PREFACE.

THE many Hand-books hitherto published for the use of travellers on the Continent have been the subject of so much complaint and annoyance, both in reference to their bulk and voluminous character, that the Publishers of the present volume have determined to meet the requirements and oft-expressed wishes of the public, by undertaking the task of supplying to them Continental Hand-books, small and convenient in size, yet replete with all the descriptive, historical, and other useful information so ably and fa thfully given in the large volumes published by their contemporaries. And they trust that this effort of theirs will not be looked upon as an unwarrantable intrusion upon ground already occupied, nor yet as an unworthy rival to books of a larger and more elaborate description.

The present Hand-book is intended to supply to the traveller a valuable companion in his tour through Belgium and on the Rhine. And with a view to his convenience and information, we have given him a book small and compact, capable of being consigned to the pocket, or borne in the hand without trouble or annoyance; whilst it furnishes him with matter-of-fact descriptions of what ought to be seen on his journey and in his visits, carefully selecting all the historical details, anecdotes of interest, and such other matters as we believe calculated to interest, whilst they instruct the English traveller, at the same time that we have excluded all that was dry or useless. In our descriptions of buildings and institutions, though we have not burdened our readers with the genealogical histories of their founders, proprietors, and architects, yet we have not confined ourselves to giving a mere catalogue of them, but we have furnished all that was valuable in connection with their histories, paintings, and architecture, at the same time tha we have illustrated them by very beautiful wood-cuts and engravings.

In all our arrangements we have observed, so far as possible, a simple and condensed style; and wherever practicable have availed ourselves of good and correct information gathered from other sources. The nature or character of this

volume tolerates little novelty, and admits of no deviation from the principle on which such a work must be essentially based. Books in foreign languages must be the chief sources of our information, modified by personal observation and experience.

We meet the traveller in England, impart to him the information necessary for the purpose of preparation, directing him in reference to the management of his passport and luggage at home and on the Continent; we lead him by the most approved routes through his tour, and place before him every item of instruction useful to him in his journey. We do not, however, say that our work is faultless. Were it so, we should have achieved an impossibility, for we believe that Handbooks are "like watches, the worst better than none-the best cannot be expected to go quite true." We know the severe ordeal a Hand-book for travellers abroad has to pass through; we can thoroughly appreciate the merciless criticism which will test its truth when weighing its accuracy on the very spot described, but however we fearlessly and confidingly launch it forth, trustful in the forbearance of all, whilst hopeful that those who make use of it will kindly favour us by forwarding to us corrections of any errors or inaccuracies they may discover in it. We have great pleasure in acknowledging our obligations to numerous "authorities" of the Belgian Railways who have kindly furnished us with very many valuable details and hints during the printing of the work. Several other kind friends, both in England and on the Continent, will at the same time accept our grateful acknowledgments for numerous kindnesses.

In conclusion, we can only remark that in the editing of the present volume we have aimed at the medium between an useless repetition of detail, and the annoyance of a tasteless brevity of description; and trust the traveller may not find it less useful than interesting.

London, July, 1853.

INTRODUCTION.

PASSPORTS-MONEY-POSTING-DILIGENCES, HIRED CARRIAGES, BARRIERS, ROADS VIGILANTES-BELGIAN HOTELS-PRICES OF REFRESHMENT AT THE BELGIAN RAILWAY STATIONS-GENERAL VIEW OF BELGIUM-RAILWAYS IN BELGIUM.

PASSPORTS.-CUSTOM HOUSE.

BRITISH subjects, on entering Belgium, are required to be provided with either a Belgian passport, or a British or other passport, countersigned by a Belgian authority. When only traversing Belgium, going to Prussia, British subjects will require British passports. Should this form be omitted, they will require the visé of the Prussian Minister in Belgium. On landing in Belgium without a passport in due form, travellers are exposed to be conducted, by the police, either to the consul or to the bourgmestre, before they are enabled to obtain a passport and continue their journey in Belgium. Passports and visés are obtained at the Consul's Office, Adelaide Chambers, 52, Gracechurch Street. Hours, from eleven to four Passports for Belgium only, are granted to British subjects on payment of 6s. 6d. Visas, 3s. 9d. Travellers proceeding through Belgium to the Rhine, must enter their luggage for Cologne, where it is examined. Ambassador's residence, 20, Lowndes Square.

MONEY. Although in some places accounts are still kept in guilders and cents, French money is so generally current, that a traveller who confines himself to Belgium need not provide himself with any other. At all the large towns English sovereigns will be readily exchanged, and should command the full equivalent of 25 fr. 20 cts., or as near as possible, according to the rate of exchange. A new gold coin, 25 francs value, has recently been issued. The Belgian bank issues notes of the value of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, and 5 francs.