26, Rue des Paroissiens, near the Cathedral of St. Gudule; and advise ladies to postpone purchasing until they have seen the above stock. This house is the recipient of the Prize Medal by the Commissioners of the Great Exhibition, a gold medal by the Belgian Government, and the first medal at the Universal Exhibition at Paris The fair city of Brussels has formed the subject of the warmest eulogiums from three of our greatest modern poets-Byron, Scott, and Southey, and no person who visits it in the present day will say that their praises are exaggerated or undeserved. No traveller, visiting the lower town, who observes its noble streets and mansions, its magnificent arcade known as the Passage de St. Hubert, inhabited by the mercantile part of the community, and then proceeds to the upper or "west end" of the city, commencing with the Place Royal, embellished by the church of St. Jacques sur Caudenberg, with its fresco painting, which is seen to much advantage when the sun streams out its setting glories upon it, and illuminates the vivid colours with magical effect, and the statue of the crusader, Godfrey of Bouillon, thence to the Place des Palais, and there admires the pleasing coupd'œil formed by the King's Palace, the Palace of the Prince of Orange, the beautiful and unbrageous Park, the magnificent Rue Royale, the noble buildings in the Rue de la Loi and the splendid view from the Place du Congrès, but will exclaim that the beauty of the tout ensemble, the neatness and cleanliness of this part of Brussels, render it one of the most charming cities in Europe, and impart a becoming dignity to the seat of the elgian government. of Parliament. The Botanical Gardens, Porte de Scherbeck, and the Zoological Gardens, at Ixelles. The city of Brussels, which is called in French, Bruxelles, and in Flemish Brussel, is in the form of a pear, and is built partly on an acclivity, once covered by the forest of Soignie, and partly on a plain, which being intersected by various branches of the river Senne, was a perfect marsh, till a long course of draining and steady cultivation changed it into rich meadow land. Its name is supposed to be derived from Brug-Senne (bridge over the Senne), corrupted into Brussels and Bruxelles. It is divided into nine quarters, has nine gates, and above 300 streets. The climate of Brussels is temperate, and, although extremely variable, and somewhat moist, it is healthy, particularly in the higher part of the town. It has been computed, that during the year, upon an average, there are 17 days of snowy weather, 11 of hail, and 149 of rain. The manufactures of Brussels consists principally of its far-famed lace; printed cottons; carriages, remarkable for their elegance, comfort, light appearance, and solidity; beer of generally esteemed quality; printing and hanging papers; lithographic and printing establishments, especially of books; type foundries; sugar refineries; horse hair and woollen stuffs; brass and iron foundries; painted porcelains; furniture; soaps; gold and silver lace, and chemical productions. The Place Royale is one of the beautiful architectural creations of the last century, by the architect Guimard. It presents a monumental aspect, and is remarkable for the grand regularity of its appearance. It is, however, to be deeply regretted that the triumphal entries had to be for the establishment of convenient communications between the different parts of the city. An equestrian statue of Godfrey de Bouillon, the celebrated chief of the first Crusade, adorns the square. It is a fine work of art in bronze, by M. E. Simonis. In a corner near it is the statue of Count Belliard. Its history is replete with a succession of event-removed, owing to the necessity of making way ful scenes and tragical episodes. At one period depopulated by the plague, produced by 13 months of consecutive rain; at another epoch its citizens decimated by the atrocious cruelties of the Duke of Alva, the Spanish Regent; by civil wars and revolutions; religious persecutions of the Protestants by the Catholics, of the Hebrews by the Christians. Objects of attraction in Brussels.-The Town Hall and Grand Place. The Cathedral and other churches. The Museum. The King's Palace. The Palace of the Duc d'Aremberg. The Houses D The Park is an enclosure in the higher town, forming a square divided into avenues, lined with trees, and intersected by beautiful walks ornamented with statues. It has three principal walks, planted with lofty trees. On Sundays, during summer, when the weather is fine, a military band plays from a pavilion near the green basin, or round garden. This Park was the principal scene of action in the revolution of 1830; the marks of the bullets are yet to be seen in the trees. A fine basin in the centre, plentifully stocked with gold and silver fish, adds to the attractions of this delightful spot. On each side the principal walk, two valleys offer an agreeable retreat from the heat of the sun. The following are the principal buildings surrounding the Park: The King's Palace.-A large and vast edifice, presenting in its exterior neither attraction nor beauty. Its interior is magnificently furnished. Under the French, this Palace was the Hôtel de la Préfecture. Napoleon and the Empress Josephine lodged in it in 1807, and Maria Louise in 1811. It has, however, several suites of very noble rooms. The Gallery of Paintings collected by King Leopold is well worth visiting; moreover, there are several paintings of peculiar interest to English visitors, viz.: a portrait of the lamented Princess Charlotte, a beautiful one of the late Queen of the Belgians, several others of great merit and interest; for instance, those of the King of the French and his Queen, Marie Amelie; and last, though not least, two full-length portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, by Winterhalter. The Palace of the Prince of Orange, is close to the King's Palace. The late King of Holland erected It at the cost of the city, and presented it to that Prince, but it is now appropriated to the use of the Duke de Brabant. They The Chambers of Representatives, or Palais de la Nation, are situated in the Ru de la Loi. were built by the Empress Maria Theresa. There is nothing very remarkable connected with them, nor is there any object of attraction within them to particularize, except three pictures, one by Wappers, the Belgium Trois jour, the Battle of Woeringen, by De Keyzer, and the Battle of Waterloo. It is entered from behind the Rue de l'Orangerie. Strangers are admitted during the debates. The Museum, or Le Palais des Beaux Arts et de TIndustrie is destined, as its name indicates, as a repository for the works of art and of national industry. In the square is Jehotte's statue of Duke Charles of Lorraine. The Protestant Church is in the Ancienne Cour, adjoining it. The first object of attraction in it is the Picture Gallery, which contains in its collection several remarkable productions of the great masters of the Flemish school. We first direct attention to the works of the foreign schools, of which we give a brief notice. We make, however, one exception to this rule, in directing attention to an admirably executed little portrait of the Chancellor, Sir Thomas More, by Holbein. Passing from this gem of the German school to the Italian collection, we notice two paintings attributed to Titian. We next notice the Noce de Cana, by Paul Veronese, and another splendid work by the same master, St. Catherine adoring Jesus. The Holy Family will be found in this collection. The Venice Collection contains Christ calling St. Peter, a Young Man placed under the protection of the Virgin by his patrons, Saint Nicholas, Louis Francis, and Joseph; this is an excellent painting, combining with a happy arrangement a brilliant execution. The Flight into Egypt and Adam and Eve, by Guido, are worth notice. The Italian school has also a Job visited by his Friends, and a St. Sebastian, the latter by Procaccini. The French School contains the Saviour giving His Benediction, by Lesueum, a small St. Charles Borromeo, by Vouet, and a Calvary, by Courtois, &c. The other principal paintings to be seen in the gallery are seven, attributed to Rubens. Among them are the four following, which bear traces of that great Master's style, the Martyrdom of St. Livien, the Adoration of the Magi, Christ falling under the Cross, and a Christ in the Tomb. St. Peter fishing, by De Crayer, Interior of Antwerp Cathedral, by Neefs. Very many valuable paintings, purchased at the King of Holland's sale, have been added to the collection, which in all amounts to 300 paintings. The Collections of Painting and Natural History are open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, but strangers can gain admittance on other occasions by exhibiting their passport. The works of Wappers, Gallait, De Keyzer, and Verboekhoven are well worth attention, as specimens of the modern Belgian school of paintings. They are to be seen in the ante-room. |