iron stoves, which project into the room, and a long irou pipe goes up the chimney; after a company has been some time in a room thus heated, and the door closed, it becomes quite suffocating and unwholesome.

The Theatre in the Place de La Monnaie, was built in 1700, and is one of the most ancient edifices of the kind in Europe, which has never experienced an accident; the interior is well laid out, the whole exhibits a pleasing ef– fect. It cannot boast of its actors; it is supplied principally from the French theatres, and except when any actors of eminence are here from Paris, the performances go off heavily. The best plays are generally selected for the Sunday evenings, and on those nights the theatre is fullest of company.

Comparing the present state of Brussels with what it was previously to the battle of Waterloo, when under French dominion, the advantages which it has derived from a connection with Britain, will very forcibly appear.

Previously to the period of the French revolution, the English character on the Continent was held in the highest estimation; with real concern I notice, that so many instances of injustice have occurred, within the last twelve months, in the Netherlands, as to have brought a stigma on the British nation. I am willing to hope, that necessity, arising from extensive national calamity, may have been the fundamental cause, in most instances, of this complaint, for Britains are educated in, and possess high principles of honour and justice; with the return of prosperity, the cause will be done away and the effect will, no doubt cease; for although heavy clouds have rolled through the political hemisphere of Britain, I trust there is a brightness

above the storm which will yet disperse them, and once more elevate our beloved country to its former pre-eminence. I must observe also, that it is not equitable to estimate national character by the few instances of delinquency; amongst the residents in the Netherlands soire considerable amount of virtue and of worth will be found.

Brussels appears to have been formerly subject to pestitential diseases to an alarming extent, from which they are now free, particularly in 1489-1529-1578--1587-1666--and lastly in 1741--it has also experienced some few shocks of earthquake in 1504--1549-1692-1760 and 1762.

This letter is long, but the variety it offers I trust will have preserved it from being tedious.

LETTER XIX.

BRUSSELS.

THE earliest records describe Belgium as possessing extraordinary fertility. Pliny mentions the excellence of its fruits, and Guicciardini in 1582, describes very fully the abundance of vegetables and grain which it then produced.

Previous to the year 1500, it supplied England with considerable quantities of vegetables, and since that period the gardens and pleasure grounds of Britain have received great additions from the Low Countries. Wall-flowers, Carnations, and the Provence Rose, were brought from thence to Norwich in 156, and sallads, cabbages, and

gooseberries, at a much earlier period, it is supposed about 150g. Britain learnt her first Agricultural lessons from Belgium.

Cherry trees were brought in 1540 from Flanders, and planted in Kent with such success, that an orchard of 32 acres produced in one year 100l.

The monks were among the earliest cultivators of Flanders. The several princes who have in succession governed that country, have been uniformly found to afford most liberal encouragements to agriculture, considering it as the original source of national wealth. When the vast forests of Belgium were converted into fruitful plains, the possessors enjoying the advantages of a free constitution, and the undisturbed possession of what they had acquired, were stimulated to great exertions, and the fertility of the country became proverbial. No extent of territory withiu the same degrees of latitude, can be found to possess more natural advantages than the United Netherlands. A rich soil, a mild climate, for the most part, an extensive industrious and opulent population, equitable laws, great cities, numerous villages, etc. are important advantages; when to these are added the good roads, the majestic rivers which intersect or bound these countries, and the extended line of sea coast which they possess, we trace the causes of their great prosperity.

The vine was once cultivated in Flanders and Brabant," but never with any great success. Amidst the numerous wars which have destroyed the towns, ruined the commerce, destroyed the manufactories, and greatly lessened the inhabitants of the cities, agriculture has flourished, and the population has increased in the villages.

Agriculture was carried, in the 15th century, to much greater perfection in the Low Countries, than in any other part of Europe; each successive year the fields were loaded with grain. The lands were, and still continue to be, divided into small farms, seldom exceeding fifty acres; except in Brabant, about Wallon, where they are leased out in farms of several hundred acres. The States of Hainault made a law to prevent more than one hundred and fifty acres being let in any single farm. And if a bold peasantry, their country's pride," or, in other words, if an increasing, healthy, happy population, be considered, as it surely must be, one of the most valuable sources of national wealth, it will be most promoted, where the lands are divided into farms of such an extent, that the proprietor or farmer can manage the whole, without that anxiety and cupidity which ever accompanies extensive concerns. is an object deserving of serious enquiry, how far that system which has of late years prevailed in Great Britain, of leasing out lands in large farms may not have very considerably increased the distresses under which she has long laboured, which is daily forcing her population to seek in other countries those means of subsistence they strive for in vain, in their native land.

It

Flanders exhibits the happy effects of human industry. In the twelfth century it was covered with vast woods, where now is seen the verdant meadow, the-waving corn, the cultivated garden, the comfortable cottage, and the happy peasantry; a national education and emancipation from superstition is all that is wanted to render this people truly happy.

An ingenious continental author in 1784, describes the soil of Flanders as inexhaustible, and containing within it

self the true principles of vegetation,,, composed of a “blackish colour, sometimes inclining to dark brown, the "particles infinitely diviseable, reducible to a very fine "powder, mellow to the touch, and preserves an equal de16 gree of temperature." The soil of the Netherlands, compared with that of Britain, may be considered as much lighter, and not possessing such staple qualities.

An examination into the grain, the bread, the beer and the vegetables of this country, confirm the truth of this observation. I have seen scarcely any clay, in the several districts which I have travelled, but the upper or alluvial soil is of considerable thickness. Although the farmers may not be said to possess great wealth, they bring up their families with industry, and in that happy state of mediocrity which guards them from the dangers of riches--few instances of indigence are to be seen, except in the cities. The wives and daughters attend the markets, which by this means, are supplied with abundance of poultry, butter, cheese and eggs at a moderate price. The finest butter and cheese are made near Charleroi, and at a village near Port du Halle.

A weekly market for cattle is fixed in each principal city-in Brussels it is from 9 to 12 on Thursday mornings, near the gate of Laeken; the cattle are not of a large description or very fat; but they are healthy. The breed of cows are remarkable for having small heads, the best come from Germany.

The horses are good, carriage horses more especially, and may be purchased from forty Napoleons the pair and upwards. The draft horses are strong, but many of them