brought there in a boat, which stopped, of its own accord, to testify her desire to be worshipped there. This image is destroyed. Little worthy of observation will be 'found in this church, excepting the pulpit.

In the church of St. Peter, formerly of the Jesuits, may be seen, a series of paintings by Blendef, Quelten, Eykout and Coxier, which delineate several events in the life of St. Xavier, the much-respected missionary to the Indies. The church of St. John, although on a small scale, has much architectural beauty: the principal altar-piece, the adoration of the wise men, by P. P. Rubens, is one of his finest productions; for which he received fourteen hundred florins only, equal to about one hundred pounds sterling. Above this are placed three other pictures by Rubens; the birth of Christ, the taking down from the cross, and the resurrection.

In the church of St. Catherine there is nothing remark→ able; but the church of the Beguinage, dedicated to St. Joseph, is striking. The altar-piece by L. Francois, and other pictures by Boyermans and Coxier, merit observa tion. I entered it at the hour of vespers; numerous Beguin nuns and two noviciates, all at their devotions, presented a picturesque effect. The Beguinage was anciently on a grand scale, and contained about 1400 inhabitants. It was founded in 1249, and is far superior to that at Brussels. There is also a smaller Beguinage in this city.

The cathedral church of St. Rombout, who was bishop of Dublin, and the son of one of the kings of Ireland, exhibits the greatest beauties; its external architecture is composed of the fine gothic, and is truly magnificent; it

measures 350 feet, or 97 metres and 30 centimes in height, without the intended tower, which was never erected; had that been completed, this would have been the loftiest church in Belgium. On entering it, the coup d'œeuil i; truly fine; here are several well-painted pictures, one by Francis Floris; an altar-piece of the crucifixion, by Vandyck, and several others. The first stone of the tower was laid by John Muysen, May 22, 1452. The church contains six bells, the largest of which, named Salvator, weighs 15,251 lbs. and several ancient tombs, marble monuments, alto-relievos and altars of excellent workmanship. In the collegiate church of Notre Dame is, perhaps, one of the very finest of Rubens's productions; the subject, Christ entering into Simon Peter's ship, and the miraculous draught of fishes; in composition and colouring, this painting may rank with the cartoons of Raphael. In this city is an institution for the education of priests of the catholic faith; it contains, at present, about 150 in number, who pay about 400 franks each, annually; the extra expences of the establishment are defrayed by the government; there is a small church adjoining, where the young men are instructed in the rites of the Romish church, and in singing, the laity not being permitted to join in this act of public worship. The priests are known by the name of "Les Corbeaux," in derision, which strongly intimates. the estimation in which the priesthood is held.

The churches at Malines exhibit proofs of its former magnificence and its present insignificance; in 1763 it contained eighteen churches. House-rent is very moderate, although very few houses are to be let: about ten British families are now resident here. The ramparts. round the city are far preferable to those of Brussels, being more airy, kept in excellent order, and provided

with numerous garden seats, well painted and in good repair. The walks on the ramparts afford a fine view of the city. Crossing the Dyle, you arrive at a water-mill, which is appropriated to the grinding of corn, sawing of planks, and beating of flax: here are also several extensive bleacheries and manufactories of hats. The lace merchants, once so flourishing, complain greatly of stagnation in trade; properly speaking, they never were manufacturers; the lace is made by women and children, and sold to the merchants; or the latter provide materials, and pay by the yard for the workmanship. The second Saturday in October a capital horse and cattle fair is held here.

The cannon-foundry exists here no longer; a windnill is erected on the spot. The once celebrated gardens of Pittsemberg are planted with wheat and potatoes; the mansion is in a state of delapidation. The great clock of St. Rombout sounds eight times each hour-the hour, half-hour, quarter, and half-quarter; and, as usual in Belgium, strikes the hour twice.

In the centre of the Grande Place is a sun-dial of the same dimensions as the clock, the gnomon of which is constructed with much ingenuity. At the Hotel de Grue, Malines, is an inscription, denoting that the emperor Joseph II. dined there on the 20th of June, 1781.

Flemish is spoken principally in Malines; at the inns French is well understood. The fine canal which runs through the city communicates with Antwerp and Louvain. Malines is still celebrated for its tanneries and hat manufactories; also for excellent pork and good butcher's meat. A law is enforced here to prevent any butcher from killing

more than one ox each week: the intention is to compel the butchers to bring the best meat to market. The banks of the canal are, in many places, cultivated, and the neighbouring lands exhibit symptoms of extraordinary fertility.

The superior and surprising effect produced in the cathedral church of Notre Dame, at Antwerp, by removing the side altars and decorations of an inferior class, would, if extended to all the churches of the Netherlands, produce such an amazing improvement, and exhibit such fine masses of grand architecture, as could not fail to be viewed with a lively interest, and excite a renewed attention to such fine structures. As a Protestant, I cannot conclude these remarks without strongly expressing my hopes that the time is not far distant when every image will be laid in the dust, and the One living and true God be worshipped in the way he has commanded.

Thus have I, in a cursory way, described to you all that appears most worthy of notice in some of the once splendid cities of the Netherlands. Except in architecture and paintings, scarce a shadow remains of their former magnificence.

I

purpose in my next to commence by furnishing you with a short abstract of the history of the Low Countries, from the earliest period to the establishment of the present monarchy. Till then, adieu once morę.

LETTER X.

BRUSSELS.

THE early history of Belgium is involved in a similar obscurity to that of most other states.

It is generally

believed, that it was first peopled by the Celts, who inhabited the southern parts of Europe, or ancient Gaul. Cæsar observes: Qui ipsorum lingua, Celta Galli appellantur. They were subdued by the Belga, descendants of the ancient Scythians. It is clearly ascertained that the Belga were established in this country one hundred and twelve years before the Christian era, and were conquered by Julius Cæsar, 47 B. C.

The lands of Belgium were in a good state of cultivation, previous to the invasion of the Romans. From Cæsar's Commentaries we learn that the Nervians, or more northern nations of the Belge, were a valorous people, united under one chief, possessing very correct ideas upon the consequences of luxury and vice. They made their last stand on the banks of the Sambre. Five hundred men only remained, out of the sixty thousand which they brought into the field. Under Augustus, the northern division of Belgium, including the two provinces of Hol→ land and Utrecht, became a Pretorian province.

All ancient historians agree, that the Belga were a very numerous, industrious and brave people. In the seventh century, the Frisians invaded them on the north. They yielded to the Franks in the eighth century; so that the