 
 east its first line of defence. In addition to 
 this extensive territory, the dukes were also in 
 possession of Maeslricht, jointly with the bishop 
 of Liege; the duchy of Limbourg, the county 
 of Daelhem, the baronies of Rolduc and of Fau- 
 quemenl, with other territories of minor im- 
 portance; the chief avowry of the towns of 
 Liege, Aix-la-Chapelle, Saint-Trond, etc. 
 
 Louvain continued to be, during a long space 
 
- 8 - 
 
 of time, the most important city in the country, 
 and always retained the title of capital ; the 
 sovereigns of the duchy, up to and including 
 the archdukes Albert and Isabella, were all 
 inaugurated there, but shortly after Brussels 
 became the capital de facto ; the dukes, begin- 
 ning with John the first, resided there con- 
 stantly, being attracted thither by the salubrity 
 of the air, and the proximity of the forest of 
 Soignes, where they solaced themselves by the 
 pleasures of the chace from the fatigues of their 
 martial exploits, and the anxious cares which 
 the discontented and restless spirit of their sub- 
 jects caused them. Heretofore there existed no 
 country which enjoyed greater immunities and 
 more extensive privileges than those which they 
 had conferred upon their people. The Joyful- 
 Entry, an inaugural pact, imposed for the first 
 time on the dukes Wenceslas and Jeanne, in 
 1355, by which the sovereign, on his accession, 
 swore solemnly to maintain the national privi- 
 leges, is a remarkable manifestation of the love 
 of liberty possessed by the ancient Brabancons. 
 The authority of the prince was limited by the 
 prerogatives of the States and of the Council of 
 Brabant. The former, without whose consent 
 no taxes could be levied, consisted of three 
 orders, the clergy, the nobility and the people : 
 the clergy appear not to have been admitted 
 
~~ 9 =~ 
 
 into the national representation until towards 
 the end of the 14th century : the nobility, from 
 lime immemorial, were constituted the coun- 
 sellors of the dukes, and formed the chief 
 strength of their armies ; as to the people, their 
 representatives began only to be consulted at 
 the end of the 12th century, after the communes 
 had obtained their immunities and franchises. 
 The cities, and especially those of Louvain and 
 Brussels, had possessed, from the 13th cen- 
 tury, a considerable influence, and their dele- 
 gates had obtained, in a short time, the principal 
 direction of affairs. They were at the height 
 of their power in 1312, when John the 2nd 
 established at Gortenberg a council formed of 
 nobles and of the citizens of the principal 
 towns ; this council was at the same time a per- 
 manent deputation of the Stales and a supreme 
 tribunal, to which those might appeal who con- 
 ceived themselves to be aggrieved by the other 
 tribunals or by the agents of the sovereign. 
 The council of Cortenberg had but a momentary 
 existence; a part of its attributions was trans- 
 ferred to the council of Brabant, whose judg- 
 ment was without appeal, and who were consul- 
 ted by the government in all affairs relative to 
 the duchy. 
 
 The city of Brussels was already flourishing 
 in 1213, when the Count of Flanders, Ferrand, 
 
— 10 — 
 
 the Count of Salisbury and the Count of Holland 
 laid siege to it, in order to force the duke Henry 
 the first, to enter into a league with them 
 against his father in law, the king of France, 
 Philippe Auguste, It was this same duke, who 
 conferred on it, in 1229 a Keure or code of cri- 
 minal law; and, in 1234, a charter regulating the 
 mode of nomination of the authorities of the 
 commune. The patricians possessed all the 
 privileges of the nobility, whilst, at the same 
 time, the commerce in which they engaged be- 
 came to them a source of riches and contributed 
 to the prosperity of the lower classes. In this 
 manner they constituted the greater part of a 
 corporation called the guild of drapers, a cor- 
 poration, the freedom of which might be pur- 
 chased ; and whose members trafficked in wool- 
 len and linen manufactures. The fabrication 
 of drapery employed a great number of artisans; 
 the quarter of the gate of Anderlecht and the 
 whole of the parish of La-Chapelle was almost 
 entirely peopled, the former by fullers, and the 
 latter by weavers and bleachers. The cloth 
 which they manufactured was of the first qua- 
 lity, considerable quantities of which were sent 
 to Paris, to the fairs of La Brie and even as far 
 as Dauphiny. During a long time the manu- 
 facturers were not admitted to a share in the 
 local administration ; they endeavoured, in 
 
11 
 
 1306, to obtain new privileges; a riot which 
 took place gave them power during a short 
 period, but, vanquished near Vilvorde on the 
 1st of May in the same year, they were obliged 
 to submit. 
 
 After the death of John the third, in 1333, 
 the disputed succession to the estates of that 
 prince was the occasion of a war between two 
 of his step-sons. Wenceslas of Luxembourg, who 
 had married his eldest daughter Jane, and by 
 virtue of that title had become duke of Brabant, 
 and the count of Flanders, Louis de Maele. 
 The count invaded the territories of his brother 
 in law, and defeated the Brabancons on the hill 
 of Scheut, situated near and to the west of Brus- 
 sels, on the 17th august 1336: this memorable 
 day, to which the Bruxellois gave the name of 
 black Wednesday, obtained for him the posses- 
 sion of Brussels, Louvain, Antwerp, and almost 
 the whole of Brabant ; but he lost the greater 
 part of his conquests almost as rapidly as he had 
 gained them. A patrician of Brussels, named 
 Everard T’Serclaes, scaled the walls of the city 
 at the head of a band of resolute men, and the 
 inhabitants, having joined him, expelled the 
 flemish garrison, on the 24th October 1336. 
 In the other towns a similar movement almost 
 immediately broke out. The facility with 
 which the enemy had penetrated into Brussels, 
 
— 12 — 
 
 decided the citizens to impose on themselves 
 great sacrifices to fortify their city and its fau- 
 bourgs. They then constructed the second en- 
 closure, the circuit of which corresponded 
 nearly to that of the present boulevards. Be- 
 gun in 1557, this great undertaking was com- 
 pleted in 1579. Whilst it was actively in 
 course of execution, an insurrection of the but- 
 chers, weavers, and fullers was suppressed in a 
 cruel manner by the patricians; on the 22d 
 July 1560, a desperate combat took place in se- 
 veral streets and a part of the quarter of La 
 Chapelle was destroyed by fire. 
 
 In 1570, the Jews who inhabited Brussels were 
 accused of having poniarded the consecrated 
 hosts, which they had previously sacreligiously 
 stolen from the church of Ste-Catherine, by one 
 of their body who had been recently converted 
 to Christianity, named John of Louvain. It was 
 affirmed that the hosts, which the Jews, in their 
 blind and sacreligious fury (after having spread 
 upon a table), had pierced with their poniards, 
 had spouted forth blood upon the assailants. 
 Terrified at this circumstance, they employed a 
 womai^ who had also been of their religion, but 
 had embraced the Christian faith, to convey 
 away these hosts to some of their bretheren at 
 Cologne. Denounced by this woman, the Jews 
 were apprehended, condemned and burnt to 
 
— 15 — 
 
 death on Ascension-day the 22nd of May, on 
 the spot named the Pre-aux-Laines. Some of 
 these hosts were, during a long time, preserved 
 in the church of Notre-Dame de la Chapelle; 
 the three largest were taken to Saint-Gudule, 
 where they still remain. 
 
 During the reign of Wenceslas and of Jeanne, 
 and especially after the death of Wenceslas, who 
 died in 1585, the province of Brabant gradually 
 declined ; it lost its importance abroad, and 
 intestine feuds of baron against baron, of fa- 
 mily against family, and of town against town, 
 disturbed its peace. Everard T’Serclaes, the 
 conqueror of the Flemings in 1556, was assassi- 
 nated in 1588, by order of Sweder d’Abcoude, 
 for having offered resistance to the increasing 
 power of the lord of Gaesbeek. At the sight of 
 his mutilated body, the whole population flew 
 to arms, and on the following morning the castle 
 of Gaesbeek was beseiged. After having re- 
 sisted during a month, the garrison at length 
 surrendered and evacuated the fortress, which 
 was razed to the ground. It was during this 
 stormy period that the construction of the Hotel 
 de Yille was projected; it was begun in 1401. 
 A terrible disaster fell upon Brussels in 1405 ; a 
 part of the church of La Chapelle was burnt by 
 a fire, which destroyed at the same time 2,000 
 houses and 1,400 weavers’ frames. 
 
— 14 — 
 
 The duchess Jeanne died on the following 
 year, and left to succeed her in the government 
 of Brabant one of the sons of her nephew, 
 Antoine, brother of Jean-sans-Peur, duke of 
 Burgundy, and grand-son, by the side of his 
 mother, of the count of Flanders. In 1409 was 
 celebrated at Brussels, with great pomp, the 
 marriage of Antoine de Bourgogne with Elisa- 
 beth de Moravie, duchess of Gorlitz. The duke, 
 who was always mixed up with the intestine 
 feuds which desolated France, and in which his 
 brother played a principal part, lost his life at 
 the celebrated battle of Agincourt, which was 
 won by the English on the 25th October 1415. 
 The administration of the country was confided 
 by the Stales to a regency during the minority 
 of his eldest son, John the 4th, whose reign was 
 but a long succession of unprosperous wars, of 
 popular tumults and of revolts. This indolent 
 and pacific prince, after having espoused Jac- 
 queline de Baviere, Countess of Hainaut, of 
 Holland and of Zelande, made no exertions to 
 defend the states of his wife, who possessed a 
 character as manly as that of her husband was 
 feminine. Governed by his favorites, the hearts 
 of the Brabancons were soon alienated from 
 him. At the time that his brother Philippe de 
 Saint-Pol was elected as Ruward, or governor 
 of the duchy, he fled from Brussels, whither he 
 
— 15 
 
 returned, on the 21st January 1421, accom- 
 panied by a numerous retinue of German ba- 
 rons and cavaliers. A revolt, provoked by the 
 insolence of these mercenary foreigners, depri- 
 ved him once more of his government; his 
 partisans were proscribed, some of them were 
 beheaded ; and the trade-corporations, profit- 
 ing by the revolution, obtained from the count 
 de Saint-Pol on the 11 th February 1421 , a char- 
 ter, by virtue of which the magistrature was 
 composed of burgomasters, sheriffs, receivers 
 and counsellors, and which organised in nine 
 classes the trade-corporations, designated to 
 share power with the higher ranks. Such was 
 the origin of the ancient municipal constitution 
 of Brussels, which continued, almost without 
 alteration, up to the year 1795. 
 
 Philippe de Saint-Pol succeeded to his brother 
 John the 4th, but his reign was of short dura- 
 tion, it being from 1427 to 1450. His heir was 
 the duke of Burgundy, Philip the Good, who, 
 by a fortunate concatenation of circumstances, 
 reunited under his sovereignty, Brabant, Lim- 
 bourg, Flanders, Artois, Malines, Hainault, the 
 Namur country, Luxembourg and Holland. 
 These countries, which were already intimately 
 united, constituted, together with Burgundy, a 
 powerful monarchy. The reign of Philip the 
 Good was long and prosperous. The duke, who 
 
— 16 
 
 was perpetually surrounded by a numerous 
 court, became the patron of learned men and of 
 artists; his palaces were adorned with the pic- 
 tures of the Van Eycks and of their pupils, and 
 his libraries with splendid manuscripts, the 
 miniature copies of which still excite admira- 
 tion. He had a particular affection for the city 
 of Brussels, and gave in it several tournaments; 
 amongst others those of 1 439 and 1 444. Other fe- 
 tes, such as the contests instituted by the company 
 of cross-bowmen, of archers and of rhetoricians, 
 attested the increasing opulence of the citizens, 
 who, although generally of parsimonious habits, 
 displayed in these circumstances a surprising 
 degree of luxury and magnificence. The wool- 
 len manufactures were already on the decline: 
 the English, whose country produced wool in 
 abundance, and who, at first, had been ignorant 
 of the method of fabrication, had, from the 
 reign of Edward the third, commenced a com- 
 petition with this country which became every 
 day more ruinous. On the other hand the weav- 
 ing of flax and the fabrication of linen cloths 
 were very flourishing ; the art of dying woollen 
 cloths, the manufacture of carpets, and the 
 forging of arms, had attained to a great degree 
 of perfection. 
 
 Charles the Bold, son of Philip the Good, be- 
 came redoubtable to his neighbours, but his 
 
- 17 — 
 
 gigantic projects, pursued with obstinacy, 
 brought on the ruin of the monarchy which his 
 father had transmitted to him. His despotic 
 character was highly displeasing to his people, 
 and no sooner was it known that he had been 
 killed near Nancy, in a battle against the 
 duke Rene of Lorraine and the Swiss, on the 
 5lh January 1477, than a general insurrection 
 broke out in Belgium. The king of Fiance, 
 Louis the 11th, took advantage of this circum- 
 stance to possess himself of Burgundy and Ar- 
 tois. The daughter of Charles the Bold, Mary 
 of Burgundy, in order to procure for herself a 
 defender against her enemies, married the arch- 
 duke Maximilian of Austria. It was during 
 these disturbances that the trade-corporations 
 succeeded in annihilating the power of the high 
 er ranks. Maximilian, who had succeeded in 
 checking at the same time the successes of the 
 French and the propagation of democratic prin- 
 ciples in the towns, destroyed, in 1480 and 
 1 481 , the organization which they had establish- 
 ed. The unexpected death of Mary of Bur- 
 gundy, became immediately the prelude to new 
 commotions. The archduke, having rendered 
 himself obnoxious to the nation, was constrained 
 by the States-General to conclude a peace with 
 the French, and Flanders refused to entrust him 
 with the guardianship of his children. The 
 
 2 
 
- 18 - 
 
 States of Brabant were desirous of following the 
 example of their neighbours, but the Archduke 
 struck them with terror, by causing to be ap- 
 prehended and beheaded some of the most 
 violent of the members of their assembly, on 
 the 21st May 1485. In 1486, during a court 
 dinner which he gave on the occasion of the vi- 
 sit of his father, the Emperor Frederick the 
 third, a violent quarrel arose between the sol- 
 diers of his body-guard and the citizens of 
 Brussels, which, after much difficulty, was ap- 
 peased. At length the antipathy of the Braban- 
 cons towards this prodigal prince produced a 
 manifestation in 1488. Brussels, Louvain, Ni- 
 velles joined the parly of the Flemings, who had 
 again come to a rupture with their sovereign, 
 by proceeding to hostilities against him, under 
 the command of Philippe de Cleves. The peo- 
 ple of Brussels especially, fought vigorously 
 against the partisans of the king of the Romans, 
 and did not conclude a peace until after they 
 had exhausted their strength in long and painful 
 struggles. Moreover, they were at that time 
 decimated by a dreadful plague, which, accor- 
 ding to the most moderate compulation, carried 
 off 15,000 persons in the year 1489. 
 
 Belguim recovered from her disasters during 
 the reign of Philippe le Beau, son of Maximilian 
 of Austria and of Mary of Burgundy, who was 
 

 

- 19 — 
 
 inaugurated Duke of Brabant in 1494. This 
 prince had become king of Spain by his mar- 
 riage with Jeanne, daughter of Ferdinand, king 
 of Aragon, and of Isabelle la Catholique, queen 
 of Castille. Several of his children were born 
 at Brussels, of whom were the princesses Eleo- 
 nore, Elisabeth or Isabelle, and Marie, who 
 married; the first, the king of France, Francis 
 the 1st; the second Christiern the 2nd, king of 
 Denmark, and the third, Louis 2nd, of Hun- 
 gary ; the most renowned among them, Charles 
 the 5th, was born at Ghent. King Philippe 
 having died in 1506, the regency of the coun- 
 try was conferred by the Emperor Maximilian 
 on his daughter Margaret of Austria, a prin- 
 cess who was a great promoter of literature and 
 the fine arts. Charles the 5th attained his ma- 
 jority in 1515, and took immediately the reins 
 of government, but having to make long stays 
 in his Spanish dominions, being moreover fre- 
 quently detained in Germany, after his eleva- 
 tion to the imperial dignity, he was obliged to 
 place in other hands the government of the 
 Low-Countries. This difficult post was given 
 to Margaret of Austria, and after the death of 
 that princess, which took place in 1550, to Marie 
 of Hungary, whose husband had perished in 
 battle against the Ottomans at Mohaez. These 
 princesses were generally surrounded hy a brib 
 
- 20 — 
 
 liant court, and during their administration, 
 Brussels became one of the political centres of 
 Europe. At each visit of Charles the 5th, sump- 
 tuous fetes were given, followed by a meet- 
 ing of the states-general, which attracted to the 
 capital an immense number of strangers, as was 
 particularly the case in 1549, when the Empe- 
 ror invited to Belgium his son Philippe and 
 caused him to be recognized as his successor 
 by the different provinces of the Low-Coun- 
 tries. A still more imposing ceremony took 
 place in 1555 ; Charles, finding himself exhaus- 
 ted by a reign of forty years, abdicated in favour 
 of his son, on the 25th October of the same 
 year, in the great hall of the palace, wherein were 
 assembled the states-general, the knights of the 
 golden Fleece, the members of the council of 
 government, and a crowd of other illustrious 
 personages. He continued, however, to sojourn 
 during some time at Brussels, then quitted that 
 city, accompanied by his sisters Marie and Eleo- 
 nore, and embarked in Zealand for Spain, where 
 he died in the monastery of Saint-Just in 1558. 
 
 His successor, born and brought up in Cas- 
 tille, entertained a marked affection for that 
 country; he quitted Belgium immediately after 
 having concluded with France the peace of Ca- 
 leau-Cambresis, which was the result of the vic- 
 tories of Saint-Quentin and of Gravelines, where- 
 
21 — 
 
 in the count d’Egmont covered himself with 
 glory. Brussels, during the first half of the 
 16th. century, was embellished with several 
 monuments; and, by the indefatigable zeal of one 
 of its magistrates, Jean de Locquenghien, was 
 completed the fine canal of Willebroeck, finished 
 in lo61, after the labours of eleven years. The 
 fetes which took place on the opening of this 
 canal celebrated at the same time the triumph 
 of the Chamber of Rhetoric, named the Garland 
 of Marie, and which had just carried off at Ant- 
 werp, from numerons competitors, the prize of 
 the Joyous Entry. An incredible degree of 
 luxury had been displayed on this occasion, 
 but for the last time ; the future prosperity of 
 Belguim assumed a gloomy aspect, and her 
 riches were about to be swallowed up in a long 
 and bloody war, productive of the most fatal 
 results to the country. 
 
 The progress of the partisans of reform in reli- 
 gion had provoked, on the part of the authorities, 
 measures of repression, which only added fuel 
 to the fire which they endeavoured to extin- 
 guish. The Governess of the Low-Countries, 
 Marguerite de Parme, a natural daughter of 
 Charles the Fifth, was impeded in her admin- 
 istration of public affairs by the necessity of 
 being incessantly obliged to have recourse to 
 the government of Madrid, and in being sur- 
 
— 22 — 
 
 rounded by counselors, some of whom appro- 
 ved of rigorous measures, whilst others were 
 inclined towards an entire toleration in reli- 
 gious matters. The king, having at length in- 
 sisted that the edicts should be put in execu- 
 tion, a great number of the nobility conferred 
 together, and, to the number of about 400, pre- 
 sented to the duchess, on the 5th April 1566, a 
 petition, to the effect that only moderate mea- 
 sures should be resorted to. Whilst the go- 
 vernment were deliberating upon the measures 
 that they should adopt, a furious populace aban- 
 doned themselves to the most horrible excesses, 
 and in a great number of the towns and villages 
 the churches suffered from the most frightful 
 devastations. Brussels was fortunately preser- 
 ved from the fury of the iconoclasts or image- 
 breakers, and in a short time, supported by pub- 
 lic opinion, which was decidedly against them, 
 the governess succeeded in reestablishing order 
 and in forcing into submission the revolted 
 towns. The greatest tranquillity reigned in 
 Belgium, when on the 22nd August 1567, the 
 duke of Alba arrived at Brussels, at the head 
 of a numerous army and charged with a mis- 
 sion of vengeance. Amongst the number of 
 men of rank whom he brought to the scaffold, 
 and who were the most regretted, were the 
 counts d’Egmont and de Horne , who were 
 
— 25 — 
 
 beheaded on the Grand’Place on the 5th June 
 1568. 
 
 The duke of Alba still further increased the 
 hatred which his impolitic fury had excited 
 against him, by demanding the vote of oppres- 
 sive taxes. But an energetic resistance was op- 
 posed to his fiscal measures, and when he 
 issued his orders to levy the tenth denier on 
 all provisions and merchandise which should 
 be exposed to sale, the inhabitants chose rather 
 to close their shops than comply. In a paroysm 
 of rage, the duke was preparing to take speedy 
 vengeance, by the hanging of a great number 
 of the notabilites of the city, when, on the 5th 
 April 1572, arrived the news of the capture of 
 the town of Brielle in Holland. This circum- 
 stance operated as a diversion to his furious 
 projects, by obliging him to turn his attention 
 towards the northern provinces, where the re- 
 volt had, in a short space of time, made rapid 
 progress, and he laid siege to Mons, which the 
 count Louis de Nassau had just taken by sur- 
 prise. The king, at length began to perceive 
 that the cruelty of his lieutenant alienated from 
 him every day more and more the hearts of 
 even his most zealous subjects. He recalled 
 him, and sent in his place don Louis de He- 
 quesens, who displayed more moderation, but 
 who died, after having governed the Low-Coun- 
 
— 24 — 
 
 tries for the space of two years and a half. 
 His death was the occasion of a state of general 
 anarchy. On hearing the news that the muti- 
 nous soldiers were roving over the country 
 and committing every where frightful ravages, 
 the entire population of Brussels took up arms, 
 and the states of Brabant ordered the levy of 
 national troops. Meanwhile the members of 
 the council of state, who were, for the most part, 
 suspected by the people, were arrested in the 
 palace on the 4th September 1575, whilst they 
 were in the act of deliberating. Negotiations 
 were then opened with the northern provinces, 
 and with the prince of Orange, William the 
 Taciturn, who had placed himself at their 
 head. 
 
 The necessity for adopting measures of de- 
 fence against the Spanish bands, brought about 
 the signature of the Pacification of Ghent , by 
 which all the provinces of the Low-Countries 
 were constituted into a single confederation : 
 this took place on the 8th November 1576. 
 
 After some hesitation and after having con- 
 cluded, on the 9th of January following, a 
 new alliance, which was named the Union of 
 Brussels , they recognised as Governor-general 
 Don Juan of Austria, a natural son of Charles 
 the Fifth, whom the king had invested with 
 this dignity, and who had covered himself 
 
— 25 — 
 
 with glory at the naval battle of Lepanto, 
 wherein the Christian fleets had conquered 
 those of the Ottomans. He made a magnificent 
 entry into Brussels, on the 1st May 1577, but 
 in a short time a complete scission took place 
 between him and the States. He quitted Brus- 
 sels suddenly, where his intentions were sus- 
 pected and his servants and guards insulted. 
 Determined to maintain his power by force, he 
 look by surprise the citadel of Namur, and 
 assembled therein the few soldiers that remain" 
 ed to him. 
 
 From Namur Don-Juan recommenced nego- 
 tiating with the States, but the terms which he 
 proposed being considered as extravagant, both 
 parties prepared for war. The prince of Orange 
 was requested to repair to Brabant, as at the 
 same time was the archduke of Austria, Mathias, 
 whom, a part of the nobility wished to employ 
 as a check upon him, but who, young and inex- 
 perienced, became only a tool in the hands of 
 William the Taciturn. Scarcely had Mathias and 
 William taken the oaths at Brussels, the former 
 as governor general, and the latter as Ruwart or 
 governor of Brabant, than the battle of Gem- 
 bloux, gained by Don-Juan, on the 51 st Ja- 
 nuary 1578, forced them to quit Brussels, now 
 become a frontier town, for Antwerp, where 
 they were in greater safety. The success of the 
 
— 26 — 
 
 king’s arms proved less fatal to the national 
 cause than the excesses to which the calvinists 
 of Flanders, and more especially of Ghent, aban- 
 doned themselves ; they renewed the scenes of 
 the year 1566, whilst, on their pant, the Wallon 
 provinces formed a league for the defence of the 
 catholic religion. During the period that the 
 separation of the northern from the southern 
 part of the Low countries was being effected, 
 the prince of Parma, successor to Don-Juan, 
 skilfully took advantage of the faults of his ene- 
 mies. On the 19th May 1579, he received the 
 submission of Hainault, of Artois and of French 
 Flanders. In the other provinces, several of 
 the nobles associated themselves to him, and 
 one among them, the count Philippe d’Egmont, 
 son of the great Lamoral, endeavoured to take 
 Brussels by surprise; he succeeded in effecting 
 an entrance into the city, but was stopped in his 
 march by the garrison and the inhabitants, he 
 esteemed himself fortunate in being enabled to 
 quit the city with his troops, on the 4th, 5th, 
 and 6th June 1579. 
 
 In every place which refused to submit to the 
 authority of Philip the 2nd, the calvinists, pro- 
 tected by the troops in the pay of the States, 
 assumed the ascendancy ; at Brussels, some of 
 the churches were pillaged, others given over to 
 the reformed preachers, and, at length, the ca- 
 
27 - 
 
 tholic worship was absolutely interdicted, on 
 the 1st May 1581 ; the clergy driven away, 
 and the convents closed. This violent state of 
 things could not long endure; the prince of 
 Parma gained victory upon victory, and re- 
 duced, the one after the other, all the towns of 
 Belgium. Abandoned to its own resources, the 
 city of Brussels maintained a long and glorious 
 struggle in order to keep up its communications 
 with Flanders and Antwerp. Its garrison, com- 
 manded by Oliver Van den Lympel, baron of 
 Corbeck, took possesion successively, in 1580, 
 of Nivelles, of Ninove, of Malines, of Diest; in 
 1582 of Alost; in 1583 of Braine-le-Comle. 
 But it lost in a short time all its conquests, ex- 
 cept Malines. At length, in the year 1584, the 
 prince of Parma took possession of Termonde, 
 of the fort of Willebroek and of Vilvorde. Be- 
 come master of these posts, he subjected Brus- 
 sels to a rigorous blockade, which soon began 
 to experience all the horrors of famine. The 
 whole of the citizens, without any distinction of 
 parties, then resolved to submit; the garrison, 
 indeed, held out during a long time, but the 
 distress becoming every day more and more ter- 
 rible, and no hope of assistance presenting it- 
 self, a deputation was despatched to the prince 
 of Parma. They obtained from him the terms 
 of a capitulation, sufficiently favorable, which 
 
— 28 — 
 
 was signed on the 10th March 1585, at Beve- 
 ren, in the country of Waes. 
 
 Alexander Farnese, after having received the 
 submission of Brussels, pursued his successes 
 in the southern provinces of the Low-Countries, 
 but neither himself, nor the princes and gene- 
 rals who succeeded him, were able to penetrate 
 into the northern provinces, which were better 
 defended by nature. Brussels once more be- 
 came the fixed residence of the Governor-gene- 
 ral, of his court, and of the councils of govern- 
 ment; and by degrees it recovered the losses 
 which nine years of anarchy had caused it. 
 Commerce and industry began again to revive. 
 The religious edifices which had been destroyed 
 or damaged during the disturbances, were either 
 rebuilt or repaired. A state of security was 
 again established in the country places, where 
 had previously reigned the most frightful misery, 
 combined with the ravages of the most unbri- 
 dled plunder. 
 
 After the death of the prince of Parma, which 
 happened on the 4th December 1592, king Phi- 
 lip the 2d, appointed to the government of the 
 Low-Countries, the Archduke Ernest of Austria, 
 brother of the Emperor Rodolph the 2d. This 
 prince made a magnificent entry into Brussels 
 on the 30th January 1594, but was taken off by 
 a premature death on the night from the 20th 
 
- 29 - 
 
 to the 21st of February in the following year. 
 He was replaced by his brother, the Archduke 
 Albert, cardinal archbishop of Toledo, who ar- 
 rived at Brussels on the 11th February 1596. 
 At the close of his career, Philip the 2nd, for 
 the purpose of securing tranquillity to his Bel- 
 gian provinces ceded them to his daughter the 
 Infanta Isabella. This princess was destined in 
 marriage to the archduke, who had renounced 
 the ecclesiastical state. After having received 
 the oaths of the States-General, assembled in 
 the great hall of the palace, on the 23d August 
 1598, Albert set out for Spain, received the hand 
 of Isabella at Valence, on the 18th April of the 
 following year, and returned with her into the 
 country. They made their solemn entry, on 
 th 5th September 1599, by the Porte of Lou- 
 vain. In 1600, they assembled at Brussels the 
 States-General in order to fix the subsidies that 
 the provinces were to pay ; in 1611, they caused 
 to be drawn up the Perpetual Edict, for the re- 
 gulation of some particular articles of jurispru- 
 dence. The establishment of Monts-de-Piete 
 took its rise also in their reign, which lasted 21 
 years, during the whole of which time Brussels 
 enjoyed a complete tranquillity, with the excep- 
 tionofsome slight disturbances, which took place 
 in 1619. The archduke Albert died on the 
 13th July 1621, and magnificent funeral cere- 
 
— 30 - 
 
 monies were celebrated for him on the 12th 
 March following. As he had died without is- 
 sue, Belgium was again constituted a Spanish 
 province, which the Infanta continued to go- 
 vern. Isabella, who, by her affability had made 
 herself beloved by her people, was more espe- 
 cially cherished by the people of Brussels, in 
 whose public games she deigned to participate. 
 In 1615, at the annual competition of the com- 
 pany of cross-bow shooters, she had brought 
 down the bird with her own hands, and receiv- 
 ed, according to custom, the title of Queen of 
 the company. But her latter years were not 
 happy. The war with the northern provinces 
 of the Low-Countries, which formed at that 
 time the Republic of the United provinces, had 
 been suspended, in 1609, by the conclusion of a 
 twelve years’ truce; it recommenced, in 1621, 
 and, after a few partial successes, presented 
 only a series of defeats. The enemy, having 
 taken Bois-le-Duc and Maestricht, the country 
 was on the very brink of ruin ; a party, in league 
 with the foreigner, was preparing a revolu- 
 tion, but this attempt failed of success, as well 
 as the negotiations opened with Holland by the 
 States-General, which had been summoned to 
 meet in Brussels, in October 1652. In the very 
 midst of these difficulties, the Infanta died on 
 the 50th November 1655. The Cardinal Infant, 
 
- 31 
 
 Ferdinand, archbishop of Toledo, arrived at 
 Brussels on the 4th November 1634, and go- 
 verned during some years in the name of Philip 
 the 4th. By means of some successful battles he 
 was enabled to improve the fortunes of Belgium, 
 butafter his death, which happened on the 9th No- 
 vember 1641, the situation of the country conti- 
 nued to grow worse, until the treaty of Munster, 
 on the 30th January 1648, by which Spain re- 
 cognised the republic of the United provinces, 
 and until the peace of the Pyrenees, concluded 
 wilh France on the 7th November 1680. 
 
 During the second half of the 17th century 
 popular commotions were frequent in Brussels. 
 The misgovernment of the governors-general 
 sent by Spain, the system of plunder to which 
 the troops, almost always ill-paid, had addicted 
 themselves, the state of abandonment in which 
 the country was left by its princes, degenerate 
 descendants of Charles the 3th, all these causes 
 combined, would, at any other epoch, have 
 brought about a general insurrection. But Bel- 
 gium was plunged into a sort of marasmus; she 
 shewed no longer any signs of life, either politi- 
 cal or literary; her commerce was nearly anni- 
 hilated, her industry continued to decline, as 
 well as that school of painting, which from the 
 time of Rubens under the reign of the arch-dukes, 
 had shone with such a brillant lustre. The 
 
— 32 — 
 
 greater part of the towns of the Spanish Low- 
 Countries lost their ancient splendour; Brussels 
 alone, being the residence of the Court, and 
 wherein some branches of industry flourished, 
 such as the manufacture of camlets, of tapestry, 
 of lace, of carriages, formed the only ex- 
 ception to this rule; and for this reason the 
 trade-corporations still continued to manifest a 
 considerable degree of energy in defending their 
 rightst, and privileges. In 1637, 1661, 1670, 
 1673, 1680, 1681 and 1684, there were serious 
 disturbances, and the question was several times 
 mooted in the government councils whether it 
 would not be belter to choose some other city 
 than Brussels for a capital. 
 
 The wars which were then carrying on 
 against France, by the anxiety which they caus- 
 ed the imperial authorities, prevented them 
 from taking so important a decision. Louis 
 the 14th had, for the first time, in 1667, decla- 
 red war against Spain and unexpectedly invaded 
 Belgium. It was during this invasion that the 
 plague raged in a cruel manner at Brussels and 
 carried off 4,046 persons. At this epoch the 
 fortresses of the city were considerably augmen- 
 ted and a fort was erected near the Porte de 
 Hal, on an eminence to the south of the church 
 of St-Gilles, which was named Fort Montery, 
 after the governor of that name, in 1672. Hosti- 
 
— 53 — 
 
 lities recommenced three different times, in 
 1675, 1683 and 1690. For more than a century 
 Brussels had not seen an enemy at her gates, 
 when, on the 11th August 1695, the french 
 army, commanded by the Marshall de Yilleroi, 
 encamped on the hill of Scheut, which commands 
 a view of the whole city. A bombardment, as 
 terrible as it was fruitless, commenced on the 
 13th and was prolonged to the 15th. This bar- 
 barous execution was perpetrated for the pur- 
 pose of causing the allies to raise the siege of 
 Namur. It converted the whole centre of the 
 capital, with the exception of a few edifices, into 
 a heap of ruins; 3,830 houses were burnt and 
 460 seriously injured ; the damage which it 
 caused, amounted, according to a very moderate 
 calculation, to 22 or 23 millions of florins. 
 A few years sufficed for the burghers to repair 
 every trace of this great disaster. There then 
 arose on the great Market and in its vicinity 
 splendid structures adorned with pilasters, me- 
 dallions, gildings, and other ornaments, produ- 
 cing a dazzling effect although not in a very 
 pure taste. The bombardment, having thrown 
 down the Tour du Miroir in the Herb-Market, 
 which led to the discovery of ancient privileges 
 long since forgotten, proved the indirect cause 
 of serious commotions, which were only termi- 
 nated in 1700. 
 
 3 
 
The king of Spain, Charles the 2nd, having 
 no children, disposed of his dominions in favor 
 of the duke of Anjou, Philip, grand-son of Louis 
 the 14lh. The inauguration of this prince, as 
 duke of Brabant, took place at Brussels on the 
 21st February 1702. England, the United Pro- 
 vinces, and the Empire, jealous of the increasing 
 power of the french monarchy, entered into a 
 league for the purpose of giving the Spanish 
 monarchy to the Arch-duke of Austria, Charles, 
 brother of the Emperor Joseph the 1st. Led on 
 by the English General Marlborough and by the 
 Prince Eugene de Savoie, their troops gained a 
 victory over the French at Ramillies, and after 
 that possessed themselves of Brabant and of 
 Flanders. Brussels, wherein Marlborough had 
 entered on the 28th May 1706, was besieged in 
 the month of November 1708 by the elector of 
 Bavaria, who had with him some french and 
 Spanish troops ; the approach of the allied army 
 forced him to retire precipitately. The peace 
 of Utrecht, concluded on the 13th July 1713, se- 
 cured to Austria the possession of the catholic 
 Low-Countries. 
 
 The first years of the reign of the Emperor 
 Charles the 6th, were troubled by the opposition 
 which he met with in the different corporations 
 of Brussels on the subject of a vote of subsidies. 
 Discontented with a new regulation which, 
 

— 35 — 
 
 in 1700, had remodelled their organisation, they 
 energetically refused to lake the oath of obser- 
 vance of them, the populace pillaged the houses 
 of some individuals who had been pointed out 
 to them as enemies of the people, and the head 
 of the government, the Marquis de l 3 rie, whose 
 conduct, at once both haughty and undecisive, 
 had been one of the principal causes of the revolt, 
 yielded to their claims on the 25th May 1718. 
 Nevertheless, the public excitement continued 
 to increase, and in the midst of these disorders 
 they sacked the Chancellery, where the Council 
 of Brabant held their sittings. Forced to toler- 
 ate these excesses, because he was powerless to 
 punish them, the Marquis thought only of ven- 
 geance as soon as he was able to concentrate a 
 sufficient body of forces at Brussels. The 
 heads of the municipality who were the most 
 deeply implicated were, in an infamous manner, 
 drawn into a snare, and cast into prison. Four 
 of the number were banished ; sentence of death 
 was pronounced against the fifth, Francois 
 Agneessens, a chair-maker, and syndic of the 
 corporation of Saint-Nicolas, a learned and 
 upright old man, whose only offence was that 
 of having loo zealously defended the privileges, 
 which he looked upon as a birth-right devolving 
 to him, which he was not at liberty to sacrifice. 
 He suffered death with resignation and courage 
 
36 — 
 
 on the 19th September 1719. His memory is 
 still held in veneration by the people, who wit- 
 nessed with a stern despair the punishment of 
 the last of their tribunes. 
 
 To Prie succeeded the archduchess Marie-Elisa- 
 beth, whose administration was sterile in events : 
 only one circumstance of her reign merits no- 
 tice; this was the fire which, in 1731 , destroyed 
 the ancient palace of the Dukes of Brabant. 
 The splendid mansion of Nassau, now the Mu- 
 seum, became then the residence of the Gover- 
 nors-general of the Low-Countries. Marie-Eli- 
 sabeth died on the 26th August 1741, and was 
 succeeded by the duke Charles-Alexandre de 
 Lorraine, and by his consort the Archduchess 
 Marie-Anne, sister of the reigning empress Ma- 
 ria-Theresa. These princes arrived at Brussels 
 on the 26th March 1744, but were soon sepa- 
 rated. Charles de Lorraine departed to lake 
 the command of the Austrian armies, leaving in 
 Belgium his wife, who died on the 16th Decem- 
 ber in child-bed. In the following year the 
 Low-Countries were invaded by the French. 
 Under the command of the Marechal de Saxe 
 they invaded Brussels on the 29th January 1746, 
 and took possession by capitulation on the 23th 
 of the ensuing month. The French remained 
 masters of the country for the space of three 
 years, during which time King Louis the 13th 
 

— 57 — 
 
 paid several visits to Brussels, the most remar- 
 kable of which were those of the 4th May 1746 
 and the 31st May 1747. He took up his abode 
 in the palace of Arenberg. After the peace of 
 Aix-la-Chapelle, Brussels was evacuated by his 
 troops, to the great joy of the inhabitants, 
 whom the conquerors had overloaded with 
 taxes. 
 
 To this period succeeded thirty years of a 
 profound peace; an epoch sterile in events for 
 the historian, but an epoch of prosperity to 
 Belgium. Prince Charles, who proved himself 
 a worthy representative of the Empress at Brus- 
 sels, was adored by all classes ; the love which 
 they bore him displayed itself in a striking 
 manner on the occasion of his illness, in 1766; 
 the day on which he went out from his palace 
 for the first time, was a grand fete to the whole 
 population. In 1769, was celebrated by public 
 rejoicings the jubilee of the 23th year of his 
 government, and the States of Brabant resolved 
 to erect a statue to him, which was placed, on 
 the 1 7th January 1775 on the Place Royale. 
 This Place, as well as the Park and all the 
 buildings which surround it, date from this 
 epoch ; it was erected on the site occupied by 
 the ancient palace with its dependencies. In- 
 dustry and the fine-arts, which during a whole 
 century had been on the decline, again revived 
 
— 38 — 
 
 in some degree, thanks to the encouragements 
 which were bestowed upon them. Towards 
 the year 1780, Brussels contained 10,669 hou- 
 ses and 74,427 inhabitants. The death of Prince 
 Charles, which happened at Tervueren on the 
 4th July 1780, was soon followed by that of 
 Marie-Theresa, on the 29lh November 1780. 
 
 Joseph the 2nd, a short time after his acces- 
 sion to the throne, visited Belgium , which 
 since the death of Albert and Isabella had not 
 been honoured by the presence of its sovereigns. 
 He came to Brussels, on the 2nd June 1781, and 
 remained till the month of July, for the purpose 
 of examining the state of the country, before 
 commencing the innovations, civil and reli- 
 gious, which he had contemplated introducing 
 into the administration. The establishment of 
 liberty of conscience, the suppression of a great 
 number of convents, the abolition of the con- 
 fraternities, of the kermesses , and a number of 
 other similar measures, were successively de- 
 cided; these measures met with but a feeble 
 opposition, but the decrees of the 1st January 
 1787, which, by entirely reconstituting the ad- 
 ministrative order and the judicial organisation, 
 and destroying thereby all the guarantees which 
 the ancient tribunals afforded, excited a feeling 
 of general discontent. The Slates and the coun- 
 cil of Brabant presented remonstrances to the 
 
- 59 - 
 
 Governors-general, and the corporations of 
 Brussels having followed them in the lists, the 
 government annulled these edicts, whilst at the 
 same time the burghers, led on by the advocate 
 Henri Vandernoot, organised themselves in a 
 military manner. Joseph the 2nd, persisting in 
 his projects, refused to ratify the concessions 
 which had been granted by his representatives. 
 Resolved to prosecute his measures in a vigo- 
 rous manner, he sent to Brussels in the month 
 of December, as commandant at arms, the Ge- 
 neral d’ Alton. From that time commenced a 
 constant struggle between the supreme autho- 
 rity on the one side, and the States and the 
 council of Brabant, on the other ; at length, not 
 being able to overcome the resistance of these 
 two bodies, the government determined on dis- 
 solving them, which purpose it effected on the 
 18th June 1789. 
 
 From that moment civil war became inevita- 
 ble. A great number of persons of consideration 
 emigrated ; whilst, at the same time, the prisons 
 were filled with suspected individuals ; an army 
 of malecontents assembled on the frontier, and 
 under the command of Vandermeersch repulsed 
 victoriously, at Turnhout, the general Schrce- 
 derer on the 27th October. The general defec- 
 tion of the provinces was favorable to the suc- 
 cesses of the patriots, and even at Brussels, the 
 
40 — 
 
 Austrians were attacked on the 10th December, 
 and forced on the the 1 2th to quit the city. 
 They withdrew themselves to Luxembourg, 
 which alone had remained faithful to the Em- 
 peror. But the conquerors were shortly dis- 
 united by party divisions : the nobility and the 
 clergy insisted on the maintenance of their pri- 
 vileges; the middle classes demanded the re- 
 form of their institutions. The nation was 
 divided into two factions which, after the names 
 of their chiefs, were denominated the Vander- 
 nootists and the Vonckists. The latter, the 
 least numerous, were designated to the people 
 as anti-religious, and partisans of the ideas of 
 the Emperor. In a popular disturbance which 
 commenced on the 15th i\Iarch 1790, the lives of 
 those of most consideration among them were 
 menaced, and their houses pillaged by the po- 
 pulace. The sovereign congress, delegated by 
 the Stales-General, which had tolerated these 
 excesses, was in possession at that time, of an 
 undisputed authority ; but the incapacity of the 
 men whom they placed at the head of the admin- 
 istration and of the army, alienated from them 
 the good opinion of the public and was produc- 
 tive of continual reverses. It was from these 
 causes that the successes of Marshall Bender, 
 sent into Belgium by the brother of Joseph the 
 second, the Emperor Leopold the second, were 
 
— 41 
 
 easily and rapidly obtained. This General en- 
 tered Brussels without resistance, on the 3d De- 
 cember 1790. 
 
 No sooner was the Austrian domination rees- 
 tablished in Belgium, than it was overlhrowm 
 by the French armies, into whose power the 
 battle of Jemappe delivered the country, where- 
 in Joseph the second had previously dismantled 
 all the fortresses, with the exception of Antwerp 
 and of Luxembourg. On the loth Novem- 
 ber 1792, Dumouriez defeated at Anderlecht 
 the rear-guard of the enemy, and on the fol- 
 lowing day he made his entry into Brussels; 
 but four months were scarcely elapsed when he 
 was defeated in his turn and reduced to the 
 necessity of abandoning his conquest, as the 
 French, who were at first welcomed as libe- 
 rators, had rendered themselves odious to the 
 people by their contempt for the customs of the 
 country and by their spoliations. They quitted 
 Brussels on the 23d March 1793. On the 
 10th April 1794, the Emperor Francis, who had 
 come to Belgium for the purpose of stimulating 
 the ardour of his troops, and to reestablish the 
 union of the general allies, was inaugurated on 
 a magnificent stage, erected on the steps of the 
 Church of St.-Jacques-sur-Caudenberg; imme- 
 diately afterwards he set out for Germany. 
 His departure was immediately followed by the 
 
— 42 — 
 
 battle of Fleurus, wherein the allied troops were 
 entirely defeated by Jourdan, whilst, at the 
 same time, Pichegru was invading Flanders. 
 Hard pressed by the republicans, the allies 
 were a second time driven out of Belgium, 
 which was now destined to follow, during 
 a space of twenty years, the destinies of 
 France. 
 
 The republic, which at the time of the con- 
 quest by Dumouriez, had treated the Belgians 
 rather as allies than as a conquered people, now 
 began to use the rights of victory. It imposed 
 on the privileged classes and on the rich enor- 
 mous taxes; Brussels, in particular, wherein its 
 arms had penetrated on the 10th July, was 
 mulcted in a contribution of five millions; re- 
 quisitions without number, the forced circula- 
 tion of assignats, the maximum, plunged into 
 distress a country heretofore so flourishing. 
 The administration of Belgium was afterwards 
 modelled on that of France ; institutions, laws, 
 priveleges, civil and religious corporations, all 
 were abolished. The municipality of Brussels 
 was reorganised, on the 1st florial, year III of 
 the republic (20th April 1795); corresponding 
 to the ancient divisions, into provinces, mayor- 
 alties, provostships, etc., which was changed, 
 on the 14th fructidor, year III (31st August 
 1793), into departments and cantons. Brussels 
 
— 43 — 
 
 became the principal city of the department of 
 the Dyle and formed of itself a canton. 
 
 The elevation of General Napoleon Bonaparte 
 to the consulate opened both for France and 
 Belgium a new era of calm and of prosperity. 
 Napoleon, equally great in war and in peace, 
 visited Brussels in the year XI (1803), where 
 magnificent fetes were prepared for his recep- 
 tion. He returned a second time in the month 
 of September 1804, immediately after he had 
 been proclaimed Emperor of the French, and 
 made a third visit to the capital of the Low- 
 Countries, in 1810. But the colossal power 
 which he had raised up had too many enemies, 
 either open or secret, to permit it to be of long 
 duration. The disastrous campaign of Russia 
 annihilated his magnificent army; that of 1813, 
 wherein defection neutralised his efforts, con- 
 ducted the allies towards the Rhine, and in a 
 short time France was herself invaded. Brus- 
 sels witnessed the entrance of the Cossacks, on 
 the 1st February 1814. Belgium, thus becom- 
 ing separated from France, was then given as 
 an increase of territory to the United Provinces, 
 which had acknowledged for their hereditary 
 sovereign, prince William of Orange-Nassau. 
 William made his entry into Brussels on the 
 30th August ; he was proclaimed king of the Low- 
 Countries on the 17th May 1815. The battle 
 
— 44 — 
 
 of Waterloo, won, on the 18th June of the same 
 year, by the allied generals, Wellington and 
 Blucher, over Napoleon, who had reseated him- 
 self on the throne of France, consolidated his 
 government, and he was inaugurated at Brussels, 
 on the 21st September following. Under his 
 reign, Brussels was considerably embellished 
 and improved, and industry and commerce 
 increased to an immense extent ; but the mani- 
 fest partiality of the king for his subjects of the 
 northern provinces, whose language he endea- 
 voured forcibly to introduce into the southern 
 provinces, effected between the two principal 
 parts of his dominions a moral scission, which 
 only waited for a favourable moment to mani- 
 fest itself in action. The revolution commenced 
 in Brussels, on the night of the 23th to the 
 26th August 1830, by a partial insurrection. 
 Attacked afterwards by considerable forces, the 
 inhabitants resolutely defended themselves, and 
 after a sanguinary combat which lasted during 
 four days, from the 23d to the 26th September, 
 they forced their assailants to retreat. This 
 victory was followed by a general insurrection 
 which spread over ail Belgium; the Dutch 
 troops, after having been defeated in several 
 combats in the neighbourhood of Antwerp, at 
 length evacuated the whole country, with the 
 exception of the citadel of that city. A provi- 
 
— 45 — 
 
 sional government was established and a na- 
 tional congress convoked, which bestowed on 
 the country a constitution with the most exten- 
 sive liberties, and which invited to the Crown 
 Prince Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg. He made 
 his entry into Brussels, on the 21st July 1851, 
 and was inaugurated king of the Belgians, on 
 the same day, on an ampilheatre placed in front 
 of the Church of Saint-Jacques-sur-Caudenberg. 
 
 Situation. — Climate. — Population. 
 
 The City of Brussels is situated in the centre 
 of a fertile country, partly in the valley of the 
 Senne, and partly on a hill which presents an 
 ampitheatre, and facing the west. It is from 
 50d. 51. 10 m. north latitude and 2d. 2. 0 m. 
 east latitude (meridian of Paris) ; the climate is 
 generally temperate, but rather cold than other- 
 wise, and the temperature variable. The upper 
 part of the town is more salubrious than the 
 lower part, which is frequently covered with 
 mists arising from the Senne. This river, 
 which proceeds from Hainault, and afterwards 
 joins itself to the Rupcl, forms in its course 
 several small islands. It inundates every year 
 the meadows on its banks, and fertilises them 
 to a considerable degree by the slime deposited 
 by its waters. 
 
— 46 - 
 
 The city extends over a superficies of 450 hec- 
 tares; its population, which in the fifteenth 
 century did not exceed 48,000 souls, and which 
 reckoned, in 1785, 74,427, has considerably 
 increased within the last 50 years, after having 
 suffered an enormous diminution during the 
 french domination. It was reduced to 66,297 
 inhabitants in 1800 ; it had increased to 98,279 
 in 1829, and to 115,297 in 1842; the present 
 population of Brussels, including the garrison, 
 strangers, etc., may be estimated at 150,000 
 souls, but to be the better able to appreciate its 
 increase of population, it must be observed that 
 its faubourgs, formerly small villages, are now 
 become as towns, which altogether contain more 
 than 75,000 souls. Brussels is divided into 
 8 sections, and contains 15,500 houses. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF BRUSSELS. 
 
 AND ITS ENVIRONS. 
 
 |Jublic nmlks. — Squares. — Streets. 
 
 One of the finest ornaments of the capital 
 is its line of boulevards, constructed on the 
 site of the fortifications, which date from 
 the years IS57 to 1 S79. This promenade is 
 composed of three and, in some places, of 
 four rows of trees, the most part elms and 
 poplars. Elegant houses and gardens face 
 nearly the whole length of it. At diffe- 
 rent points of View, on the side facing the 
 country, the eye is presented with a num- 
 ber of magnificent prospects. Amidsl the 
 edifices which embellish it, is seen the 
 
— 48 - 
 
 Botanical Garden ; St. John’s Hospital faces 
 it; the Observatory, the palace of the Prince 
 of Orange, the Hospice Pacheco, the Abattoir 
 or Public Slaughter house, and the Custom 
 house. The construction of the boulevards, 
 by virtue of an imperial decree, of the 19th 
 May 1810, commenced in March 1818, and 
 was completely finished in 1840. There 
 are thirteen gates around the town, namely; 
 the gates of the Allee-Verte, Laeken, Co- 
 logne, Schaerbeek, Louvain, Leopold, Na- 
 mur, Charleroy, Hal, Anderlechf, Ninove, 
 Flandre, and of the Canal. There have 
 been also recently established two new 
 gates, between the Porte de Namur and the 
 Porte de Leopold ; as also Porte Louise bet- 
 ween the Porte de Namur and the Porte de 
 Hal. 
 
 Of the old gates, only one remains, viz; 
 the Porte de Hal , which by its massive and 
 imposing appearance, contrasts singularly 
 with the modern buildings that surround it. 
 
 THE ALLEE YERTE. 
 
 The eastern dyke of the canal from Brus- 
 sels to Willebroeck, from the town as far 
 
/ 
 
 — 49 - 
 
 as to the bridge of Laeken, was from time 
 immemorial planted with trees. It was wi- 
 dened in 1704, and is now shaded by four 
 rows of old lime trees. During summer it 
 is a charming walk, and in the afternoon, 
 especially on Sundays, it is crowded with 
 carriages and horsemen. 
 
 THE PARK. 
 
 The Park was planted after the plan of 
 Zinner in 1774. It is nearly of a quadrila- 
 teral figure. There are twelve busts of 
 roman emperors in it. At the foot of the 
 terrace are four statues : one a copy of 
 Apollo, by Janssens; a Venus, by Olivier; 
 Thetis and Leda, by Vanderhaegen, of Ma- 
 lines. Near the Green Basin, are seen Diana 
 and Narcissus, fine statues in white marble, 
 sculptured by Grupello; two groups by Le- 
 jeune, Meleagre attacked by the wild boar, 
 and Meleagre conqueror. Facing the palace 
 of the King is placed St. Marie-Madeleine, 
 a fine production by Jerome Duquesnoy, 
 Charity, by Vervoort, Venus sailing on her 
 shell, etc. On the north side of the Park 
 is the little theatre, where vaudevilles are 
 
 4 
 
— 50 — 
 
 performed, and attached to it is the cafe of 
 Wauxhall. 
 
 A band of military music plays in fine 
 weather, on Sundays a 1 o’clock, in the 
 kiosk, situated in the centre of the park. 
 
 The Park is surrounded by four large 
 streets, — la place des Palais, les rues Du- 
 cale, de la Loi, and Royale. 
 
 Considerable improvements have been 
 recently made in the Park, particularly in 
 those parts of it called the Bas-Fonds, which 
 are two in number, situated on the southern 
 side and facing the King’s Palace. These 
 Bas-Fonds, which, during the revolutionary 
 struggle in 1830, afforded a place of refuge 
 to the Dutch soldiers from the fury of their 
 assailants, were, until within a short period, 
 suffered to run waste, and thereby rende- 
 red impervious to the public. Now, they 
 present a different appearance, the ground 
 having been cleared of the underwood, and 
 of a small portion of the trees, which were 
 too numerous, and the grass trimmed, as 
 well as sloping walks cut out, proceeding 
 from different points and merging to the 
 centre at the bottom. In the upper one, 
 at the eastern extremity and nearest to the 
 
Palace of the Prince of Orange, is a small 
 basin and fountain, on the brink of which, 
 as history records, Peter the Great, in his 
 visit to Belgium in the year 1717, partook 
 of a repcis champetre, in company of the 
 principal notabilities of Brussels ; it is added, 
 that the Emperor in a gay moment in the 
 midst of the festivity, emptied a glass of 
 wine into the basin, as a libation to the 
 nymph of the fountain; and the following 
 inscription, ivhich is now to be seen , cut in 
 the edges of the basin , confirms the fact : 
 
 « Petrus Alexowits, Czar, Magnus Mus- 
 covce Dux, in sidens margini hujiis fontis, 
 aquam illius nobilitavit libato vino, hora post 
 meridiem terlia, die 16 Aprilis, Anni 1717. 
 
 « Peter Alexowits, Czar, Grand Duke of 
 Muscovy, sitting on the margin of this 
 fountain, ennobled its waters by a libation 
 of wine, at the third hour of the afternoon 
 on the 16th April in the year 1717. » 
 
 A curious grotto constructed in shells, 
 and containing a statue of Mary Magdalen 
 in a reclining posture, profoundly engaged 
 in reading, has been very recently placed 
 close to the fountain, which adds much to 
 the effect ; and, on the whole, the romantic 
 
— 52 — 
 
 and charming aspect of these Bas-Fonds , 
 and the pleasant and delightful retreat 
 which they offer to promenaders during 
 the heats of summer, cannot fail to render 
 them peculiarly attractive. 
 
 In the place of the quickset-hedge, which 
 formerly enclosed the Park, there has been 
 recently constructed an elegant iron rail- 
 ing, with a foot pavement annexed at the 
 exterior, which adds much to its beauty 
 and general appearance. 
 
 THE MARKET PLAGE, GALLED THE GRAND’PLACE. 
 
 This ancient forum, this theatre of so 
 many splendid festivals, and of so many 
 terrible dramas, is remarkable for the ar- 
 chitectural buildings which surround it. 
 On one side extends the Town Hall; oppo- 
 site to it is the King’s house, so called, 
 displaying an elegant frontispiece. It has 
 also been the ordinary theatre of tourna- 
 ments and executions. Brilliant festivals 
 were given there by Philippe the Good, and 
 Charles the fifth; which were followed, un- 
 der Philippe the second, by scenes of a 
 different kind. Counts d’Egmont and de 
 
— 53 — 
 
 Horne were executed there on the 5th 
 June 1568, also in 1719, the venerable An- 
 neessens. The attention of the antiqua- 
 rian will be, no doubt, excited, by the 
 view of some curious old houses at the 
 bottom of the square, and at their singular 
 and grotesque facades. 
 
 LA PLAGE DES PALAIS. 
 
 The place des Palais derives its name from 
 the King’s palace and that of the prince of 
 Orange; the former occupies the southern, 
 the latter, the eastern extremity. 
 
 THE PLACE MALE. 
 
 The Place Royale and the buildings sur- 
 rounding it were constructed in 1774, after 
 the plan of Guymard ; the place was for- 
 merly ornamented with a statue of Charles 
 de Lorraine, raised to this good prince by 
 the inhabitants of Brabant, and destroyed 
 in 1794 by the French republicans. Seve- 
 ral sovereigns, and amongst others the King 
 of the Low Countries, William the first, 
 and King Leopold have been inaugurated 
 on it; the first in 1815; the second, the 
 
— u — 
 
 21st July 18S1 . There has been recently 
 erected thereon, in bronze, an equestrian 
 statue of Godefroid de Bouillon, the cele- 
 brated chief of the first crusade, which was 
 solemnly inaugurated on the 15th Au- 
 gust, 1848. 
 
 THE GREAT AHD THE LITTLE SABLON. 
 
 At a short distance from the Place Royale 
 is the Little Sablon, an irregular square, but 
 embellished by the gothic church ofNotre- 
 Dame-des-Victoires, and the magnificent 
 palace of the duke d’Arenberg; which stran- 
 gers are permitted to visit to see the house 
 and the beautiful gallery of pictures. Du- 
 ring the last century the high aristocracy 
 chose this quarter as their residence. There 
 were the mansions of the princes de Bour- 
 nonville, and de la Tour-Taxis, of the mar- 
 quises of Wemmel, des Lalaing, and several 
 other persons of distinction. The front of 
 the spacious mansion of the Count de Me- 
 rode is situated in the Rue aux Laines, a 
 street runningout of the Petit Sablon. The 
 gardens behind the house occupy a great 
 extent of ground. 
 

The Great Sablon, separated only from 
 the little square of the same name by the 
 church of Notre-Dame-des-Vicloires, aiid by 
 a group of houses, is of a great extent. On 
 it is seen the fine fountain erected by lord 
 Bruce, Count of Aylesbury, constructed 
 in 1751, in memory of the happy years 
 which he had spent in Brussels. It is sur- 
 mounted by a statue of Minerva, holding 
 in her hand the bust of Maria Theresa. 
 
 The Square of the Mint is irregular and 
 of a middling size ; surrounded by hand- 
 some buildings, the most prominent of which 
 are, the Theatre Royal, the Exchange, the 
 Mint, and the Cafes des Miiles Colonnes, de 
 Suisse, the Trois Suisses, etc. 
 
 PLAGE OR SQUARE RES MARTYRS. 
 
 The Place des Martyrs, originally named 
 Place St. Michel, afterwards, under the 
 
- 56 — 
 
 French domination, Place de la Blanch is- 
 serie, took its present name in 18S0. It is 
 erected in commemoration of those who fell 
 in the revolution of 18S0, and whose re- 
 mains are there deposited. In the centre is 
 a beautiful sculptured monument recording 
 the event. 
 
 DIFFERENT SQUARES. 
 
 There are also in Brussels four other 
 squares, almost all surrounded by fine build- 
 ings : they are, the old Corn Market; the 
 New Corn Market; the Square of the Grand 
 Hospice; the Square of the Barricades, 
 whereon a statue of the celebrated anato- 
 mist, Yesale, is erected ; the Square of the 
 Fountain, called also Place St. Gery. 
 
 The finest street in Brussels or in all Bel- 
 gium's the rue Royale, which extends from 
 the place or square of the same name, as far 
 as the Place de la Reine, faubourg of Schaer- 
 beek; its length is nearly a quarter of a 
 league. It was begun in 1774 and pro- 
 
- 57 - 
 
 longed in 1822 beyond the gate as far as 
 to the Place de la Reine; this portion of it 
 is distinguished from that in the interior, 
 by the name of Rue Royale exterieure. In 
 the passage called the passage of the Li- 
 brary, facing the park, in the Rue Royale, 
 and communicating with Rue Isabelle by a 
 flight of steps, is placed the statue of the 
 French general Belliard, by Geefs. The 
 streets, Rues Neuve, Marche aux Herbes, de 
 la Madeleine, des Fripiers, and de la Re- 
 gence are remarkable for their beauty, and 
 for the great thoroughfare. The new street 
 recently constructed, called Rue Saint- 
 Jean, requires also to be here mentioned, 
 as it forms a prominent feature in the late 
 splendid improvements in this capital. 
 
 About mid-way in this street is an open- 
 ing affording an extensive panoramic view 
 of the City and adjacent country. It is, at 
 the present moment, in rapid progress to- 
 wards the recent important projected im- 
 provement# on this spot, viz ; a place or 
 square on the summit, which was solemnly 
 inaugurated in the month of September 1850, 
 and below, a new covered market, which 
 advances rapidly. The place or square has 
 
— 158 - 
 
 been named “ Place du Congres /’ and large 
 and elegant houses are being erected on it. 
 
 Public fhtillmtgs. 
 
 THE KING'S PALACE. 
 
 The King’s Palace is built in a very sim- 
 ple style. The front, erected after the plan 
 of Messieurs Henri and Suys, between the 
 years 1827 and 1829, is ornamented wilh 
 a projecting arched portico, of the height of 
 the building, and is supported by six Corin- 
 thian pillars, each being a single block 
 and weighing about thirty six thousand 
 pounds. The site which this portico occu- 
 pies, with the open square behind, was for- 
 merly a street leading from the Heraldic 
 Chamber to the Rue Verte. 
 
 The wings of the palace were erected in 
 the time of Joseph II, and served then as 
 residence to the Austrian minister, and 
 
the commandant of the troops. Napoleon 
 resided in it with Josephine in 1808, and 
 the empress Marie-Louise in 1811. It be- 
 came the royal residence in 1815, and has 
 been embellished and enlarged under the 
 reign of William the first. 
 
 THE PALACE 0! THE PRINCE 0E ORANGE. 
 
 Near the royal residence, is the late 
 habitation of the prince of Orange, begun 
 in 1828 after the plan of M. Vanderstraeten, 
 and decorated internally by M. Suys. It 
 resembles a vast Italian pavilion. Two 
 superb staircases, made of stone, lead to the 
 apartments. Those which were inhabited 
 by the princess and looking into the Park, 
 are almost all wainscoted in Russian mar- 
 ble. To the great regret of all lovers of 
 the arts, the fine paintings are taken 
 down, and removed to the Hague. The 
 furniture of this palace was valued at twenty 
 millions of francs. This charming abode, 
 built at the expense of the country for the 
 prince of Orange, now William the second, 
 king of Holland, was ceded by this prince 
 (o the Belgian government in 1842. 
 
- 60 — 
 
 THE CHAMBERS OE REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 The legislative Chambers, of which the 
 first stone was laid the 24th August 1779, 
 by the prince of Stahremberg, occupies the 
 centre of the rue de la Loi, opposite the 
 king’s palace. During the French domi- 
 nation, the tribunals held their meetings 
 there. Large staircases in red marble lead 
 to the assembly rooms of the two branches 
 of the legislature. In the vestibule are 
 placed two large paintings of the modern 
 Flemish School : viz, an episode of the 
 revolution of 1830, by Wappers, and the 
 battle of Woeringen by de Keyser. The 
 Chamber of the Senate is very plain; the 
 room of the senators is decorated with 
 semi-circular columns, between which are 
 placed the public and reserved galleries. 
 On one side of this building is the resi- 
 dence of the Minister of Finance, built in 
 1779, and of the Minister of Justice ; on the 
 other of the Minister of foreign affairs, of 
 the interior and of war. 
 
 PALAIS DE JUSTICE. 
 
 The Palais de Justice is a vast building, 
 
61 
 
 but not remarkable. It was anciently the 
 Convent of the Jesuits, which was suppres- 
 sed in 1773 by Marie-Therese; it afterwards 
 became a barracks, and at a later period an 
 hospital ; it is now occupied by the Tribu- 
 nals or Courts of Justice. The peristyle, 
 erected in 1823, is a poor imitation of the 
 church of St. Marie-la-Botonde, formerly 
 the temple of Agrippa, at Rome. The go- 
 vernment has placed in it two fine produc- 
 tions of our school painting : the Abdication 
 of Charles the fifth, by Gallait, of Tournay ; 
 and the Compromise of the Nobles, by De 
 Biefve, of Brussels. 
 
 THE TOWN HALL , OR HOTEL DE VILLE. 
 
 Of all the edifices of Brussels, the Town 
 Hall presents the greatest interest in rela- 
 tion to the arts and historical reminiscen- 
 ces. The building, formed of four wings, 
 surrounds a court ornamented with two 
 fountains, executed by Plunder and De 
 Kinder; that of Plunder, placed on the 
 right, is the best of the two. The back 
 part of the Town Hall, destroyed at the 
 time of the bombardment of 1695, was re- 
 
— 62 — 
 
 built, from 1706 to 1708, after the plan and 
 under the direction of the architect Cor- 
 neille Van Nerven. The eastern side was 
 begun in 1401 or 1402 ; also the tower, 
 which appears to have been finished, from 
 1449 to 1484, under the direction of Jean 
 Yandenberghe called Van Ruysbroeck. The 
 first stone of the west wing was placed on 
 the 8th May 1444. The ancient part of the 
 Town Hall belonged to the gothic style. 
 The tower, 118 metres in height, presents a 
 model of lightness; on the top of it is the 
 colossal statue of St. Michel, in gilded brass. 
 This statue was executed by Martin Van 
 Rode in 1484. 
 
 CJ) ur cljes. 
 
 SA1HTS MICHEL AND GDDULE. 
 
 The principal church of Brussels is si- 
 tuated in a picturesque manner on a steep 
 acclivity, anciently called the Mount St. Mi- 
 
— 65 — 
 
 chel. It was formerly a collegiate, foun- 
 ded in the year 1407 by the count of Lou- 
 vain, Lambert the second, in honour of 
 St. Michel and Ste. Gudule. In the nave is 
 a beautiful sculptured pulpit made of oak, 
 wrought by Henry Verbruggen in 1699 for 
 the Jesuits of Louvain. Marie Therese 
 gave it to the church of Ste. Gudule in 1776. 
 It represents Adam and Eve expelled from 
 the terrestrial paradise by an angel, and the 
 tree of life supportiug the Virgin and the 
 Infant Jesus. Against the pillars are 
 twelve colossal statues of the Apostles. 
 The most remarkable are those of the 
 Saints Bartholomew, Paul, Thomas, and 
 Mathias, by Jerome Duquesnoy. The Cha- 
 pel of the Holy Sacrament, on the left of 
 the Choir (wherein a new altar, beautifully 
 sculptured in wood, has been recently 
 placed) was erected in memory of the mira- 
 culous hosts, sacriligeously stolen from the 
 church of St. -Catherine and poniarded, by 
 the Jews in 1S70. 
 
 On the right side of the nave is the new 
 monument erected to the memory of the 
 Canon Triest, executed by order of the go- 
 government, by Eugene Simonis. 
 
- 64 - 
 
 In one of the lateral chapels is to be seen 
 also, the monument erected to the memory 
 of the Count Felix de Merode, who fell in 
 the revolution of 18S0; it is of white mar- 
 ble. To avoid the inelegance of represen- 
 ting him in ordinary modern costume, the 
 sculptor has invested the statue with the 
 national blouse, a dress, when represented 
 in sulpture, not less picturesque than the 
 Roman toga. 
 
 ST. JACQUES SUR CAUDENBERGf. 
 
 The church of St. Jacques-sur-Cauden- 
 berg, of a modern and simple style, formerly 
 served as a chapel to a congregation of friars 
 of the order of St. Augustin, whose prevost 
 was perpetual chaplain of the palace. Go- 
 defroid the first and Henry the second, 
 dukes of Brabant, were the principal bene- 
 factors of the convent. This fine edifice 
 was begun in 1776 and finished in 1788, 
 after the design of Guymard. The interior 
 does not contain any objects of art, except 
 the decorations of the high allar which are 
 by Godecharles ; under the peristyle are the 
 statues of Moses, by Olivier, and of David 
 
— m — 
 
 by Janssens, and five basso relievos by 
 Olivier, representing the Martyrdom of 
 St. Jacques and St. Philippe, Jesus-Christ 
 expelling the traders from the Temple, 
 St. Jean Nepomucene, St. John the Evan- 
 gelist, and St. Peter curing a sick person. 
 
 At the extremity of the rue de laRegence, 
 is seen the church consecrated to Notre- 
 Dame-des-Victoires, and its sacristy, begun 
 in 1846, under the plan of M. De Man. The 
 public opinion attributes the foundation ot 
 this temple to the duke John the first, con- 
 queror at Woeringen, but this is a mistake; 
 it was only in 1804, that the ground occu- 
 pied by the church, was ceded by the hos- 
 pital St. Jean. In this church was for- 
 merly shown a miraculous statue of the 
 Virgin Mary, brought from Antwerp to 
 Brussels in 1848, by a poor woman of the 
 name of Beatrix Soetkens. 
 
 The Sablon is the richest church in Brus- 
 sels in objects of art and statues. In the 
 sacristy are nine gothic pictures attributed 
 to Van Eyck. 
 
66 — 
 
 A handsome monumental tablet, surmoun- 
 ted by his bust, has been recently erected 
 in this church (whither his remains have 
 been transferred) to the memory of the 
 celebrated French Poet, Jean-Baptiste Rous- 
 seau, by order of the Belgian government. 
 On entering the church, it is immediately 
 seen on casting the eye towards the wall to 
 the right. 
 
 SAINTS JEAN AND ETIENNE, OR THE CHURCH OE THE MINIMES. 
 
 At a short distance is the Church of 
 St. Jean and St. Etienne (St. John and 
 St. Stephen), commonly called the Church 
 of the Minimes, a temple which was com- 
 menced in 1700 and finished in 1715. On 
 the right is the chapel of Notre-Dame-de- 
 Lorette, built after the model of the Church 
 of Loretto in Italy. In the choir is seen 
 the martyrdom of Saint Stephen by Del- 
 vaux ; the four Evangelists by Francois, and 
 a Descent from the cross by Gerard. The 
 interior of this Church is built on the model 
 of St. Peter’s at Rome. 
 
- 67 
 
 NOTMAME-DE-LA-CHAEELLE. 
 
 Notre-Dame-de-la-Chapelle an ancient 
 provostship of Benedictines, founded in 1184 
 by Godefroid the first, duke of Lotharingay 
 and cound of Louvain, is a gothic church, 
 the back part of which dates from the 
 twelfth, and the forepart, from the fifteenth 
 century. It suffered a little from the bom- 
 bardment of 1696, and it was then that a 
 picture of Rubens, the Assumption, which 
 adorned the high altar, was replaced by a 
 copy. In the great chapel adjacent to the 
 choir, dedicated to the Holy Sacrament, and 
 built in 1664, is a tomb of the family Spinola, 
 by Plumier, some landscapes by Achter- 
 schelling and Artois, and the monument 
 raised by the counts of Merode and Beauf- 
 fort to the dean Anneessens, who was de- 
 pitated in 1719, for having with too much 
 zeal defended the liberties of the town. An 
 altar piece, sculptured by M. Tambuyser, 
 of Malines, in 1846, surmounts the altar of 
 Ste. Barbe. Near the great portal is found 
 the cenotaph erected in 1828, to the painter 
 Lens, the restorer of painting in Belgium ; 
 
- 68 — 
 
 this is the last work of the sculptor Gode- 
 diaries. 
 
 itm-dame m m mm. 
 
 In old times the chapel of the hospital 
 St. Jacques, is remarkable for the fine dome 
 which crowns it. It was rebuilt, from 1 664 
 to 1694, after the plan of Jean Cortvriend. 
 
 The church of the Riches-Claires, which, 
 at first, was a succursal of a convent of 
 brothers Hyeronimites or brothers of com- 
 mon Life, was founded at Brussels in 1422, 
 and abolished in 1689; and afterwards of 
 a convent of Urbaniste nuns, established 
 in 1845, near the place where the Hal gate 
 was built, which was transferred to the 
 centre of the town in 1588, and abolished 
 in 1788, forms since 1801, a succursal of 
 the parish of Ste. Catherine. 
 
 SAINTE-GATHERINE. 
 
 Ste. Catherine contains a fine Crayer : 
 
- 69 
 
 Ste. Catherine received into heaven ; Christ 
 in the tomb, by Otto Venius ; an Assumption 
 of the Virgin Mary, attributed to Rubens. 
 There are also two mausoleums, sculptured 
 by Godecharles, of two painters, both of 
 whom died in Italy in the prime of life : 
 Delvaux, at Bologne in 1817, and Jacobs, 
 at Milan in 1812. 
 
 This church was begun in 1657. A co- 
 lossal statue of St. Jean-Baptiste, sculptured 
 by M. Puyenbroeck, surmounts the high 
 altar. The burial of Christ, by Otto Ve- 
 nius, and several pictures by Van Loon 
 and Crayer are also to be seen. A priest 
 of the name of Begue, founded at Liege the 
 first community of this order, which rapidly 
 extended itself in Belgium and Germany. 
 The convent of Beguins, in Brussels, was 
 suppressed during the French domination. 
 
 NOTRE-DAME DE FINISTERRE. 
 
 At first a small chapel in an isolated quar- 
 ter ; was reconstructed in 1618: became a 
 
— 70 — 
 
 parish church in 1646, and was rebuilt in 
 a simple and elegant style in 1700. The 
 dome which surmounts its frontispiece, is of 
 the year 1828. The interior presents no- 
 thing remarkable. 
 
 It was formerly ornamented by a very 
 high tower, which served as a belfry. It 
 was damaged by a storm in 1U67 ; burnt by 
 the bombardment of 1698, and sank down 
 in 1714. 
 
 DIFFERENT CHAPELS. 
 
 In the chapel Ste. Anne, rue de la Mon- 
 tagne, is seen on the altar a fine group by 
 Duquesnoy: Ste. Anne and the Virgin Mary. 
 The ancient chapel of Ste. Marie-Made- 
 leine in the rue de la Madeleine, is now 
 become the Church of the Redemptorists. 
 The church of the Augustins served as a 
 chapel for the protestant worship, under 
 the reign of William the first. It is now 
 used for public ceremonies, distributions of 
 prizes, and concerts. 
 

 » 
 
 
 
 

 i 
 
— 71 
 
 PUBLIC HOSPITALS. 
 
 St. Pierre, was established under Joseph 
 the second ; it now contains 400 beds ; per- 
 soons in easy circumstances are received 
 here by paying a certain sum. The hospi- 
 tal St. Jean, especially destined for the poor, 
 labouring under consumption, dropsy, etc., 
 or victims of accidents, was founded at the 
 end of the twelfth century. It has been 
 recently rebuilt on a site facing the Bola- 
 nical Garden. 
 
 ASYLUMS. 
 
 There is a very large establishment of 
 this kind at the rue du Grand Hospice : it 
 contains about 600 aged persoons of both 
 sexes. At the front entrance is an inscrip- 
 tion in latin : E gents Senibus, 18!28. In the 
 interior are several pictures, and amongst 
 others one by Bernard Van Orley, repre- 
 senting the history of the Virgin Mary, a 
 crucifixion by Crayer, a Virgin with the 
 Infant Jesus by Navez, and two more by 
 Hemling. The Hospice Pacheco, founded 
 in 1718, on the site where the new Hospi- 
 
— 72 — 
 
 tal of St. Jean now is, has been newly 
 erected, since the year 1829, on the boule- 
 vard de Waterloo. There are two more 
 houses of refuge, the one of the Ursulines, 
 receiving about 280, and the other of 
 Ste. Gertrude, about 200, old people : for 
 the support of these establishments daily 
 collections are made in the different prin- 
 cipal cabarets. 
 
 There is also at Brussels a foundling; and 
 another for Orphans; a lying-in hospital, 
 attached to the new hospital St. Jean; a 
 military hospital in the rue des Minimes; 
 another in the rue aux Laines, founded by 
 a philanthropic society ; an Institution for 
 the blind and the deaf and dumb, opened 
 on the 28th February 1885, founded by the 
 late Canon Triest, and under the patro- 
 nage of Louis de Gonzague ; there is also a 
 Mont-de-piete, founded by the Archduke 
 Albert and the Infanta Isabelle in 1618, 
 constructed by the architect Wenceslas 
 Coeberger. 
 
— 75 — 
 
 (Establishments kstineb to public 
 instruction. 
 
 The Palace of theUniversity,rue des Sols, 
 was embellished in 1771, under the direc- 
 tion of the architect Dewez. This building 
 was formerly the residence of CardinalGran- 
 velle; afterwards it belonged to the presi- 
 dent Rosse, and Jansenius is said to have 
 composed a part of his works in it. The 
 primary school which is attached to it was 
 partly destroyed by fire, the 12th August 
 
 1m. 
 
 THE MILITARY SCHOOL. 
 
 The ancient buildings of the abbey of 
 Caudenberg, suppressed in 178S, were for 
 a long time occupied by the Athenaeum of 
 Brussels ; they have been used as the mili- 
 tary school, since the accession of king 
 Leopold. In this institution officers for the 
 army, navy, cavalry, artillery and enginery 
 receive their professional education. 
 
— 74 - 
 
 VETERINARY AND AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL. 
 
 Founded in 1822. There are 18 profes- 
 sors attached to it, and it is generally 
 frequented by 100 pupils. It is situated 
 out of the gate of Anderlecht. 
 
 DIFFERENT ESTABLISHMENTS. 
 
 There are in Brussels, the following esta- 
 blishments for public instruction: the Athe- 
 naeum ; the College St. Michel, rue des Ursu- 
 lines, conducted by the Jesuits; the cen- 
 tral School of commerce and industry, out 
 of the gate of Schaerbeek (but now suppres- 
 sed); the royal Academy for the fine arts; 
 the Royal school for engraving, founded in 
 1886 ; and the Royal Conservatory for music. 
 The primary Government School, situated 
 in the Rue des Sols, is an establishment of 
 the first order. 
 
 Brussels contains several Institutions 
 established for the advancement of science 
 and literature. Among these of the first 
 
- n — 
 
 order are ; the royal Academy of science 
 and literature, founded by Marie-Therese 
 in 1769 and restablished in 1816 ; the royal 
 Commission for history ; the royal Academy 
 for Medicine, founded in 1840; the Society 
 for natural philosophy and medicine ; the 
 Committee of public health, etc. 
 
 THE MUSEUM. 
 
 It was built in the middle of the four- 
 teenth century, as the mansion of the rich 
 nobleman William de Duvenvoorde. The 
 collections of the prince Charles of Lorraine 
 form the nucleus of the cabinet of natural 
 philosophy and of natural history. The 
 different classes of birds are very nume- 
 rous, and there is also a fine collection of 
 Russian minerals, presented to the museum 
 by the present Queen of Holland. 
 
 The pictures occupy a vast gallery, which 
 contains about 800 objects of art. The Fle- 
 mish school is represented by the works of 
 almost every master. The collection of an- 
 cient pictures is very considerable : an 
 Adoration of the shepherds, by Hugo Van- 
 dergoes; a dead Christ, surrounded by holy 
 
- 76 - 
 
 persons by Bernard Van Orley, also by the 
 same artist, an Imitation of the Holy Family 
 of Raphael; several pictures by Roger Van- 
 derweyden, John Van Coninxloo, John Pa- 
 tinir; the Adoration of the Magi by John 
 Sclioreel, the Massacre of the Innocents, by 
 Breughel ; Christ at the house of Simon 
 the Pharisian, by Gossart de Maubeuge; a 
 pretty picture of Jacques Mostard, known 
 under the name of Tamis brise; several fine 
 portraits, etc. In the ancient chapel of 
 the Museum is a fine collection of statuary 
 bought by the government of the widow of 
 the sculptor Kessels, who died at Rome 
 some years ago. The modern chapel, be- 
 gun in 1770, is converted into a protestant 
 church. The modern part of the Museum, 
 called the Palace of Industry, was construc- 
 ted in 1829, on the site of the garden of the 
 palace of Nassau. 
 
 The Library was opened in 1887. It 
 contains 200,000 volumes and more than 
 20,000 manuscripts. The section of the 
 manuscripts is generally known under the 
 name of Bibliotheque de Bourgogne. Phi- 
 lippe the Good began the formation of them. 
 Charles le Temeraire followed the example 
 
- 77 
 
 of Philippe, and Marguerite of Austria re- 
 paired the damages caused to the Library 
 by the bad administration of her father, 
 who was always in debt. An inventory, 
 compiled in 1577, mentions as belonging 
 to this depot 1,64-1 volumes, amongst which 
 were 958 manuscripts. Among the trea- 
 sures there amassed, the missal of the king 
 of Hungary, Mathias Corvin, is much admi- 
 red, as well as the psalter of Louis de Male. 
 A series of portraits of the sovereigns of 
 the country adorn the rooms of the Biblio- 
 theque de Bourgogne; some of which are 
 very ancient. 
 
 THE MUSEUM OE ANTIQUITIES. 
 
 The Hal gate, the only ruins which re- 
 main of the fortifications raised in the four- 
 teenth century, was converted, in 1847, into 
 a museum of antiquities. There are to be 
 seen, the cradle of Charles the fifth; the 
 horses on which the Archduke Albert and 
 the Infanta Isabelle made their entry into 
 Brussels, when they were received as sove- 
 reigns of the country ; old baptismal fonts 
 of the church of St. Germain at Tirlemont, 
 
- 78 - 
 
 dating from the year 1149, a lion in stone 
 brought from Bavai, and a numerous selec- 
 tion of armours. 
 
 Was begun in 1827. It occupies an iso- 
 lated piece of ground between the enclosure 
 of the town and the boulevard, in the angle 
 formed by the latter between the gates of 
 Schaerbeek and Louvain. It possesses se- 
 veral astronomical instruments of great 
 value and a fine library. 
 
 THE BOTANICAL GARDEN. 
 
 The garden of the ancient Museum had 
 been transformed, during the French domi- 
 nation, into a botanical garden ; it was trans- 
 ferred, in 1826, to out of and near to the 
 gate of Scliarbeek, occupying a charming 
 position which looks over the valley of the 
 Senne. 
 
 PRIVATE COLLECTIONS. 
 
 Several private gentlemen possess artistic 
 and scientific riches of great value. The 
 
- 79 — 
 
 Duke d’Arenberg’s vast mansion contains a 
 cabinet of pictures, curiosities and sculp- 
 tures. This residence is remarkable by 
 its historical reminiscences. The celebra- 
 ted Count d’Egmont and his descendants 
 resided in it; Louis XV has also occupied it. 
 The Prince de Ligne, Count Cornelissen, 
 Count Coghen, Van Bacelaere, Van den Ber- 
 ghen, are also the possessors of elegant pic- 
 tures. M. Robyns has a curious collection 
 of engravings and insects. We must not 
 pass unnoticed the geographical establish- 
 ment of M. Vandermaelen, which abounds 
 in scientific riches, such as few private in- 
 dividuals possess. 
 
 There are six theatres in Brussels. The 
 Theatre-Royal, place de la Monnaie, was 
 erected in 1817, under the direction of 
 M. Damesme. It cost a million and a half 
 of francs. On the place which the theatre 
 occupies was formerly a convent of Domi- 
 nican friars, founded in 1487 by Isabelle 
 of Portugal, wife of Philippe the Good 
 There are also the Comic-Opera, in the gal- 
 
- 80 — 
 
 lery St. Hubert, opened on the 19th June 
 1847; the Park Theatre, where vaude- 
 villes are performed ; the Theatre des Nou- 
 veautes, faubourg de Laeken, and near the 
 Railway station, built by a private indivi- 
 dual for drama and vaudeville, was opened 
 in June 1844; the theatre of Vaudeville, 
 built in 1848 in the rue de TEveque, was 
 opened the first of February 1848; lastly 
 the Circus, between the rue de la Fiancee 
 and the rue de Laeken. The first represen- 
 tation given in it was on the 19th Septem- 
 ber, 1846. 
 
 Commerce anil 3nimatrg. 
 
 The principal branches of the industry of 
 Brussels are the fabrication of lace, typo- 
 graphy, lithography and bookbinding, ca- 
 binet making, stove making, carriages and 
 saddlery ; also are fabricated, blankets, car- 
 pets, table cloth, cloth spun by machinery, 
 ribands and gold lace, oil cloth, jewellery, 
 musical and surgical instruments, steam 
 
— 81 — 
 
 engines, porcelain, glasses and christals, 
 tobacco, chemical products, candles and 
 soap. There are a great number of brewe- 
 ries and distilleries, sugar refineries and 
 tanneries. The lace trade began to flourish 
 in the sixteenth century. Since 1880, 
 there has been every five or six years in 
 Brussels, an exposition, which displays the 
 slate of the national industry. 
 
 Amongst the societies founded for the 
 promotion of commercial and industrial en- 
 terprises, the Societe Generate, established 
 28th August, 1822; the Bank of Belgium, 
 instituted the 12th February, 1885; the 
 Society of Commerce, and the National So- 
 ciety, hold the first rank. 
 
 RAIL ROADS. 
 
 The national rail roads, were begun in 
 1884 and completely finished in 1844. Out- 
 side of the Leopold gate there is another 
 rail road about to be established, underta- 
 ken by a private society. 
 
 6 
 
— 82 — 
 
 CANALS. 
 
 The canal from Brussels to Willebroeck, 
 which connects the capital with Ruppel, 
 the Scheldt and the sea, was begun in 1550, 
 and opened on the 11th October, 1561. 
 The canal of Charleroy, begun on the 5th 
 April, 1827, was opened for navigation the 
 25th September, 18S2 : it cost about 
 10,500,000 francs. 
 
 STORE HOUSES OR ENTREPOTS. 
 
 A storehouse or entrepot was constructed 
 in 1780, after the plan of Nivois, near the 
 rue de Laeken. This not being large 
 enough, another has been built on the 
 western side of the great basin, the first 
 stoneof which was laid by king Leopold, the 
 5th May, 1 844. The architect is M. Spaack. 
 The Custom-house offices were installed 
 therein on the first of October 1846, and in 
 1847, in its immense halls were exhibited 
 the productions of the national industry. 
 
 POIDS DE LA VILLE OR TOWN WEIGHTS. 
 
 Is situated in the rue des Pierres, oppo- 
 
— 83 — 
 
 site to the rue au Lait. It was built in 
 1 706, by the architect Van Nerven ; a statue 
 of Justice is over the door way. 
 
 THE EXCHANGE, OR BOURSE. 
 
 Is placed between the Mint and the rue 
 de 1’Eveque ; built in 1827. 
 
 The principal ones are as follow ; opposite 
 the Town Hall; in the Great Sablon ; the 
 New Corn Market; the Potato Market; Herb 
 Market ; Tripe Market and Chicken Market ; 
 these markets being very inconvenient, in 
 as much as they greatly impede the cir- 
 culation for foot passengers and carriages, 
 the town has constructed a new closed 
 Market on a magnificent scale, situated in 
 the rue de la Madeleine and abutting into 
 the fine new Street, rue St. Jean, and in the 
 rue Duquesnoy, after the plan and under 
 the direction of the celebrated architect 
 Cluysenaer, which was opened on the 1st No- 
 vember 1848. There are also in Brussels a 
 butter, a fish and a fowl market. 
 
- 84 
 
 different butlimtga. 
 
 THE MINT. 
 
 The Mint, was built in the last century, 
 and partly reconstructed in 1820. 
 
 PRISONS. 
 
 The Amigo , destined to receive indivi- 
 duals who are imprisoned for short periods, 
 is situated behind the Town Hall, and the 
 other, the principal one, is in the rue des 
 Petits-Carmes. A new cellular prison for 
 women has been recently constructed, 
 situated near the prison des Petits-Carmes. 
 It is a fine structure, and is built after the 
 plan and under the direction of the cele- 
 brated architect Dumont, who, in the con- 
 struction of this edifice, has adopted the 
 style Tudor , which is peculiar to England, 
 and which Mr. Dumont has introduced in a 
 most felicitous manner into this country in 
 the building of this prison. 
 
— 85 — 
 
 BARRACKS. 
 
 That of Ste. Elisabeth for the infantry 
 and cavalry; another in the rue de Louvain, 
 also for the cavalry ; in the rue de Rolle- 
 beek, for the infantry ; and for the firemen 
 in the Old Market. 
 
 The royal Society of the Great Harmony, 
 rue de la Madeleine ; and another in the rue 
 Ducale. 
 
 The King’s House, so called, opposite the 
 Town Hall, built from 1515-1525, after the 
 plan given by Antoine Keldermans, archi- 
 tect to Charles the fifth. The front is or- 
 namented with a statue of the virgin Mary, 
 placed in 1625 by the Infante Isabella. It 
 was in one of the apartments of this build- 
 ings, as history reports, that the Count d’Eg- 
 mont passed the night previous to his exe- 
 cution on the 5th of June 1568. 
 
- 86 - 
 
 HOTEL DE RAYESTEIN. 
 
 In the rue de Terarcken are two remar- 
 kable buildings. One is the hotel de Ra- 
 vestein, built about the end of the fifteenth 
 century ; the other, opposite to it, named 
 formerly the Synagogue, was doubtless the 
 place of assembly for the Jews, before 
 their expulsion from Brabant in 1870. 
 
 THE GALLERIES OE SMT-HUBERT. 
 
 Were founded by a private society, in 
 1 845, under the superintendence of the ar- 
 chitects Cluysenaer and Demot, and extend 
 from the Marche-aux-Herbes to the Monta- 
 gne-aux-Herbes-Potageres. King Leopold 
 placed the first stone on the 6th July 18-46, 
 and assisted at its opening on the first of 
 July, 1847. It is divided into three parts, 
 namely : the Kings Gallery, where is the 
 theatre of the opera comic; the Queen’s 
 Gallery, and the Gallery of the Princes. 
 It is a species of arcade, and is truly a 
 magnificent structure; a great ornament to 
 the capital, and cannot fait to excite the 
 
- 87 - 
 
 admiration of strangers visiting Brussels. 
 In the gallery called, « Galer d e la Reine , » 
 on passing through a passag right, 
 
 you entered formerly a vei new 
 
 Market for Flowers, Plant and 
 
 Shrubs. In consequence, or of the 
 
 non-success of this market, 1 ;$ suppressed 
 here, and transferred to the new covered 
 market of the Madelaine; and on its site it is 
 intended to erect a new establishment, to 
 be called, Concert Coffee-rooms. 
 
 THE GAS ESTABLISHMENT. 
 
 It situated near the Laeken gate on the 
 banks of the Senne. 
 
 The Manneken-pis, a small statue of an 
 infant in bronze, after the model of Duques- 
 noy and placed in 1619. This little figure 
 has been several times stolen and recovered. 
 In the corner of the rue des Pierres and the 
 Marche-aux-Charbons, is another singular 
 fountain : it is called the Spitter, it was 
 sculptured by Fisco in 1786. The statue 
 
- 88 — 
 
 of St. Jean Nepomucene, on the bridge of 
 the same name, was executed by De Kinder, 
 by order of the count de Daun, governor- 
 general, in 1725. 
 
 Amongst the celebrated individuals who 
 were born in Brussels, the most renowned 
 are : John the first, duke of Brabant, and 
 poet, died in 1294 ; his sister Marie, queen 
 of France; the grand son of John the first; 
 John the third, who also cultivated poetry 
 and took the name of John of Caudenberg; 
 Mary of Bourgogne, the only daughter and 
 heiress of Charles le Temeraire; she was 
 hojn in 1456, and died in 1482, from a fall 
 she received when hunting near Bruges ; 
 Marguerite of Austra, daughter of Mary and 
 of the emperor Maximilian, patroness of the 
 arts and sciences, was born in 1480, and 
 died in 1580, after having governed the Low 
 Countries in quality of Governess-general ; 
 Charles, Elector of Bavaria, son of the cele- 
 brated Maximilian-Enunanuel, and the un- 
 fortunate rival of Marie-Therese, was born 
 in 1697, and died in 1745 ; Andre deWesele, 
 
- 89 - 
 
 called Vesale, was born in 1514, and died 
 in 1564; he was a celebrated anatomist; 
 John-Baptist Van Helmont, physician and 
 physiologist, died in 1644; Roger Vander- 
 weyden, who was the best pupil of John Van 
 Eyck, died in 1468; Bernard Van Orley,who 
 studied under Raphael, died in 1541; Phi- 
 lippe and Jean-Baptiste de Champagne, and 
 Antoine-FrangoisVandermeulen, were pain- 
 ters of battles; Francois Duquesnoy, a cele- 
 brated sculptor, died in 1642 ; Jerome 
 Duquesnoy, brother to Francois, died in 
 1654; Egide-Lambert Godecharles, died in 
 18B5; Desadeleer and Cardon, were engra- 
 vers; Christyn, a lawyer, genealogist and 
 diplomatist, died in 1690 and several others. 
 
 ”®l)e faubourgs or suburbs. 
 
 GENERALITIES. 
 
 The increased extent which the capital 
 of the kingdom has acquired during the last 
 25 years, has operated in the same propor- 
 
— 90 - 
 
 tion on its immediate environs ; the surplus 
 of its population being spread over the ad- 
 jacent communes, which are separated from 
 it only by a low wall and a narrow dry 
 ditch. The villages which constituted for- 
 merly its precincls, and which combined, 
 contained scarcely from 7 to 8,000 inhabi- 
 tants, have increased in population to an 
 astonishing extent, and may reckon, at the 
 present moment, 68,000 inhabitants, in the 
 following proportions : 
 
 Schaerbeek 6,200 
 
 Saint-Josse-ten-Noode . . 14,860 
 
 Etterbeek 8,000 
 
 Ixelles 14,250 
 
 Saint-Gilles 4,200 
 
 Foret 1,800 
 
 Anderlecht 6,000 
 
 Molenbeek 12,100 
 
 Koekelberg 2,200 
 
 Laeken 4,000 
 
 FAUBOURG OF SCHAERBEEK. 
 
 About twenty years ago, consisted of only 
 two or three houses, surrounded by kitchen 
 
- 91 - 
 
 gardens, cherry orchards and rich meadows. 
 It has now the appearance of a small town, 
 and contains 6,200 habitants. The cen- 
 tre of the village of Schaerbeek offers 
 nothing remarkable , except the parish 
 church, built in the gothic style. The altar 
 piece is ornamented with a St. Servais, by 
 Crayer. In the faubourg de Schaerbeek a 
 beautiful new Church is now building and 
 nearly completed, dedicated to Saint Mary. 
 
 The commune of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode 
 includes the three fine suburbs of Schaer- 
 beek, Louvain and Leopold. About the 
 year 1360, a small church was built, dedi- 
 cated to St. Josse. A little beyond this 
 church is an old building : it was for a 
 long time the property of the dukes of 
 Brabant and Bourgogne ; it then passed to 
 different families and amongst others to 
 that of Ursel. Near the causeway leading 
 to Etterbeek, is the hydraulic machine, 
 constructed in the year 1602, by Sebastien 
 Muller, of Augsbourg, to supply the foun- 
 tains in the Park. 
 
- 92 
 
 THE QUARTIER LEOPOLD. 
 
 The Quartier Leopold, begun in 1 838 at 
 the expense of a society for the enlarging 
 and embellishing of Brussels, outside the 
 boulevard, extending from the Louvain gate 
 to that of Namur, contains many splendid 
 mansions ; there is a magnificent new church 
 in this quarter, dedicated to St. Joseph : 
 M. Suys is the architect. 
 
 1XELLES. 
 
 Formerly a dependence of the parish of 
 Ste. Gudule. About the year 1!£00, an asy- 
 lum was founded in this faubourg, which 
 was then a hamlet, where 25 aged persons 
 are to this day lodged. At the end of the 
 causeway, which is ornamented with the 
 splendid villas of Messieurs Vanderstraeten 
 and Lybart, and at the foot of the hill, 
 stands the ancient village of Ixelles. 
 
 A splendid new church in the rich gothic 
 style, dedicated to St. Boniface, has been 
 constructed in the rue de la Paix in this 
 faubourg. This beautiful edifice is due to 
 the talent of the architect Dumont. 
 
— 93 — 
 
 THE QUARTO LOUISE. 
 
 Is situated outside of the boulevard 
 de Waterloo, and otfers nothing remark- 
 able. 
 
 Was formerly a very important faubourg: 
 the soil is fertile, where a considerable 
 quantity of excellent vegetables are now cul- 
 tivated. Its church, which was destroyed 
 during the troubles of the sixteenth cen- 
 tury, dates from the year 1756; it was res- 
 tored and enlarged in 1828. On the neigh- 
 bouring height, the governor general Count 
 de Monterey had constructed, in 1672, a 
 fort, which was taken down in 1782. 
 
 FORET. 
 
 Is but a very short distance from Saint- 
 Gilles. Large manufactories, near the 
 Senne, occupy the buildings of the ancient 
 abbey of Foret, suppressed in 1796, after 
 having existed during seven centuries. In 
 the church is the tomb of sainte Alene, 
 
- 94 — 
 
 whom, her father Lewold, lord of Dilbeek, 
 irritated because she had embraced the 
 Christian religion, caused to be assassinated 
 about the year 650. 
 
 ANDERLEGHT. 
 
 The village of Anderlecht is one of the 
 most flourishing localities of the province 
 of Brabant. Its church is a fine edifice in 
 the splendid gothic style. Begun in 1-470, 
 by the architect Jean Vandenberghe, it w r as 
 not finished until 1526. The interior is 
 embellished with a great number of pictures 
 and tombs. Amongst the latter, the most 
 splendid are those of Jean de YYalcourt and 
 Arnoul de Bornes, decorating the choir; 
 that of Albert de Dithmar, physician to the 
 dukes of Brabant. Amongst the pictures, 
 is a St. Guidon at prayers, by Crayer ; a 
 beheading of Saint John the Baptist, by 
 Guerchin ; a Madeleine and an Adoration of 
 the Magi, by De Clerck. On the height 
 between Anderlecht and Molenbeek, the 
 French army, commanded by the Marshal 
 de Villeroy, took up its position, and bom- 
 barded the town during the 18lh, 14th and 
 
- 9b 
 
 15th August 1695. Anderlecht is also fa- 
 mous for the excellent butter which it pro- 
 duces. 
 
 We cannot close this article without 
 noticing the Boarding school for young gen- 
 tlemen, kept by Mr. H. Bocquet, and situated 
 in this charming village. The premises are 
 most extensive and appropriate, with large 
 gardens, etc., which, combined with the 
 ample diet, the general care bestowed on 
 the pupils by both Mr. and Madame Bocquet, 
 and the moderate terms, 500 francs (20/.) 
 per annum, are strong claims to recommend 
 it to the notice of the public. 
 
 Molenbeek, situated out of the gate of 
 Flanders, is of all the suburbs that where 
 the greatest industrial activity prevails. 
 Few localities of the country present so 
 many imporlant factories, namely : a work- 
 shop for the construction of machines, a 
 steam mill for grinding flour, tanneries, 
 founderies, weaving establishments, soap 
 and candle manufactories; also manufacto- 
 ries of coaches and delf ware, breweries 
 
and distilleries. Along the quay of the canal 
 of Charleroy extends an immense line of 
 coal warehouses. 
 
 LAEKEN. 
 
 Laeken is a charming little village about 
 a mile from Brussels. It has a church of 
 very ancient date, erected by the sisters of 
 a prince of the name of Hugues, who died 
 in fighting against the Normans. An in- 
 scription and pictures placed in the church 
 represent this event. The choir, erected 
 about the year 1200, is very fine. The 
 archdukes Albert and Isabelle, caused this 
 temple to be restored in 1601, and orna- 
 mented it with a beautiful window placed 
 in the principal front, but which is now 
 hidden by the organ. The church yard, 
 which is a sort of Pere la Chaise , is full of 
 tombs. The most remarkable is that of Ma- 
 dame Malibran, excuted by Geefs. A little 
 further is the cenotaph of general Belliard. 
 The president Count de Neny, the painter 
 Lens, the commandant of Nieuport, the 
 burgomaster of Brussels, Rouppe, are also 
 buried at Laeken. A fine alley, planted in 
 
— 97 - 
 
 1625, by order of the Infante Isabelle, leads 
 to a chapel dedicated to Ste. Anne. 
 
 On a height called Schoonenberg is the 
 royal palace of Laeken, an immense buil- 
 ding constructed with taste, and surmoun- 
 ted by a dome. It was built between 178:2 
 and 1784, under the direction of the archi- 
 tect Montoyer. A magnificent terrace ex- 
 tends towards the south east; bordered on 
 each side by tufted groves, traversed in the 
 middle by a large pond ; it descends to- 
 wards the Senne and the canal of Wille- 
 broek, beyond which is seen the city of Brus- 
 sels, its towers and public w alks. Vast hot 
 houses, a magnificent orangery, the temple 
 of the Sun, that of Minerva, decorate the 
 different parts of this fine garden. It was 
 whilst residing at Laeken that Napoleon 
 determined to invade Russia, a fatal deci- 
 sion, w hich w as the downfall of his colossal 
 power. Leopold has considerably embel- 
 lished this royal residence. 
 
 On the banks of the Senne, two leagues 
 to the north of Brussels, is the little tow n 
 
 7 
 
— 98 — 
 
 of Vilvorde, (4,800 habitants) where is 
 the first station of the nothern line of the 
 Belgian railways. Its principal church is 
 dedicated to the Virgin. The house of cor- 
 rection, built near the river, in 1776, by 
 the architect Dewez. occupies the site of a 
 citadel, which the duke Wenceslas caused 
 to be constructed in 1875, to command the 
 cities of Brussels and Louvain. The castle 
 of Vilvorde, after having during a long pe- 
 riod served as a depot for the archives of 
 the Duchy and as a State prison, lost all its 
 importance towards the end of the last 
 century. Vilvorde was pillaged by the in- 
 habitants of Brussels, in 1489 ; taken by the 
 Spaniards, in 1584; and by the French, in 
 1746. In the neighbourhood of Vilvorde 
 is an old farm called De Dry-Toren, for- 
 merly inhabited by Teniers ; and near the 
 commune of Elewyt, the country house of 
 Steen , where Rubens made frequent vi- 
 sits. 
 
 To the north west of Brussels is the vil- 
 lage of Diegliem ; farther on is Saventhem, 
 in the church of which is a fine painting by 
 Van Dyck : St. Martin tearing his cloak to 
 clothe a poor man, a production of inimi- 
 
- 99 - 
 
 table colouring. At Sleenockerzeel is a char- 
 ming castle surrounded by water : it belong- 
 ed to the celebrated Charles de Lannoy, 
 who received at Pavia the sword of the 
 king of France, Francis the first. 
 
 Further on, towards the north west, is 
 Boort-Meerbeke ; the church contains a Temp- 
 tation of St. Antoine, by Teniers *, at Haeght , 
 there is a station of the rail road, on the 
 section between Malines and Louvain ; and 
 Wespelaer, whose magnificent garden was 
 planned by the architect Henri, for M. Plas- 
 schaert of Louvain. 
 
 Cortenberg. Here are the remains of an 
 ancient monastery founded, about the year 
 1090, by Ste. Colombe. It was at Corten- 
 berg that prince Henry abdicated the throne 
 in favour of John the first surnamed the 
 Victorious; at Everberg, a neighbouring 
 village of Cortenberg, the family of Merode 
 possesses a fine modern country-seat to 
 which is attached an immense park. 
 
 Further on to the south, from the Senne 
 to the Dyle, extends the forest of Soignies. 
 This forest was, during the last century, 
 well kept up. Unfortunately, the Emperor 
 Napoleon ordered a great part of the wood 
 
— 100 — 
 
 be cut down ; and a few years afterwards 
 William the first, gave it over to the So- 
 ciety Generale. Several roads intersect 
 this forest ; amongst others those from Brus- 
 sels to Wavre ; from Brussels to Ysque ; from 
 Brussels to Namur by Genappe, and from 
 Wavre to Tervueren by Groenendael. 
 
 Auderghem , on the road to Wavre and 
 Tervueren, possessed a convent of Domi- 
 nicans, founded by the duchess Aleyde, the 
 mother of John the first ; which is now con- 
 verted into a country seat, situated midway 
 near a large pond. Rouge- Cloilre was for- 
 merly a convent. A little beyond Rouge- 
 Goitre, to the right of the road to Wavre, 
 is the hamlet of Trots- Fontaines, there still 
 exist some remains of a tower which was 
 a favourite haunt of John the third, and in 
 which, at a later period, poachers and ma- 
 rauders were confined. 
 
 At Boilsfort was formerly the ducal hun- 
 ting establishment, of which the first men- 
 tion was made in the time of John the 
 first. In an expedition against the arch- 
 bishop of Cologne, this prince brought his 
 pack of hounds from Boitsforl, and hunted 
 in the domains of his enemy, as if to attest 
 
101 
 
 his success. Charles the fifth was also 
 fond of hunting in this neighbourhood. 
 The hounds and game have now entirely 
 disappeared. 
 
 On the eastern extremity of the forest, 
 are situated Tervueren, Duysbourg, Notre- 
 Dame-au-Bois and Yssche. Tervueren was 
 the favourite residence of our sovereigns. 
 The king of Holland, William the second, 
 to whom the palace at Tervueren belonged, 
 has sold it to the Belgian government. The 
 parish church contains the tombs of the 
 Dukes Antoine, John the fourth and Philippe 
 de St. Pol ; also that of the three sons of 
 the duke John the third, all of whom died 
 before their father. There is every year at 
 Tervueren a horse fair, which is much fre- 
 quented. 
 
 On an eminence beyond Tervueren is 
 Duysbourg, the first residence of the Salian 
 Francs; the Dispargum , from whence Clo- 
 dion set out in 440 to conquer the town of 
 Tournay, where his successors remained 
 nearly seventy years. Juste-Lipse, a cele- 
 brated writer, who died in 1606, was born 
 in the pretty borough of Yssche. 
 
 Following the road from Brussels to la 
 
102 — 
 
 Halpe, we arrive at Grocnendml or Veil 
 vert. Still further on is La Hulpe, a pretly 
 village, where there is a paper mill; the 
 neighbourhood is very picturesque, con- 
 taining many handsome country houses and 
 a pond, which is reckoned the largest in 
 the province of Brabant. 
 
 The village of Waterloo , which the 18th 
 June 1815, has rendered so celebrated, 
 extends along the road from Brussels to 
 Namur to more than a league’s distance. 
 Two centuries ago, there were only a few 
 farms in this village, dependent on the pa- 
 rish of Braine-l’Alleud. In 1690 a church 
 was built, of which the first stone was laid 
 by the Marquis of Castanaga, governor of 
 the Low Countries. Towards the south 
 extends that immense plain, where the ever 
 memorable battle was fought. 
 
 The southern rail road leads from Brus- 
 sels to //«/, Lembecq and Tubise. The prin- 
 cipal industry of Hal consists in the manu- 
 facture of turnery ware ; the Town Hall was 
 built in 1616, and is a fine building. At 
 Lembecq there is an immense distillery bel- 
 onging to M. Claes, and the country seat of 
 the duke d’Ursel. Near Tubise are the quar- 
 
— 105 — 
 
 ries of Quenast, whence a great quantity 
 of stones are extracted for paving. 
 
 The Alsemberg Causeway, which leaves 
 Brussels at the Hal Gate, conducts to the 
 village of Uccles, rich in picturesque sites, 
 and crossed by numerous streams, which 
 put in motion a great number of factories; 
 to Alsemberg where a miraculous statue of 
 the Virgin is venerated in a handsome gothic 
 church, which dates from the 14th centu- 
 ries; to Beersel, whose ancient castle is 
 abandoned to the ravages of time. One of 
 its lords, Henri de Witthem, having, in 
 1-488, espoused the cause of the king Maxi- 
 milian against the Flemings and the revol- 
 ted Brabancons, the Bruxellois, at two diffe- 
 rent times, besieged Beersel : the first time 
 they were obliged to raise the siege, but the 
 second was followed by the taking and ruin 
 of the manor house. Its massy towers and 
 its thick walls were rebuilt some years after- 
 wards. The Arenberg family, to whom it 
 belongs, have, for a long time, ceased to 
 inhabit it. 
 
 At the south west of Brussels is the ba- 
 ronial castle of Gaesbeke, so rich in histori- 
 cal reminiscences, situated on the summit 
 
104 — 
 
 of a hill, and surrounded by an immense 
 park. It now belongs to the Marquis d’Ar- 
 eonati. 
 
 Dilbeek , on the road from Brussels to Ni- 
 nove, contains an old manor house, built in 
 ihe seventh century of the Christian era, in 
 thetimeofLewold, who caused his daughter 
 Ste. Alene to be assassinated, because she 
 had embraced the Christian religion. More 
 to the north, Assche and Merchtem are re- 
 markable for their numerous population. 
 Assche was in the time of the Romans an 
 important locality. It was crossed by a 
 road proceeding from Bavi, by Enghien, 
 and leading towards Batavia. 
 
 At a short distance from Laeken, near 
 the village of Meysse , stands the fine manor 
 house of Bouchout near a pond and sur- 
 rounded by gardens. 
 
 Grimberghe for a long time belonged to 
 the counts of Nassau, princes of Orange; its 
 chateau is now the property of the family of 
 Merode. It contains a numerous collection 
 of portraits. The church is ornamented 
 with a fine tower, and was begun in the 
 year 1700. The pews and the sacristy are 
 well worth seeing. 
 
— 105 
 
 At Strombeke is the castle of Bloementluil, 
 where William the Taciturn resided ; in 
 the church is buried Henry Vandernoot, the 
 principal promoter of the Brabancon revo- 
 lution ; he died in 18^6. 
 
 A great number of picturesque villages 
 situated on the western bank of the canal 
 from Brussels to Willebroeck, transform it 
 into a charming walk, which extends se- 
 veral leagues. Near the aqueduct of the 
 Three Towers, is the castle of Bansbeek, 
 at Neder-Heembeek , and further on, the 
 hamlet of Trots- Fontaines ; afterwards is 
 seen the village of Borght , where an inun- 
 dation caused, in the month June of 18S9, 
 the death of eighty persons ; Ter-Tommen . 
 whose lords were the hereditary governors 
 of Grimberghe, and the beautiful residence 
 of Schiplaeken. Lastly, after having passed 
 Humbeke , we arrive at Capelle-au-Bois , where 
 there is a rail road station on the line from 
 Malines to Ghent. 
 
- 106 — 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 BRITISH MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS. 
 
 Dr. Perkins, Established 1820, 71, rue Ducale. 
 
 Dr. Allaway, F. L. S. Licentiate of the royal College 
 of Physicians of London, etc., rue Botanique, 17. 
 
 Dr. Blackwood, 19, Boulevard du Regent. 
 
 Dr. Coley, Physician, 4, Boulevard du Regent. 
 
 Dr. Parkinson, 15, rue Pepiniere. 
 
 BRITISH CHARITABLE FUND. 
 
 Established in 1815 for the purpose of forwarding 
 to England distressed British subjects, and affording 
 relief to the aged and destitute. The fund is under 
 the patronage of the King of the Belgians, who is an 
 annual donor to the amount of 2,000 fr. The 
 British ambassador is at the head of this charity, 
 and the Rev. M. J. Blacker is one of the Directors. 
 
 THE BELGIAN CURRENCY. 
 
 After travelling in Holland and Prussia, when the 
 stranger enters Belgium, he finds himself in a land of 
 intelligible coins. Some of the Butch money is still in 
 currency, but the greater part of the coins in circulation 
 are of a new mintage, the head of Leopold being on one 
 side, and the value of the piece marked on the other. 
 
— 107 — 
 
 The money reckoning is precisely the same as that of 
 France, i. e. by francs and centimes. The new 
 coins are a gold piece of 25 fr. value, a smaller gold 
 coin of 10 fr. value; silver coins of 5 fr. ; 2 If 2; 2; 
 1 ; 1|2 and 1/4. Copper coins : 10, 5, 2 and 1 cen- 
 time. 
 
 TIIE DECIMAL SYSTEM. 
 
 The Belgians have likewise adopted the French sys- 
 tem of weights and measures, established on a principle 
 much more simple and unerring than that in use in 
 England — the former is of universal application, the 
 latter can never be any thing but local. The French 
 unity of length and weight is based on an invariable 
 dimension of the terrestrial globe, which is admitted 
 in all countries. It is independent of all extrinsic no- 
 tions, such as gravity and the arbitrary subdivisions of 
 duration, an advantage which the length of a second’s 
 pendulum certainly does not present. The admea- 
 surement, then, of a fourth of the earth’s meridian — an 
 ideal circle going round the globe from pole at right 
 angles with the equator— constitutes the basis of the 
 French system. The length of this fourth of the meri- 
 dian is divided into 1 0,000,000 parts ; a single ten-mil- 
 lionth part is the metre, or the unity of long measure. 
 (A metre is equal to 39 English inches.) 
 
 A square, measuring on each side 10 metres forms 
 the are , or the unity of the mensuration of surface. 
 (160 ares are equal to one British acre.) 
 
 A cube, measuring on each of its sides one metre, 
 constitutes the stdre : used for dry measure. 
 
 A cube, measuring on each of its sides the tenth part 
 of a metre, is the unity of volume. A vessel, gauging 
 
— 108 — 
 
 such a cube, is the unity of liquid measure, and is 
 called the litre. (A litre is equal to about a pint 
 and three quarters, or nearly a quart, English mea- 
 sure.) 
 
 The weight of a cube of water, measuring on each 
 of its sides the 100th part of a metre, is the unity of 
 weight, and is called the gramme. A thousand grammes 
 of pure water at its greatest density (about 40 de- 
 grees of Fahrenheit’s thermometer), are of course equi- 
 valent to the litre. (A thousand grammes [a killo- 
 gramme] weigh about 2 1/2 lbs. British.) 
 
 These unities being often too great or too small for 
 common use, they constitute the basis of new unities 
 on the simple decimal principle. The names of these 
 new unities are formed from Greek and Latin words. 
 If to express multiplication of the original unity, Greek 
 is used ; if to express division of the original unity, Latin, 
 or words slightly modified from the Latin, is used. The 
 Greek words are deca , for ten, hecto a hundacd, kilo a 
 thousand, and myria ten thousand. The Latin words 
 are deci, for ten, cente a hundred, and milli a thousand . 
 These various words are placed before, or prefixed to, 
 the principal unity. Thus, the decametre is equal to 
 ten metres, and the decimetre is the tenth part of a 
 metre; the hectolitre is equal to 100 litres, and the 
 centelitre is the hundrelh part of a litre; the killo- 
 gramme is equal to a thousand grammes, and the mil- 
 ligramme is the thousandth part of a gramme. 
 
 The connection between these weights and measures 
 will now be clearly seen. The ave is the square deca- 
 metre; the litre is the cubic decimetre; and the killo- 
 gramme is the weight of a litre of pure water at its 
 maximum density. 
 
109 — 
 
 The currency of Ihe country being assimilated by 
 decimal reckoning to the weights and measures, it 
 may be safely averred that the whole world cannot 
 produce a more simple and immutable plan of calcu- 
 lation than that now in use in France or Belgium. 
 
 PASSPORT. 
 
 The office for Strangers arriving at Brussels to ex- 
 hibit their passport, is at the Hotel de Yille (Town 
 Hall). 
 
 The office is open every day from 10 to 4, and on 
 Sundays and Festivals from 10 to 12. 
 
 FOREIGN LEGATIONS. 
 
 Austria, 9, rue Belliard, Ouartier-Ldopold ; Brazils, 
 36, Chaussee de Schaerbeek; Denmark, 5 bis, rue 
 Verte; France, 29, rue Royale-Neuve; Great Britain, 
 7, rue Belliard, Quartier Leopold ; Holland, rue du 
 Commeice, Quartier-Leopold , corner of the rue 
 Belliard; Portugal, 18, rue du Cerf; Prussia, 39, rue 
 des Petits Carmes ; Spain, 42, rue de Namur; Sweden 
 and Norway, 3 bis, rue Verte. 
 
 PRINCIPAL BANKERS. 
 
 Adam, 29, Montagne-aux-Herbes-Potageres. 
 
 Benoit, 8, Ouai-aux-Pierre de Tailles. 
 
 Benoit-Spitaels, 14, rue du Chene. 
 
 Bisshofsheim, 22, rue des Cendres. 
 
 Brugman and Son, 9, rue d’Arenberg. 
 
 Cassel and C°, 5, rue Leopold. 
 
 Defosse and Woeste, 48, Montagne-aux-IIerbes-Pola- 
 geres. 
 
 Demot-Legrand and Co, rue des Hirondelles. 
 
 Leemans, 84, Fosse-aux Loops. 
 
— 110 
 
 Matthieu and Son, 1, Place de la Chancellerie. 
 Oppenheim, (Joseph), 36, rue Fosse-aux-Loups. 
 Oppenheim, 126, Longue-rue-Neuve. 
 Reghem-Couteaux, 6, rue du Boulet. 
 
 Richtenberger, Representative of the Firm of Rotschild 
 and C°, 33, rue de l’Eveque. 
 
 Riltweger, Jun. 23, rue du Commerce. 
 
 Salter, (English), 36, rue de la Pepiniere. 
 
 Thibergien and C°, 11, rue des Longs-Chariots. 
 Trumperand Marlins, 4, rue du Parchemin. 
 
 Van Humbeeck, 12-14, Rempart des Moines. 
 
 Waest, 17, Boulevard du Regent. 
 
 Weston, 6, rue Ducale. 
 
 ENGLISH BANK. 
 
 P. A. Reynolds and C°, 77, Montagne de la Cour. 
 
 MONEY CHANGERS. 
 
 Baretta and Belpaire, 16, rue des Fripiers. 
 
 Laplace, 71, Montagne de la Cour. 
 
 De Porres, 48, corner of the rue des Fripiers and the 
 rue de l’Eveque. 
 
 Messel, 56, rue de la Madeleine. 
 
 Messel (S.), 45, rue des Fripiers. 
 
 Piet Barbier, 43, Marche-aux Herbes. 
 
 Van Wambeke, 68, rue de la Madelaine. 
 
 Vogel, 40, rue de l’Eveque. 
 
 Yales, 80, Montagne de la Cour. 
 
 PUBLIC BATHS. 
 
 The establishments of this kind are situated as 
 follow : 
 
 1. Monlagne-aux-Herbes-Polageres, 31. 
 
 2. Place St. Gery, in the lower lown, 2, 
 
— Ill 
 
 o. Bains Leopold, rue des Trois Tetes, Montagne de 
 la Corn*. 
 
 4. Bains de la Porte de Namur. 
 
 restaurateurs. (Houses which furnish and send out 
 Dinners.) 
 
 Bourre, 22, rue de la Madelaine. 
 
 Dubost, 69, rue Fosses-aux-Loups. 
 
 Dubost ,iun. 22, rue de la Putterie. 
 
 Trois Freres Provencaux, 17, Longue rue de PEcuyer. 
 Vue du Grand Theatre, rue Leopold. 
 
 Double Pot, 62, Montagne de la Cour (for plain din- 
 ners at moderate charges). 
 
 COFFEE HOUSES. 
 
 Cafe des Milles Colonnes, 
 
 » Suisse, 
 
 » de la Monnaie, 
 
 » des Trois Suisse, rue des Princes. 
 » Royal, Place des Palais. 
 
 Cafe des Arts. 
 
 » de la Renaissance, 
 
 » de l’Univers, 
 
 » du Yaux-Hall, in the Park. 
 
 » Foy 
 
 » de la Renaissance, 
 
 » des Arts, 
 
 « des Boulevards, Place des Nations. 
 
 HOTELS. 
 
 Belle- Fue (de) Place Royale. 
 
 Belier (du), Marche aux Poulets. 
 Bordeaux (de), 9, rue du Midi. 
 Brabant (de), oO, Marche au Charbon. 
 
— 112 — 
 
 Campine (de la), 17, Marche aux Poulets. 
 
 Canal de Louvain , 11, Vieux-Marche-aux-Peaux. 
 Chasseur Chasteler (du), 27, Petite rue des Bouchers. 
 Commerce (du), 2, rue de l’Escalier. 
 
 Cour de Cologne, 15, rue de la Fourche. 
 
 Cour de Vienne , 24, rue de la Fourche. 
 
 Couronne d’Espagne, 12, Yieille -Halle au-Ble. 
 Dunkerque ( ville de ), 4, Marche-aux-PouIets. 
 
 Europe (de F), 1 and 2, Place Royale. 
 
 Empereur (de F), 14, rue de l’Escalier. 
 
 Elandre (de), Place-Royale. 
 
 France (de), 6, Montagne du Parc. 
 
 Grand-Cafe (du), 24, rue des Eperonniers. 
 Grande-Bretagne , 94, Montagne de la Cour. 
 Grand-Miroir (du), 28, rue de la Montagne. 
 Groenendael (de), rue de la Putierie. 
 
 Hollande (d’), 61, rue de la Putterie. 
 
 Imperial et des Etrangers Reunis , 44, rue des Fri- 
 piers. 
 
 Londres (de), Boulevard du Regent. 
 
 Luxembourg (de), 15, rue de l’Escalier. 
 
 Midi (du), near the Station du Midi. 
 
 Monnaie (de la), 4, rue Fosse aux-Loups, 
 
 Morian (du), 15, rue d’Or. 
 
 Nord (du), 22, rue de la Montagne. 
 
 Paix (de la), 7, Impasse de la Violetle. 
 
 Poste (de la), rue Fosse-aux-Loups. 
 
 Princes (des), rue Fosse aux-Loups, corner of the 
 Longue rue Neuve. 
 
 Regence (de la), 2, rue de la Regence. 
 
 Rhin (du), Longue rue Neuve. 
 
 Royal, 17, rue des Fripiers. 
 
 Saxe (de) Longue rue Neuve. 
 
— 113 — 
 
 Sudde (de), 35, rue de PEveque. 
 
 Tirlemont (de), 3, Petite rue de l’Ecuyer. 
 
 Univers (de P) Longue rue Neuve. 
 
 THEATRES. 
 
 THEATRE ROYAL, PLACE DE LA MONNAIE. 
 
 Is open during the theatrical year, every day of the 
 week (except Saturday). The performances consist of 
 Grand Opera, Comedy, Drama, etc. 
 
 PRICES OF ADMISSION. 
 
 Balcons, Stalles et premieres Ioges 4 00 
 
 Galeries et avant scene du rez-de-chauss6e. . 5 00 
 
 Secondes, rez-de-chaussee, and Parquets. . . 2 50 
 
 Troisiemes 1 50 
 
 Quatriemes 1 25 
 
 Parterre 1 00 
 
 Paradis » 50 
 
 THEATRE DU PARC. 
 
 PRICES OF ADMISSION. 
 
 Premieres et Parquet 5 50 
 
 Secondes 2 50 
 
 Troisiemes and Parterre 1 00 
 
 Paradis » 50 
 
 THEATRE DES GALERIES St.-HUBERT. 
 
 The Performances are the comic Opera, Comedy and Vau- 
 deville. 
 
 PRICES OF ADMISSION. 
 
 Premieres stalles d’Orchestre et secondes d’avant- 
 scenes 4 00 
 
 8 
 
— 114 — 
 
 Stalles de premieres 3 50 
 
 Secondes 2 00 
 
 Troisiemes. 1 50 
 
 Amphitheatre des troisiemes 1 30 
 
 Parquet. 2 00 
 
 Parterre 1 00 
 
 Paradis » 00 
 
 Children under 8 years of age pay only half price. 
 
 THEATRE DES NOUVEAUTES. 
 
 Outside of the Porte de Cologne and near the Rail- 
 way, Station du Nord. 
 
 The performances are Dramas and Vaudevilles. 
 
 PRICES OF ADMISSION. 
 
 Premieres de face 4 00 
 
 Premieres de cdte 3 50 
 
 Stalles, Loges d’avant-scene 3 00 
 
 Secondes de face. 5 00 
 
 Secondes de cote 2 00 
 
 Troisiemes 1 25 
 
 Baignoires. 1 50 
 
 Parterre. 1 00 
 
 Paradis » GO 
 
 THEATRE NATIONALE DU CIRQUE. 
 
 PRICES OF ADMISSION. 
 
 Premieres, avant- scenes de premieres, and Bai- 
 
 gnoires ..... 2 50 
 
 Stalles et Balcons 2 25 
 
 Parquet 2 00 
 
Pourtour, Galerie de premiere, and avant- 
 
 scene du second . 1 70 
 
 Parterre, Galerie de seconde, Loge de troi- 
 sieme, and avant scene de troisieme. . . » 75 
 Galerie de troisieme, and Amphitheatre . . » 40 
 
 CAFE VAUDEVILLE (RUE DE L’EV^QUE). 
 
 PRICES OF ADMISSION. 
 
 Premieres et Secondes Loges, Stalles des pre- 
 mieres, Baignoires and loges d’avant-scene. 2 50 
 
 Parquet and premieres Galeries. . . . . 2 00 
 
 Secondes Galeries I 55 
 
 Troisiemes Galeries » 75 
 
 Parterre 1 00 
 
 Paradis * 50 
 
 RELAYS OF POST HORSES. 
 
 Are to be obtained of Mr. Lefevre rue des Croisades, 
 Station du Nord. 
 
 Carriages and Horses to be had on hire from the 
 following : 
 
 Breyne, 17, rue des Moineaux. 
 
 Bergenhuys, 4 bis, rue de Ligne. 
 
 Busterback, 18, rue de l’Abricot. 
 
 Caupin, 80, rempart des Moines. 
 
 Claessens Fierens, 15, Place St.-Gery. 
 
 Dutois, 24, rue de l’Hopital. 
 
 Elearts, 15, rue du Nord. 
 
 Haenen, 1 1 , Place St.-Gery. 
 
 Mathy, rue Notre-Dame-aux-Neiges. 
 
— 116 — 
 
 Montoisy, 56, rue du Nord. 
 
 Nahon, 2, Impasse des Pierres. 
 
 Potems, 6, rue St. -Pierre. 
 
 Renotte. 64, rue Haute. 
 
 Timmerman, 17, rue Caudenberg. 
 
 Urlaub, 2, petite rue du Nord. 
 
 Vandenberghe, 7, courte rue des Longs-Chariots. 
 Yandoren, 20, rue Terre-Neuve. 
 
 Yelter, at the Hotel of the Cour de France, 23, rue 
 des Pierres. 
 
 The Diligence for Waterloo leaves every day from 
 the Hotel de la Couronne d’Espagne, vieille Marche 
 au Ble. 
 
 TARIFF. 
 
 For the hire of Coaelies on the various Stands in 
 Brussels. 
 
 FROM 7 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 9 IN THE 
 EVENING. 
 
 For a single drive within the city .... 1 50 
 
 For one hour 2 00 
 
 Every hour beyond the first 1 50 
 
 FROM 9 IN THE EVENING UNTIL MIDNIGHT. 
 
 Single drive within the city 2 00 
 
 One hour 2 25 
 
 Every hour beyond the first 2 00 
 
 FROM MIDNIGHT TO 7 IN THE MORNING. 
 
 Single drive within the city 3 00 
 
 One hour 4 00 
 
 Every hour beyond the first 3 00 
 
— 117 — 
 
 FROM 8 IN THE MORNING TO 9 IN THE 
 EVENING. 
 
 For a drive in the Allee-Verte, per hour. . . 5 00 
 
 » » to the Botanical Garden. ... 1 75 
 
 » » to either of the above places, re- 
 
 » maining there half an hour and retur- 
 ning 2 50 
 
 v> a drive to the Bridge of Laeken. . . 2 50 
 
 For the same, remaining there half an hour 
 
 and returning 3 25 
 
 » a drive to the church of Laeken. . . 2 75 
 
 » the same, remaing there half an hour 
 
 and returning 5 50 
 
 » a drive to the Palace of Laeken. . . . 3 50 
 
 » the same, remaining there half au hour and 
 
 returning 4 25 
 
 If the Coachman take the new Road he must himself 
 pay the Toll at the Barrier. 
 
 For a ride to the great Cemetery of St.-Gu- 
 
 dule. . , 2 75 
 
 » the same, remaining half an hour and 
 
 returning 5 50 
 
 For a ride through the Louvain gate, return- 
 ing by that of Namur along the Elter- 
 beck road, and vice-versd. ... 2 75 
 
 For the same, staying half an hour on the 
 
 road 3 50 
 
 For a ride to the Workhouse at the Cambre, 
 
 including the toll Barrier 3 50 
 
 For the same, remaining half an hour and 
 
 returning, toll included 4 25 
 
 For a ride to the Cemetery of St. -Giles. . . 2 50 
 
— 118 — 
 
 » the same, remaining half an hour and 
 
 returning 3 25 
 
 For a ride to the Cemetery of St.-Catherine. 2 50 
 
 » the same, remaining half an hour and 
 
 returning 3 25 
 
 For a ride to the Barrier at Ixelles or Cure- 
 
 ghem 2 75 
 
 » the same, remaing at either half an 
 
 hour and returning 3 50 
 
 For a ride to the Barrier of St. -Giles, Dil- 
 
 beck, or Koeckelbergh 2 50 
 
 » the same, remaining at either half an 
 
 hour and returning 3 25 
 
 For a drive to the Barrier of Molenbeck or 
 
 Schaerbeck 2 25 
 
 » the same, remaining at either half an 
 
 hour and returning 3 00 
 
 Persons wishing to retain a Coach beyond the half 
 hour at any of the places herein specified, must 
 pay extra at the rate charged per hour within the 
 town. 
 
 N. B. The above Tariff is estimated after the rate 
 of 2 Horses to a Coach, but by taking a Coach with 
 but one Horse, there is a reduction of about one 
 third to nearly one half from these Prices. 
 
 Whenever the Coach is taken by the hour, it must 
 be observed that after the hour is commenced until 
 the half hour, only half an hour can be demanded, 
 but past the half hour the hour must be paid in full. 
 
 With respect to fares further from the interior of 
 the city or the places already named, as well as to 
 the hours not comprised in the foregoing regulations 
 
— 119 — 
 
 for various distances, it is advisable for the party 
 hiring a Coach to agree with the owner or driver 
 beforehand. 
 
 An Omnibus sets out from Laeken to Brussels at 
 8 and returns at 10 o’clock every morning. This 
 correspondence is continued at stated hours during 
 the whole day. The office where the exact hours 
 and fares may be known, is at n° 7, vieille rue au 
 Beurre, opposite St.-Nicolas’Church, from whence the 
 vehicle starts. There is also an Omnibus for the 
 village of Anderlecht, which starts from the Cour de 
 France, rue des Pierres every morning at 1/2 past 11, 
 and at 4 in the afternoon, and returns thence at 2 and 
 at 6 o’clock in the evening. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Introduction and Preface .... Pages i 
 
 General Observations v 
 
 Miscellaneous Information vi 
 
 British Medical Practitioners 10G 
 
 British Charitable Fund . 106 
 
 Succinct History of the City of Brussels . . 1 
 
 Situation. — Climate. — Population. ... 45 
 
 Description of Brussels and its Environs. — 
 Public Walks Squares. — Streets. — Boule- 
 vards. — Allee-Verte. — Park. — Grand’- 
 Place. — Place des Palais. — Place Royale. 
 
 — Great and Little Sablon. — Place or Square 
 of the Mint. — Place or Square des Martyrs. 
 
 — Different Squares. — Streets 47 
 
 Public Buildings. — The King’s Palace. — Pa- 
 lace of the Prince of Orange. — Chamber of 
 Representatives. — Palais de Justice. — Town 
 Hall or Hotel-de-Ville 57 
 
 Churches. — Saints Michel and Gudule. — Saint 
 Jacques sur Caudenberg. — Notre Dame des 
 Yictoires. — Saints John and Etienne or the 
 
Church of the Minimes. — Notre Dame de la 
 Chapelle. — Notre Dame de Bon Secours. — 
 Riches Claires or Notre Dame des SeptDouleurs. 
 — Sainte Catherine. — Saint Jean Baptiste au 
 Beguinage. — Notre Dame de Finisterrse. — 
 Saint-Nicolas. — (New Churches in the Fau- 
 bourgs) ; St. -Boniface, St. -Joseph, Ste-Marie. 
 
 — Different Chapels 
 
 Charitable Institutions. — Hospitals. — Asy- 
 lums 
 
 Establishments destined to Public Instruction. 
 — Palace of the University. — Military School. 
 — Veterinary and Agricultural School. . . 
 
 Different Establishments. — Literary and 
 Scientific Institutions, etc. — The Museum. 
 — The Museum of Antiquities. — Observa- 
 tory. — The Botanical Garden. — Private 
 
 Collections. — Theatres 
 
 Commerce and Industry. — Commercial Societies. 
 — Rail-roads. — Canals. — Store-Houses or 
 Entrepots. — Poids de la Ville or Town 
 Weights. — The Exchange or Bourse. — Mar- 
 kets 
 
 Different Buildings. — The Mint. — Prisons. 
 — Barracks. — Concert Rooms. — The 
 King’s House. — Hotel de Ravestein. — Galle- 
 ries of Saint Hubert. — Gas Establishment. — 
 Fountains and different Statues. — Celebrated 
 
 Persons born in Brussels 
 
 The Faubourgs or Suburbs. — Generalities. — 
 Faubourg of Schaerbeek. — Faubourg of Lou- 
 vain or Saint Josse-ten-Noode. — Ouartier 
 Leopold. — Ixelles. — Ouartier Louise. — 
 
— 125 
 
 Saint Gilles. — Foret. — Anderlecht; Boar- 
 ding School. — Molenbeek. — Laeken. . . 87 
 
 Environs of Brussels 96 
 
 Appendix. — Passport. — Foreign Legations. 
 Principal Bankers. — English Bank. — Money 
 Changers. — Public Baths. — Restaurateurs. 
 
 — Coffee Houses. — Hotels. — Theatres. . .105 
 
 Relavs of Post Horses and Diligence for Wa- 
 terloo. — Carriages and Horses on hire. — 
 Tariff for the Hire of Coaches on the various 
 Stands in Brussels. — Omnibus to Laeken and 
 Anderlecht 112 
 
 THE END 
 
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