celebrated for its bleaching grounds, and has also several cotton manufactories, tanneries, lace makers, etc.

Brussels, as the capital of the Netherlands concentrates principally those concerns which are connected with luxury. It has several carpet manufactories, glass-houses, coach-makers, lace-makers, cotton-manufacturies, tanneries, and other extensive concerns. Artificial flowers are made here in very great perfection, many of them so correctly imitate nature both in flower and foliage, that even on close inspection the eye will be sometimes deceived. The Belgian ladies are fond of this sort of ornament in their hats and bonnets, and when judiciously placed it is elegant, but it is worn here in such considerable quan tities, and sometimes so ill chosen as to produce a contrary effect.

A manufactory for painted porcelain china is brought to great perfection here, the designs are elegant, and the execution masterly. The porcelain is imported from France, white, and painted in Brussels.

Antwerp, although it enjoys the advantage of having the Scheldt opened, cannot expect to attain her ancient greatness; at that period Belgium had very few rivals and double her present population; every European state is now her rival: a foreign trade is recommencing, but at a very gradual rate, there are but few vessels belonging to the port, and little or no ship-building. Great quantities of Baltic produce are brought in, viz. hemp, flax, iron, and from the Western Continent, hides, tobacco, coffee, sugar and rum. From the Mediterranean, wine and fruit, and from the East, tea and spices.

The number of commercial establish ments are at present about three hundred; but they entertain such a jealousy of all strangers, and are so unacquainted with the great maxims of extensive commerce, that Amsterdam will long maintain her superiority. During the short peace of Amiens the foreign trade of the Netherlands was considerable.

The merchants and traders live in the most frugal manner, if they obtain but little they spend but little, and great failures are rare, although on the exchange at Antwerp and at Bruges, a considerable extent of exchange business is effected on small profits but large returns. Great part of the money business of the Continent centers there.

The sales of property in lands, houses, furniture and other articles, are principally effected by notaries, brokers or auctioneers; an officer attends on the behalf of government. to take the account of the duty; but in general the taxes are collected here at a trifling expense, instead of gathering them from house to house, notice is given of their being due, and every person who is chargeable thereto is obliged. to take the money to the office of the collector.

Every European state of any consequence has its consul at Antwerp. Great Britain for the first time, in the person of the Honourable Robert Annesley.

Antwerp suffers considerably in its commerce by, the injudicious regulations relative to the import duties; these have operated most injuriously,, driving the ships to Hamburgh and other ports; and also from other impedimen: and unnecessary delays at the Custom House.

The magnificence of many of the ancient houses at Antwerp, both externally and in their costly interior decorations, most powerfully confirm all that has been observed of the opulence and grandeur of the Netherlands in former ages.

The commerce of the country is carried on by specie, and bills of exchange; here are no national bank notes, or national banks. The specie of France and Holland is current here, in pieces of upwards of thirty different values, which create great confusion. A new national coinage is said to be in great forwardness, and is very much needed.

The 109 article of the Congress of Vienna, declares that the navigation of every river from its source to the mouth shall be free. Antwerp by its situation possesses great advantages, it seems to have been placed by nature as the key to the interior of Brabant, Flanders, Germany and Switzerland; its commerce has suffered considerably since the peace, by certain disputes at the Custom House. Those who engage in business of any sort in the Nether— lands, should previously take out a patent or annual li– cense so to do, or they will render themselves liable to heavy penalties and disabilities, which are strictly enforced.

The Netherlands are well situated for an extensive transit trade to all the inland states of the Continent; a branch of trade which promotes a vast amount of industry, and leaves certain profits without risk; the whole of the United Netherlands are most advantageously situated for the purposes of commerce. The fine rivers which convey to

them the various productions of the south of Europe, serve also to transport their own manufactures; whilst the extent of northern sea coast which they possess, and their several maritime ports connect them intimately with Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, and the north of Europe, and although it cannot be possible they should again attain the great eminence which they maintained in the 15th century, whilst they have such powerful king-` doms to rival them, yet a few years of peace may enable them to increase greatly their commercial relations, with all the benefits attendant thereon..

LETTER XXII.

BRUSSELS.

THE main object to be kept in view in all systems of political economy, should be to generate and increase human happiness. The French and English writers on this subject are known here. Adam Smith's treatise is translated into French. But political pamphlets excite the greatest interest; on such subjects it is not unusual to publish and dispose of large editions of approved works, few other literary productions meet with encouragement.

I have already noticed to you the great fertility of the Netherlands; abundance is highly favourable to population, and it will be found therefore to be greatly on the increase. The population of several of the principal provinces, from the latest reports is as follows:

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