Bruges a cheap residence--Tables-d’Hôte, their influence upon society--Canal from Bruges to Ghent--Absence of country mansions--Gardens--Appearance of GHENT--M. Grenier and M. de Smet de Naeyer--The _Conseil de Prud’hommes_, its functions--Copyright of designs in Belgium--THE LINEN TRADE OF BELGIUM--Its importance--Great value of Belgian flax--Its cultivation--Revenue derived from it--Inferiority of British flax--Anxiety of the government for the trade in linen--Hand-spinners--Spinning by machinery--_Société de la Lys_--Flower gardens--The Casino--Export of flowers--General aspect of the city--_Its early history_--Vast wealth expended in buildings in the Belgium cities accounted for--Trading corporations--Turbulence of the people of Bruges and Ghent--_Jacques van Artevelde_--His death--Philip van Artevelde--Charles V.--His _bon mots_ regarding Ghent--Latin distich, characteristic of the Flemish cities--Siege of Ghent, Madame Mondragon--House of the Arteveldes--Hôtel de Ville--The belfry and Roland--The _Marché de Vendredi_--The great cannon of Ghent. 44 CHAPTER III. Manufacture of machinery in Ghent--Great works of the Phœnix--Exertions of the King of Holland to promote this branch of art--His success--Policy of England in permitting the export of tools--Effect of their prohibiting the export of machines upon the continental artists--Present state of the manufactures in Belgium--_The Phœnix_, its extent, arrangements and productions--_The canal of Sas de Gand_--_The Beguinage_--Tristam Shandy--The churches of Ghent--Religious animosity of the Roman Catholics--_The cathedral of St. Bavon_--Chef-d’œuvre of Van Eyck--Candelabra of Charles I--Carved pulpit--_Church of St. Michael_--Vandyck’s crucifixion--The brotherhood of St. Ivoy--Church of St. Sauveur--Singular picture in the church of St. Peter--Dinner at M. Grenier’s--Shooting with the bow--Roads in Belgium--Domestic habits of the Flemings--The Flemish language--_Count d’Hane_--Mansion of the Countess d’Hane de Steenhausen--Gallery of M. Schamps--_The University_ of Ghent--State of primary education in Belgium. 93 CHAPTER IV.