The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 6, December 1837Various
History
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 6, December 1837
Various
Periodicals
Bruges, or Brugge, is a beautiful town, replete with reminiscences
of the Counts of Flanders; yet it is far from being what it once
was, in wealth and importance. Like Antwerp, there is an unnatural
stillness in the streets; you would almost think an epidemic had
depopulated them. And yet there are many handsome private dwellings,
and many wealthy people in Bruges. It has also a considerable number
of English residents.
Ostend is dull enough. The harbor is bad, not admitting large
vessels, except at high tide; otherwise, this place would improve
rapidly; for, save Antwerp and Dunkirk, it is the only sea-port of
Belgium. When the rail-road to Brussels is finished, Ostend will
begin to look up. The Belgians have always been a manufacturing
rather than a commercial people; but now they are cut off from
exporting their goods from the ports of Holland, they must
necessarily build up a commerce of their own. They are now engaged in
improving the harbor, etc., of Ostend.
As an evidence of the discontent caused by the depression of trade
since the revolution, it is said Leopold was grossly insulted by the
people of Ghent, about a year since. He was on a visit there, and was
going to the theatre; but the Ganders hired all the best boxes, and
locked them up! The Ostenders, however, are more loyal. The king and
queen were greeted at the theatre here, a few evenings since, with a
poetical address. The queen is here now; but her consort has gone to
England to negotiate, as the papers say, for the Princess Victoria,
in behalf of his nephew. Whether he or his _beloved_ cousin of Orange
will succeed, yet remains a problem.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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