PREFACE.

THE Hand-books hitherto published for the use of travellers on the Continent have been the subject of so much complaint and objection, both in reference to their bulk and voluminous character, that the Publishers of the present volume 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 faithfully given in the large volumes published by their contemporaries. And they trust that the 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 furnishes the traveller with 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 witlı 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 that 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 nas to pass through; we can thoroughly appreciate the merciless criticism which will test its truth when weighing its accuracy or the very spot described, but however we fearlessly and confidingly launch forth, trustful in the forbearance of all, whilst hopeful that those who made use of it will kindly 'avour us by forwarding to us corrections of any errors or inaccuracies they may discover in it.

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 annovance of a tasteless brevity of description; and trust the traveller may not find it less useful than interesting.

July. 1870,

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.

No passports are required on entering Belgium, and they are also abolished in Holland, as far as British subjects are concerned.

Travellers proceeding through Belgium to the Rhine must enter their luggage for Cologne, where it is examined. Ambassador's residence, 3, Grosvenor Square.

MONEY.-Circular notes are given by most of the principal London Bankers, and form a very safe and convenient kind of Letters of credit. The arrangements for cashing them in the various countries through which the traveller may have to pass are very simple and efficient, precluding almost the possibility of fraud. As a letter of indication is given with them, we would caution tourists to keep the one in their pocket-book and the other in their baggage, 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 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, and 5 francs.

A 2

Leopold d'or, Napoleon, or Twenty Franc Piece... 15 10

POSTING is now nearly obsolete, but a post is equivalent to five English, or about one German mile, or to two Belgian or French leagues. The charge per post, for each horse, is 1 fr. 30 cts., and for each postillion that distance, 15 sous. Half a post extra is charged for post-horses arriving at Brussels or quitting it, and a fourth extra on quitting Ghent, Liége, Namur, and Mons. One horse is allotted by the posting regulation, to each person in a carriage, but the traveller can take the full complement of horses required for his journey at the rate of 30 sous each, or he can take two or three at 30 sous, and without taking the rest, pay for the team at 20 sous. At this rate a party of four persons can travel in a light britską, ȧrawn by two horses, paying 2 fr. extra for the two persons. By payment of 80 sous per post for their horses, three persons can travel with two horses. A berlin or landau will take three or four horses; a chariot, 3: a britzka, though carrying the same number of persons, two.

DILIGENCES, HIRED CARRIAGES, BARRIERS, ROADS.

On all the high roads which have no railroad to compete with, diligences are found to run. They travel at the rate of about six miles an hour, and generally belong to private individuals licensed by government.

HIRED CARRIAGES.-A voiture, with two horses, can be engaged for about 30 fr per day, including 5 fr. to the driver. 25 fr. a day, back fare, must be paid (making in all 50 fr. for carriage and horses.

BARRIERS. There is a toll-gate each league, at which four-wheeled carriages are charged 10 cents., and each horse 20 cents., the return included.

ROADS. In general the Belgian roads are paved, thus rendering travelling over them very fatiguing, especially to ladies.

INTRODUCTION.

VIGILANTES.

་་་་་་

A kind of cab called by the above name can be hired for 1 fr, or before 7 a.m. for 1 fr., which will convey the traveller and his luggage to his resting place. He should take one at once on his arrival, and thus save himself the annoyance he is, otherwise, sure to suffer from porters and commissionaires of the hotels.

The general tariff is 1 fr. per course and, if engaged by the hour, 14 fr. the first hour, and 1 fr. each hour afterwards,

BELGIAN HOTELS.

The following are the average charges:-From 1 to 24 fr. for bed; table d'hôte, to 3 fr.; dinner in a separate apartment, by one's self, 5 fr.; supper at table d'hôte, fr. 50 cents, to 2 fr.; a bottle of Bordeaux vin ordinaire, 3 fr.; breakfast, with eggs and meat, 1 fr. 50 cents.; coffee, tea, and bread and butter, 1 to 1fr.; servants, 50 cents. to 1 fr. each.

PRICES OF REFRESHMENTS AT THE BELGIAN RAILWAY

STATIONS.

BUFFETS-RESTAURANTS ETABLIS DANS LES STATIONS DE MALINES, TIRLEMONT LANDEN, LIEGE, PEPINSTER, VERVIERS, GAND, COURTRAI, MOUSCRON, BRAINE-LE COMTE, ET QUIEVRAIN.-TARIF DES COMESTIBLES ET BOISSONS.