Transcriber’s note Variable spelling and hyphenation have been retained. Minor punctuation inconsistencies have been silently repaired. The “Index to subjects connected with the trade and manufactures of Belgium” appears in the first volume. A list of the changes made can be found at the end of the book. Formatting and special characters are indicated as follows: _italic_ =bold= BELGIUM. VOL. II. [Illustration: TOWN HALL, GHENT.] BELGIUM. BY J. EMERSON TENNENT, ESQ., M. P. AUTHOR OF “LETTERS FROM THE ÆGEAN,” AND “HISTORY OF MODERN GREECE.” “L’UNION FAIT LA FORCE.”--MOTTO OF BELGIUM. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, =Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty.= 1841. LONDON: PRINTED BY SCHULZE AND CO., 13, POLAND STREET. CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. CHAPTER I. _The Palaces of Brussels_--Palace of the Prince of Orange--Embarrassment of the government respecting it--Description of the interior--_Chambers of the Belgian legislature_--Palais de la Nation--Constitution of Belgium--Variable franchise--Removal of the picture of Waterloo--THE PARK--Singular scenes of the revolution--Curious account of the adventures of an English party at the Hôtel de Bellevue during the riots at Brussels--_Works of the Société du Renard at Brussels_--The road to Antwerp--Villas--Old châteaux--House of Rubens and Teniers--The village of Vieux Dieux--Appearance of the country--_The tower of the cathedral_--Fortifications--Narrow streets--Palace of Napoleon--The houses--_History of Antwerp_--Festival of the ladies’ eve--Immense commerce in the sixteenth century--Closing of the Scheldt in 1648--Projects of Napoleon for Antwerp--Arsenal and locks--_Trade from 1815 to 1830_--Affected by the revolution--Transit trade of Belgium--Absurd system of competition with Holland--RUBENS--Fêtes in his honour--Modern painters--_Verboeckhoven_--_The Museum_--Rubens’ genius--The Crucifixion--The adoration of the Magi--Vandyke--_The cathedral_--View from the tower--Crucifix made from the statue of Alva--Monument of Quentin Metsys--Interior of the church--_Rubens’ Descent from the Cross_--The tomb of Rubens in the Church of St. Jacques--_Church of St. Paul_--The Calvary and Purgatory--Aspect of a Roman Catholic place of worship--A lady of Antwerp at vespers--_St. Andrews’ Church_--Superb pulpit--Monument to Mary Queen of Scotland--Dinner with M. David--Want of carpets in