The Citadel (which has been pulled down and replaced by fortifications now in course of construction, surrounding the town), was originally built in 1568, by Pacciotto and Cerbelloni, under the direction of the Duke of Alva; it was of immense strength in the form of a pentagon, with six bastions, which command each other, and are defended by deep and broad trenches. This fortress formerly contained the Bagne, or place of detention for criminals condemned to hard labour. It contained 15wells, and a handsome Church, in which protestant service is performed. When Carnot was governor of Antwerp, under Napoleon, he spared no pains to strengthen these fortifications, and succeeded, as he thought, in rendering them impregnable, but they opposed a very ineffectual resistance to the progress of the English arms in 1814, when the town was taken, after a bombardment which nearly destroyed the whole of the docks.

But the event which gives the citadel of Antwerp its greatest interest in modern times, is its siege and surrender to the arms of France at the close of the year 1832. From the period of the revolution, which divided Belgium from Holland in 1830, the Dutch had retained possession of the citadel, which commands not only the navigation of the Scheldt, but holds the entire city of Antwerp at its mercy. The forts below the town were also in the hands of the Dutch, under General Chassé; so that the late monarch had the control of the commerce of Antwerp as effectually as at any period during his reign. To put an end to the incongruous state of things, after upwards of two years spent by Great Britain and France in fruitless endeavours to effect a pacification between the parties, these two

The French army was much larger than was deemed necessary for the mere reduction of the fortress, but the Prussians had established a large corps of observation on the right of the Meuse, and the King of Holland, on his side, had levied a powerful force, which was kept ready for action within a few leagues from Antwerp; consequently in order to be ready for every contingency, the army under Marshal Gerard was such as to ensure its success; it consisted of nearly 50,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and a tremendous train of artillery. The siege of 1832 commenced on the 29th November, and terminated on the 23rd of January, 1833. in the surrender of the garrison. The French. under Marshal Gerard, amounted to 66,000 men. The late Duke of Orleans commanded the troops in the trenches. The best proof that could be given of the determination and bravery with which General Chassé and his 4,500 men had defended the trust confided to him, was found in the state of the fortress when entered by the victors; all the places which had been built and considered bomb-proof were discovered to be in a state of utter devastation; heaps of ruins, black and smoking from recent conflagration, marked where buildings had previously stood, and even the hospital which contained the sick and wounded, and amputated soldiers, and which was so placed as to be, at least comparatively secure, was found to have been so injured as to threaten momentarily to fall upon the heads of the inmates; the loss of the besieged was stated at 90 killed, 349 wounded, and 67 missing; that of the French, 108 killed and 687 wounded. The order of the day of the French Marshal stated that 14,000 metres (beween eight and nine miles) of trenches had been opened during the siege, and 63,000 cannon balls fired at the citadel. An application through

a lacquai de place to the Hotel de Ville will obtain an admission to see the citadel.

The Hotel de Ville is situated in the principal market-place, in which the markets are held every Wednesday and Friday. It was built 1581, and enlarged in 1713, by pulling down twenty-nine houses. It has a carved front of 250 feet, and is adorned with statues of the Virgin, Justice, and Prudence, with their attributes. In this building is an extensive Public Library, and a collection of ancient and modern Pictures.

The Bourse, which was burnt down 1858, was principally remarkable as having been the model from which Sir Thomas Gresham formed his design for the Royal Exchange of London; it was finally completed in 1584. It was 180 feet long by 140 feet wide. The handsome new Exchange is by Schadde.

The form of the City of Antwerp resembles a strung bow, the string being represented by the Scheldt; it contains 23 public squares and upwards

of 200 streets. The most beautiful is the Place de Meir, in which is the royal Palace purchased by Napoleon and furnished by him for his own residence. It contains a few fine paintings. In the Place Verte, a square handsomely planted with trees, are held on the 17th of May, and on the 16th of August, fairs which last 30 days, for merchandise of all kinds; here also is the handsome building inhabited by Carnot, while governor of Antwerp. In a small court out of Place Vendredi, is an old House, the front of which is embellished with a figure of Hercules accompanied by a woman, bearing the inscription "Labore et Constantia." It was from 1565 the printing office of Christopher Plantin (printer to Philip II.) and his successor, Moretus. The house, with its treasures, was sold by its last owner to the city, and now forms the Musée Plantin, containing the old furniture, 14,000 letters of scholars, some of their portraits, with the Polyglot printed by Philip II. In Rue Leys (formerly Rue de la Station) is the handsome House of the late Baron Leys (born here 1814), containing his frescoes and other works. Some of his productions are in the Town Hall. The House of Rubens still exists, in a street which now bears the name of the great painter. His country house was at Stein. His tercentenary was kept 1877, when his bust was

placed in the City Museum. He executed 2,700 works (700 being drawings and sketches), of which 800 are lost.

The town also contains a Theatre, a Circus for he exhibition of horsemanship, an Athenæum, a Mont-de-Piété, a Foundling Hospital, four Asylums, one of which is for foreigners, and five Hospitals. The numerous associations called "harmonies," will afford great pleasure to the lover of music. There are public Baths in the Place Verte and in the Esplanade. Antwerp is the birth-place of Crayer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens, the two Teniers, and Ommegank, all painters of the first class; Edelink, the engraver; Ortelius, the geographer; Grammage, Butkers, Sanderus, and Vammeteren, historians; Moretus, the printer; and Stockmans, whose legal decisions are of the greatest authority in the Belgic courts. The Park is situated just outside the gate leading to Brussels. About 8 miles south-west is Rupelmonde, with its statue to the inventor of Mercator's map. On the line to Maestrecht is Lier or Lierre (Station), 9 miles; with silk factories, and good pictures by Rubens and Memling at St. Gomer's old church. Hotel d'Anvers.

The Antwerp and Gladbach line (for Cologne, &c.), via Herenthals and Roermond, passes Vlodrop, Rhedyt, and München Gladbach.

Between Antwerp and Malines the land is well cultivated, and there are several picturesquelooking old châteaux on both sides.

The stations are Berchem, Vieux Dieux, Contich (branch to Boom), Duffel. A line comes to Contich from Antwerp, viâ Hoboken and Wilryck.

Malines, or Mechlin (for description of which see Route 1). This is the central station to which the Brussels, Antwerp, Ostend, and Cologne lines converge. Passengers from Antwerp or Ostend, going to Cologne, change trains at this station.

The guards will always promptly answer this question:--Change t'on de convois ici pour Cologne?

ROUTE 5.

Bruges to Courtray.

Bruges. See preceding Route.

Thourout (Station). A small town situated in a fertile district, remarkable for the manufacture of

coarse woollen cloth and excellent lace. Here is a branch to Ostend. Its only objects of attraction are the large Collegiate Church and Stadthuis. The Castle of Wynendael is close by. It was in this place that the Bishop of Lincoln and his colleagues negotiated the marriage of Edward, Prince of Wales, with the daughter of Philip, King of France, and that of Edward I., the Prince's father, with the sister of that monarch.

Lichtervelde (Station), the junction of a line to Dixmuiden and Dunkirk.

Roulers (Station). A small town picturesquely situate on the Mander, amidst beautiful meadows. The church of St. Michael, to the rear of the west side of the market-place, a small structure with a beautiful spire, and the Stadthuis, an old building situated in the market-place, are worth a visit. Iseghem (Station), of no importance, where the railway crosses the Lys, and arrives at Courtray.-See Route 1.

FROM BRUGES TO COURTRAY.-The trains correspond with the government trains going to Ostend, Ghent, Brussels, and Antwerp. Tickets for Ostend, Ghent, Brussels, Liége, Mouscron, and Tournay, are delivered at Bruges, Thourout, Roulers, Iseghem, and Courtray; and in the great stations tickets are delivered for Bruges, Thourout, Lichtervelde, Iseghem, Courtray.

FROM COURTRAY TO BRUGES.-The trains correspond at Courtray with the trains for Mouscron, Tournay, Lille, and Paris, by the Northern Line.

ROUTE 5A.

Courtray to Ypres and Poperinghe. Courtray.-See Route 1. On this route we pass the village of Bisseghem, near which the Duke of York was defeated in 1793 by General Sonham, losing on the occasion 70 pieces of cannon. Menin (Station), a fortified town, situated on the Lys, which separates France from Belgium. It contains a population of 9,800 persons. Ypres (Station), or Ypern, in German. Hotel.-De la Tête d'Or.

A fortified town, pron. "Eepray," on a plain, and containing 17,000 inhabitants. It was formerly very unhealthy, in consequence of the marshes surrounding it, but these have been since drained. In the fourteenth century it contained 200,000 in

habitants, and kept 4,000 looms constantly at work. They say it gives name to the linen called diaper (i.e., D'Ypres), so much used throughout the world. The old Clothiers' Hall, in the great market place, is a long, low building, in the Gothic style, containing historical pictures by M. Pauwels. The Cathedral of St. Martin, in the Gothic style, contains a very good carved pulpit, and a painting, said to be by Van Eyck, the Fall of Man. In the choir a long stone points out the tomb of Jansen, or Janssen, Bishop of Ypres, who died in 1683. He was founder of the Jansenists, ană was long and violently persecuted by the Jesuits. St. Martin's Day, 10-11 November, is celebrated by horn and lanterns. The other Churches deserve notice.

There is a railway connection here with Armentiéres (page 3) and Comines, or Commines, the birth-place of Philip de Comines, the historian.

Poperinghe (Station), near the French border. Population, 11,000. Lace and cloth are made.

ROUTE 6.

BRUSSELS (Station) the Capital of Belgium POPULATION (1880), 170,345; or 399,940, including suburbs. Hotels:

Grand Hotel de Brussels, 71, Boulevard Central; 200 handsome rooms, with every comfort, lift, baths; highly recommended.

Hotel de Belle Vue: a large first-class establishment, kept by Mr. Dremel.

Hotel de Flandre, in the Place Royale.

Hotel Mengelle, 75, Rue Royale; English and American Hotel; recommended.

Hotel de l'Europe, Place Royale. Table d'hôte at 5 and 7.

Hotel de Saxe, Rue Neuve, lower town. Grand Hotel Britannique, first-class hotel, situated Place du Trône, near the King's Palace and the Boulevards; recommended.

Hotel de l'Univers, in the centre of the town, near the North Railway station.

Barber's Hotel de France, Rue Royale, an oldestablished, first-class hotel.

Hotel de Suède, Rue de l'Evêque, first-class hotel, overlooking the new Boulevards.