St. Nicholas Station.

the banks of the Nethe. To the right we see

The chief town of a district of East Flanders, on the road from Ghent to Antwerp. A flourishing trade is carried on in all sorts of stuffs, which are here manufactured. The population numbers upwards of 24,000. The principal church contains some fine pictures, and the Town Hall is a splendid specimen of art, by Smeyers.

Conveyances.-Railway to Antwerp and Ghent.See BRADSHAW's Continental Guide.

Leaving this last station we pass Beveren Station, with a population of 7,000, and arrive at

Zwyndrecht, a pretty little village, containing 2,000 inhabitants. Its church, an ancient edifice, constructed in 1242, contains a choir and some paintings worthy of the visitor's notice.

The

TÊTE DE FLANDRE.-On the left bank facing Antwerp lies the Terminus, which forms an outwork to the city. Napoleon intended to found a new city here. A steam ferry boat plies across the Scheldt between the Tête de Flandre and Antwerp, every quarter of an hour, conveying pas sengers, &c., to the Ghent Railway Station. Belgian Government have constructed on this side the Scheldt, a Camp Retranché, which is to be the head quarters of Government, and of the Belgian army-in the event of an invasion. And this camp is well worth visiting. It is situated opposite the Citadel of Antwerp.

Antwerp.-See Route 4.

ROUTE 11.

Antwerp to Brussels, by Malines. Antwerp, in Route 4.

Leaving Antwerp, we pass Berchem Station, in a commune of 2,800 inhabitants. Here were the headquarters of the French during the siege of Antwerp, in 1832. It was before this place that Count Frederic de Merode was mortally wounded in 1830, during the retreat of the Dutch troops. About here we perceive many beautiful country residences, principally belonging to the merchants of Antwerp. Vieux-Dieux Station, or Oude God in Flemish, near a little hamlet to the right, so called from a Pagan idol adored here, before the establishment of Christianity, Quitting here the line proceeds by

little further on to the left we see, passing up in the distance, Hove, and soon after arrive at

Contich Station, close to a small place with 3,640 inhabitants. The antiquated castles of Groeningen Hof, de Tanghoff, and d'Altina here, are worth a visit. A branch rail to Herenthals and Turnhout, crosses the Antwerp and Maestricht line.

Duffel Station is situated upon the Nethe, traversed by the route from Malines to Lierre Station (near a chief town of a canton in the district of Malines, on the Maestricht line, as above, situated at the confluence of the great and little Nethe, surrounded by ramparts planted with trees, and containing a population of 13,153 inhabitants). Duffel has a population of 3,940 people, and its trade in linen is the chief staple of its industry. Passing

Wavre-Ste.-Catherine Station, we arrive at Malines.-Hence to Brussels, see Route 1.

Antwerp to Turnhout.-Distance, about 24 miles by road, and 35 by rail, by Lierre and Herenthals.

The route by road as here given will doubtless present features of attraction to the political economist and philanthropist, as affording to the former de facto evidence as to the effect of reproductive pauper labour carried out on a large scheme, whilst it exhibits to the latter the operation of industrial laws in reference to the indigent labour of the country. Before reaching Westmael we see the Cistercian Convent, or Abbey of La Trappe. The building presents nothing remarkable in its architectural design, but a visit to its interior will repay the visitor. The monks of this order are remarkable for the strict régime under which they live, as well as for the active and industrial pursuits which they constantly follow. The brothers rarely speak: they rise at two o'clock a.m., and continue in prayer until six o'clock, when they proceed to their daily avocations of field labour and other pursuits. They' take but one meal a day, and retire to bed at eight o'clock p.m. The house is governed by an abbot, prior, and sub-prior. The brothers number about

Bastogne Station, close to a village, with 2,000 inhabitants, remarkable for its old and interesting church. Road to Liége, by the Houffalize, surmounted by the ruins of a Castle.

Longlier Station, near NEUFCHÂTEAU, a small town on a branch of the Semoy.

Habay Station, at Habay-la-Neuve, on another branch of the Semoy; followed by Fouches Station and Arlon Station.

Inn: Hotel du Nord.

A small place, with 5,800 inhabitants, the capital of the Belgian part of the province of Luxembourg and surmised to be the Orodlanum of the Romans. Rail to Longuyon, Metz, &c.

At Sterpenich Station and Bettingen Station, are the Belgian and Dutch douanes. On the frontier of Dutch Luxembourg, the German language begins to be spoken.

LUXEMBOURG Station.

Hotel: De Cologne, in the centre of the town, an old-established house, affording good accommodation.

The town is not less singularly than picturesquely situated, is the capital of the grand duchy of the same name, and contains 14,000 inhabitants. It belongs to the King of Holland, by the treaty of 1815, being given to that monarch in leau of Nassau, to which he laid claim. The princely house to which Luxembourg or Lützelburg gives a name has given five emperors to Germany, queens to France, and kings to several European states. The only remarkable spot in the town is the Gateway, in the lower town, a broken fragment, and sole surviving memorial of the palace of Peter Earnest, of Mansfeldt, the Spanish Stadtholder. The town is hemmed in by high rocks, so that, coming from the Brussels side, you do not get a glimpse of it until at its very portals. It is divided into the upper and lower towns, the former being connected only on the west with the neighbouring country. It takes a precipice-like descent 200 feet deep on the other sides. Its valley, which will well repay a walk, is enclosed by bold and rugged rocks of lofty dimensions, and watered by the stream of Alzette and Peltruschbach, The lower town is full of active industry, and has a great number of mills and dyeworks. A projecting

rock, known as Le Bouc, divides it into two quarters, which communicate with the upper town by means of zig-zag streets and flights of steps. The draw-bridges of the picturesque fortifications of the vale of the Alzette strike one as being suspended in the air, and entering the town from the German side, their being crossed will appear a matter altogether impossible. The fortifications were successively added to and strengthened by various towers until it was considered to be the strongest defence in Europe, after Gibraltar. According to a Decree emanating from a Conference of the Great Powers recently (May, 1867) held in London, the Forts are now dismantled, the whole of the Prussian garrison withdrawn, and the Duchy has become neutral territory under the control of the King of Holland.

On entering the gate of the city, the passport, if demanded, must be given up. A receipt or certificate (schein) is given, on the production of which, on the following day, at the polizei, the passport is returned. If, however, the traveller wishes to proceed on his journey the same day, his passport may also be obtained.

Rail to Diekirch and Spa, to Thionville and Treves, crossing the ravine by rail; good viaducts. Our line to Trèves passes through a hilly country, to

Oetringen Station, or Etrange, on the Sire. Then Rhoodt Station and Wecker Station,

near

GREVENMACHERN, where the line arrives at the Moselle, and follows its left bank, through scenery of the most attractive beauty, until our arrival at Trèves.

Mertert Station, between the Sire and Moselle. At Wasserbillig Station we cross the bridge spanning the Sire, and arrive at the Prussian frontier and custom house, where the examination (of baggage, &c.), a sévere but polite one, takes place. This is the nearest station for the Igel, a curious Roman monument, on the road a few miles from Trèves. The village is a small one, and has, standing in its midst, a magnificent Roman structare, known as the monument of Igel. It is a quadrangular Obelisk, 70 feet high, ornamented with inscriptions, carvings, engravings, &c., but so mutilated as to render the discovery of its

origin or designation all but impossible. Many, Indeed, have been the explanations given of it, as mány, probably, as the number of antiquarians, who brought all their lore in endeavours to decipher its hieroglyphics. Some claim it as a commemoration of Constantine's marriage with Helena, others would ascribe its erection to record the birth of Caligula, and others consider it an allusion to the apotheosis of some imperial family. However, speculation seems to be merged in the plain fact, that it was erected by two brothers called Secunduius, for a twofold purpose, that is, to commemorate a marriage of their sister, and be a mourning memorial for the memory of their deceased relatives. Its style of architecture would denote it as belonging to the Constantine era. The Secunduir, the family by whom it was erected, it would appear, were a noble and powerful family, who occupied several posts under the Roman Government, some of which are denoted by the heraldic devices on the monument.

Conz Station, near a small village, deriving Its name from Constantine, who had a summer palace here. Here the Saarbrück line, in the valley of the Sarre, joins

Trèves, see Route 25.

ROUTE 14.

Mons to Manage, towards Waterloo and Brussels.

Mons, as in Route 7.

The railway starts from the Government Station, where it joins the line from Brussels to the frontier of France.

Nimy Station, near a small village containing a population of 2,000 souls. It is remarkable for an earthenware manufactory, that at one time employed three hundred men, which number has fallen below fifty since the introduction of English potteries. The ware made at Nimy is composed of clay and silex, and is susceptible of receiving the most graceful forms, and has the advantage, from its cheapness, of being within the reach of all classes of purchasers. Nimy, through which the high road from Mons to Brussels passes, is much frequented during the fine season, and is considered a pleasant residence.

Obourg Station is 14 league from Mons, at the confluence of the Haine and Aubechuelle, surrounded by pasture land and meadows, from which it derives its chief riches. It contains a population of 4,000 inhabitants. The woody line which bounds the horizon on the left, beyond Obourg, conceals the old castle of Rocult, one of the most remarkable in Belgium. It is built on a hill, sloped by a magnificent park, spreading from grove to grove and lawn to lawn, with incomparable grace.

Havre Station, near Havre-Ville, which is situated in the vicinity of Obourg, and possesses a Gothic castle, built in 1603. It is seen to the right of the railway, in the midst of a park. The wood of Havre and the castle of the Duke of Croy, are favourite country walks with the inhabitants of Mons.

Bracquegnies Station. The place is a mere dependency of Strepy, a village of the canton of Rocuix, situated three leagues east of Mons. Near Bracquegnies the railway, after repeatedly passing the Haine, crosses it for the last time. From this place onwards the soil, less level, is cut by several hills, between which He plains more or less confined. On the right and left of the road are numerous coal works, established on a coal soil connected with the basin of the east of Mons.

Bois-du-Luc Station touches the great coal works of that name, consisting of five pits, from which the coal is extracted by powerful steam engines. The coal works of LA PAIX, on the territory of the parish of St. Vaast forms the sixth intermediate station. These coal pits present a most picturesque aspect, situated in a woody hollow, penetrated in a graceful curve by a road, which disappears in the shade.

La Louvière Station, the last stop between Mons and Manage, is the principal station on the line. It is one of the most important coal grants on the territory of St. Vaast. There the new banks have been established along the branch of the canal from Charleroi to Brussels. At this station the branch line towards L'Olive and Bascoup begins. Between La Louvière and L'Olive there are five stations, Housseau, Beaume, La Verrière, St. Adolphe, and Mariemont. This branch touches the richest coal grants in the centre.

The tourist who intends to judge of the peculiar aspect given to this district by the establishments of every description, in which industry is carried on in so large a scale, will visit this vast workshop, which employs in a varied and unceasing production, an innumerable quantity of intelligent and indefatigable labourers. The country besides offers more than one site worthy of attention. One view in particular, of the most charming character, is that which one discovers at Mariemont, where the magnificent residence of M. Warocque contrasts in the life and splendour of its modern luxury with the highly picturesque ruins of the residence of the Archdukes of Austria,

Leaving the La Louvière station, the trunk line crosses the branches of the Charleroi canal, on a fixed and a swing bridge. Numerous industrial establishments continue to appear on both sides of the railway, which passes through a well cultivated country, and some orchards, whose aspect relieves the monotony of the landscape. Finally, on the high road from Nivelles to Mons, the railway enters the station at Manage, which it shares in common with the government railway that joins it.

Manage Station, a few years ago, was close to an insignificant hamlet, forming a part of the village of Leneffe. The place is now daily rising in importance since the building of the Government and Namur and Liége railway stations there. Rail to Brain-le-Comte, Charleroi, and Nivelles, towards Brussels and Louvain.

Charleroi to Morialmé and Givet. Between Charleroi and Marchiennes-au-Pont, this railway turns off from the Brussels and Namur line, and passes through a district rich in minerals, and enjoying an extensive trade in zinc and iron, coke and coal. It connects the valleys of the Sambre and Meuse a few miles above Givet, and likewise at Charleroi and Mézières. The distance is 25 English miles. Passing a few stations, of no importance we arrive at

Berzée Station, where a branch railway leads by Thyle-Chateau to Laneffe station,

Though the Meuse above Namur is less visited, it is not less interestingly attractive there than below it. Escarpments of limestone, magnificent in their lofty outline and bold projecting heights, hem in the river as it flows gently along its pearly bed, the entire landscape forming a tout ensemble resembling the vales of Derbyshire. At Dinant the road crosses the river by a stone bridge, and at Yvoir, 4 miles below, we see the intermittent springs, rising and sinking regularly, every seven minutes. Passing several picturesque villas and chateaux we perceive, about 3 miles below Dinant, the ruins of the Castle of Poilvache, taken and destroyed, in 1429, by Bishop Jean de Heynsberg.

To the left, on the summit of a rock, half a mile or so below Dinant, is seen the ruined Castle of Bouvignes or Crèvecœur. A thrilling tale of female heroism is connected with the history of this castle, and tradition does not fail to perpetuate and hand it down to each succeeding generation. The French, under the Duke de Nevers, besieged this castle in 1554, and three beautiful women, with their husbands, took refuge in the tower of Crèvecœur, designing to aid the garrison by their succour and presence. The besieged were all slain save the three females, who, rather than submit to the brutality of their conquerors, threw themselves from the top of the battlements, and were dashed into atoms on the rocks beneath.

Dinant Station.-Hotels:

Tête D'Or.-An excellent house, and very reasonable; recommended; good trout fishing. Des Postes, a very good and comfortable house. Population 7,300. It is situated in a romantic position at the base of limestone cliffs, with the citadel and church crowning their summits.

The Bouvignese and people of Dinant were rivals in the manufacture of copper, and from this arose a hostile animus on both sides which led to the most cruel and sanguinary encounters. The