united with Lubec in the 12th century, to form the celebrated Hanseatic league for the protection and extension of commerce. Sixty of the principal commercial cities of Europe were united in this league, among which were included Ostend, Antwerp and Bruges; the latter was fixed upon to be the great depot for naval stores, and the Italian merchants brought there also the rich treasures of India. This league had its regular code of laws, and became of such great importance, that it was courted and feared by the most powerful nations. In 1301, Philip le Bel, surprised at the opulence of Bruges, on his visit to that city, exclaimed, "I thought I was the only King in Flanders, here are a hundred kings." Writers of the sixteenth century speak in raptures of the magnificent carpets, the rich satius, velveis, damasks, woollens and embroideries of the Low Countries.

The Count of Flanders in 1501, revoked many of the privileges previously granted to commerce, and after the tumults which agitated the Low Countries, many of the manufacturers removed to England; from Louvain in particular. The rapid improvements in the manufactures of Britain, the great increase of her commerce and foreign relations, the discovery of the southern passage to the East Indies, and of the Western continent, all conspired, in the sixteenth century, to turn the streams of commerce into new channels.

In the beginning of that century Bruges declined, and Antwerp increased in its consequence. The river Scheldt was so crowded with large vessels, that they could not be discharged quickly enough, and all kinds of East India goods, as well as those of other countries, abounded there; the English had a factory there.

in 1510, we English carried on a greater commerce with the Netherlands than with the whole world besides; she sent her wool to be manufactured into broad cloth; this commerce, so advantageous to the Low Countries, continued for many years: and although, it was occasionally broken in upon by ruptures of short duration, between the governments, it does not appear to have interrupted long their commercial relations. In 1446, a treaty was entered into between the Duke of Burgundy and the King of England, with a most unlimited extent of traffic, artillery and gunpowder were the only articles excepted. Scarcely a nation in Europe but had its Consul and storehouses in Bruges; and the Low Countries attained a most extraordinary degree of splendour.

From the period of the death of Charles the Bold, before Nancy in Lorraine, in 1477, the commerce of the Netherlands began to decline; Charles the Fifth and his successor contributed very powerfully to hasten its destruction; by their bigotry, superstition, intolerance and persecutions, they drove away the manufacturers and the merchants to other nations, and depopulated the Low Countries.

The immense fortunes said to have been accumulated by individuals at this period, almost exceeds belief. Charles the Fifth, having expressed his wish to dine with a rich merchant of Antwerp named Daens, a sumptuous repast was provided; the merchant is reported to have thrown into the fire, at the close of the entertainment, a bill of 2,000,000 of ducats, which he had lent the emperor, observing, I am fully repaid by the honor your Majesty has done me this day. The Emperor replied-

"The nobility ruin me, men of science instruct me, it is "merchants who enrich me.

In 1522, the Emperor, with 180 sail of vessels, joined the English fleet, under the command of the Earl of Surry.

The introduction of the Inquisition in 1550 into the Netherlands, contributed greatly to the downfall of their commercial consequence. Camden, in his History of Queen Elizabeth, states, that in 1564, the trade of England with the Netherlands, amounted annually to twelve millions of ducats, five millions of which were for cloth alone. In 1584, the Spaniards shut up the navigation of the Scheldt, which gave a death blow to the commerce of Antwerp and the Low Countries, and Amsterdam rose upon their ruins.

At the several periods of 1496, 1604, and 1630, several other commercial treaties, were entered into between these countries and Great Britain, which were renewed by the treaty at Vienna in 1731.

In 1719, when the Netherlands became subject to the House of Austria, an attempt was made to revive commerce by the establishment of a company trading to the East Indies, which so excited the jealousy of other European states, that it was abandoned in 1731.

The following is copied from an authentic document of the amount of imports and exports to and from England and the Netherlands at two distant periods, in sterling money:

Imp. into Brit.

From 1700 to 1701--65,123 19 2

1754 1755--91,623 14 1

Exp. from Brit.

270,566 6 6

463,173 19 9

In 1703, the Chamber of Commerce at Brussels was instituted.

The Emperor Joseph II. desirous to revive the commerce of the Netherlands in 1786, made Ostend a free port, improved the harbour, and endeavoured, but in vain, to obtain from the Dutch the free navigation of the Scheldt.

During the late revolutionary war the commerce of the Netherlands experienced the greatest stagnation, the grass grew in the streets of Brussels, and many other of their principal cities, and the rents of houses were considerably reduced; the decrees of Napoleon had nearly produced -ruin to the commerce of the Netherlands; in their internal intercourses some articles advanced to an enormous price. Sugar and coffee were sold at seven, and even ten francs per pound. Peace is restored, the commercial relations with Great Britain and the other nations of Europe, are happily reuewed a new tariff has been published of the rates at which the several articles of merchandize may be imported, which varies from one to ten, and even in some cases fo thirty-five per cent.

Feeling, with other countries, the dreadful effects of a long protracted war, there is no doubt but that a great stagnation prevails in many branches of manufactures, particularly in cotton, and that many hundreds of workmen are out of employ, but this evil is the same in all other countries. Peace is not a magician with its wand,

to change desolation into prosperity at a touch.

Time

and patience are necessary to restore every thing to its proper level, when it will appear that the relations which subsist between Great Britain and the Netherlands, will be found mutually advantageous.

My next letter will probably conclude the observations which I shall have to make on trade and commerce.

LETTER XXIII.

BRUSSELS, JULY 10, 1817.

LACE constitutes a material article of trade in the Netherlands. It employs a great number of hands in most of the principal cities, and is brought to great perfection.

Brussels lace obtains the highest prices, the patterns are the most elegant, and it is consequently most in demand; but considerable quantities are made at Mechlin, Ghent, Bruges, and other cities. An ounce of the finest thread for making the Brussels lace is worth two hundred francs or ten Napoleons, about eight pounds sterling, more valuable than gold of the same weight. The best flax grows near Courtrai, and at Soigny, and Braine la-leud. Children begin at six and seven years of age to work at lace making; good workwomen can earn ten francs each dev in making the fine laces.