_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 continental houses--THE CITADEL--Extraordinary scene--General Chassé--The patriot army--The singular history of its three commanders--The bombardment--Places at the theatre to see the siege. THE palaces of Brussels, which we have been visiting to-day are two; that of the King is a heavy looking building, which was formerly two houses separated by a street, which have now been united, and patched up into one residence, more remarkable for solidity than beauty. It contains, however, some splendid rooms, especially a grand ball-room for state occasions, and a few paintings of high excellence. Close by it, is that of the Prince of Orange, which has been a source of much embarrassment to the Belgian government. It was erected for the Prince out of a fund, voted for the purpose by the nation in recognition of his military services at Waterloo; and it was furnished, I think, in part, at least, at his own charge. But the whole was barely completed when the Revolution of 1830 drove the Prince, whom the people so recently delighted to honor, from his domains and his newly acquired house.