Do not suppose from this, however, that the place is only interesting to book-hunters or lovers of engravings. The =pictures and decorations= alone,—nay, the house itself—will amply repay a visit. * * * * * A walk should be taken from the Place Verte, by the Vieux Marché au Blé, or through the Marché aux Gants, to the river front and =Port= of the Schelde. (Follow the tram-line.) Here two handsome raised =promenoirs= or esplanades, open to the public, afford an excellent *view over the river, the old town, and the shipping in the harbour. The _southernmost_ (and pleasantest) of these _promenoirs_ ends (S.) near the =Porte de l’Escaut=, a somewhat insignificant gateway, designed by Rubens, and adorned with feeble sculpture by Arthus Quellin. It stood originally a little lower down the river, but has been removed, stone by stone, to its present situation. The quaint red building, with hexagonal turrets at the angles, visible from both esplanades, is the _Vieille Boucherie_, or Butchers’ Guild Hall, of 1503. It stands in a squalid quarter, but was once a fine edifice. Near the N. end of this _promenoir_, a =ferry-boat= runs at frequent intervals to the =Tête-de-Flandre= on the opposite shore of the river. Here there is a Kursaal and a strong fort. It is worth while crossing on a fine day in order to gain a general view of the quays and the town. The _northernmost promenoir_ is approached by an archway under the castellated building known as the =Steen=. This is a portion of the old Castle of Antwerp, originally belonging to the Margraves and the Dukes of Brabant, but made over by Charles V. to the burghers of Antwerp. The Inquisition held its sittings in this castle. It is now, though much restored and quite modern-looking (except the portal), almost the only remaining relic of Mediæval Antwerp, outside the Cathedral. It contains a small Museum of Antiquities (unimportant; open daily, 10 to 4: 1 fr.: Sunday and Thursday free). Unless you have plenty of time you need not visit it. A little way beyond the N. end of the _northern promenoir_ a tangled street leads to the =Church of St. Paul=, which will be described hereafter. Continuing along the _Quays_ in this direction you arrive at last at the =Docks=. The large modern castellated building in front of you is the =Pilotage=, round which sea-captains congregate in clusters. Turning along the dirty quay to the R., you reach shortly on the L. the site of the =Maison Hanséatique=, which was the _entrepôt_ in Antwerp of the Hanseatic League. But it was burnt down a few years since, and its place is now occupied by mean sheds and warehouses. All this quarter is given over to the most unsightly and malodorous realities of modern seafaring life and commerce. * * * * *