The Town Hall is a handsome Gothic building the fountain and basin opposite are worthy of attention. The portal of the collegiate church of the burgomaster and aldermen is a masterpiece of wood carving, executed in 1530 by Paul Vander Schelder. The trade in linen is extensive. The population is 6,300. The Lys, which passes Deynze, rises in France, in the department of the Pas de Calais, not far from Bethune; after watering Aire, Estaires, and Armentières, it takes a northeasterly direction, a little below the latter town, and forms the limit between France and Belgium, by Warneton and Wervick, which it passes, and entering West Flanders, passes Courtray, then enters East Flanders, near Olsene, crossing Deynze, and taking a winding course of about 100 miles, it falls into the Scheldt at Ghent.

Nazareth Station is next met with. Population 5,500. Leaving here the railway passes Maria Leerne, and enters a very interesting place, to the right of which meanders the river Lys. St. Dennis Western is passed to the left; the road leading to the village of Oudenarde is next crossed by the railway, after which it turns suddenly to the left, and leaving the line leading to Brussels, arrives at

GHENT Station (French, Gand; Flemish, Gend; English, Gaunt, where John of Gaunt was born.)-Hotels:

Hotel Royal, Place d'Armes, in the centre of the town, and nearest to the railway station, a first-class hotel-highly recommended to English travellers; landlord, Mr. Marit.

Hotel de la Poste, Place d'Armes.-This old established first-rate hotel is conducted by Mr. A. Vande Putte, and is highly recommended.

Hotel de Vienne, nearest hotel to the churches of St. Bavon, St. Nichol, and St. Michael-recommended for its moderate charges and excellent accommodation. A. Roszmann, proprietor, a

German.

Du Comte d'Egmont; D'Allemagne; Du Duc de Wellington; De Courtrai.

There is a good Buffet at the station, which is within the town. Cabs are always in attendance. The traveller will be most agreeably surprised on entering this rich and populous city, through one of its seven gates, situated at the confluence of the Scheldt and the Lys, to observe the anima

tion and activity imparted by the flourishing state of its manufactories. Its population of 120,000 persons is chiefly engaged in the manufacturing of linen and cotton threads by machinery, and the bleaching and printing of calicoes. Gand is built on twenty-six islands, united by bridges, and contains three hundred streets. Ghent, though no longer the great commercial city of former days, when the Emperor Charles V. (its most distinguished native, born here 1500) said of it-"Je mettrai tout Paris dans mon Gand," (i.e. my glove, mon gant), is still the Manchester of Belgium. In 1,800 an enterprising Fleming, named Lieviere Baucus, brought over from Manchester several English workmen and spinning jennies; manufactures quickly took root, and in a short time 30,000 workmen were employed, sixty steam-engines required to set in motion the machinery of the various cotton mills, many of whose chimneys appear like classic columns.

The political history of Ghent is various and interesting. Notwithstanding the severe stricture: of the historian, Hallam, it calls up to the recollection many scenes which inspire us with every sentiment of sympathy and good-will towards the descendants of many a name illustrated in centuries past by deeds of patriotism and domestic virtue, which still do honour to the Flemish character. Its citizen-magistrates being condemned by the Emperor Charles V. to implore his clemency, and to wear a rope round their necks whenever they acted judicially, they turned into an honour with this device, in which the city is characterised, along with others:

"Nobilibus Bruxella vir's, Antverpia nummis,
Gandavum laqueis, fornosis Bruga pueilis,
Lovanium doctis, gaudet Mechlinis stultis."

Ghent is one of the handsomest towns on the Continent; its streets and public squares are wide and spacious; it has more the appearance of a modern city than Bruges. Most of the houses, 8 in Holland, are furnished with espions, or little reflectors, placed outside the windows, and showing all the passers in the street. Its objects of attraction may be enumerated as follows:The Beffroi.-Belfry tower, a building erected in 1183. Permission to erect a tower, or belfry, was the earliest privilege that the citizens ob tained from their feudal lords, and was, hence, long

The Town Hall is a handsome Gothic building the fountain and basin opposite are worthy of attention. The portal of the collegiate church of the burgomaster and aldermen is a masterpiece of wood carving, executed in 1530 by Paul Vander Schelder. The trade in linen is extensive. The population is 6,300. The Lys, which passes Deynze, rises in France, in the department of the Pas de Calais, not far from Bethune; after watering Aire, Estaires, and Armentières, it takes a northeasterly direction, a little below the latter town, and forms the limit between France and Belgium, by Warneton and Wervick, which it passes, and entering West Flanders, passes Courtray, then enters East Flanders, near Olsene, crossing Deynze, and taking a winding course of about 100 miles, it falls into the Scheldt at Ghent.

Nazareth Station is next met with. Population 5,500. Leaving here the railway passes Maria Leerne, and enters a very interesting place, to the right of which meanders the river Lys. St. Dennis Western is passed to the left; the road leading to the village of Oudenarde is next crossed by the railway, after which it turns suddenly to the left, and leaving the line leading to Brussels, arrives at

GHENT Station (French, Gand; Flemish, Gend; English, Gaunt, where John of Gaunt was born.)-Hotels:

Hotel Royal, Place d'Armes, in the centre of the town, and nearest to the railway station, a first-class hotel-highly recommended to English travellers; landlord, Mr. Marit.

Hotel de la Poste, Place d'Armes.-This old established first-rate hotel is conducted by Mr. A. Vande Putte, and is highly recommended.

Hotel de Vienne, nearest hotel to the churches of St. Bavon, St. Nichol, and St. Michael-recommended for its moderate charges and excellent accommodation. A. Roszmann, proprietor, a

German.

Du Comte d'Egmont; D'Allemagne; Du Duc de Wellington; De Courtrai.

There is a good Buffet at the station, which is within the town. Cabs are always in attendance. The traveller will be most agreeably surprised on entering this rich and populous city, through one of its seven gates, situated at the confluence of the Scheldt and the Lys, to observe the anima

tion and activity imparted by the flourishing state of its manufactories. Its population of 120,000 persons is chiefly engaged in the manufacturing of linen and cotton threads by machinery, and the bleaching and printing of calicoes. Gand is built on twenty-six islands, united by bridges, and contains three hundred streets. Ghent, though no longer the great commercial city of former days, when the Emperor Charles V. (its most distinguished native, born here 1500) said of it-"Je mettrai tout Paris dans mon Gand," (i.e. my glove, mon gant), is still the Manchester of Belgium. In 1,800 an enterprising Fleming, named Lieviere Baucus, brought over from Manchester several English workmen and spinning jennies; manufactures quickly took root, and in a short time 30,000 workmen were employed, sixty steam-engines required to set in motion the machinery of the various cotton mills, many of whose chimneys appear like classic columns.

The political history of Ghent is various and interesting. Notwithstanding the severe stricture: of the historian, Hallam, it calls up to the recollection many scenes which inspire us with every sentiment of sympathy and good-will towards the descendants of many a name illustrated in centuries past by deeds of patriotism and domestic virtue, which still do honour to the Flemish character. Its citizen-magistrates being condemned by the Emperor Charles V. to implore his clemency, and to wear a rope round their necks whenever they acted judicially, they turned into an honour with this device, in which the city is characterised, along with others:

"Nobilibus Bruxella vir's, Antverpia nummis,
Gandavum laqueis, fornosis Bruga pueilis,
Lovanium doctis, gaudet Mechlinis stultis."

Ghent is one of the handsomest towns on the Continent; its streets and public squares are wide and spacious; it has more the appearance of a modern city than Bruges. Most of the houses, a in Holland, are furnished with espions, or little reflectors, placed outside the windows, and showing all the passers in the street. Its objects of attraction may be enumerated as follows:

The Beffroi.-Belfry tower, a building erected in 1183. Permission to erect a tower, or belfry was the earliest privilege that the citizens ob tained from their feudal lords, and was, hence, long

regarded by them as a monument of their power and wealth. It originally served as a watch tower, from whence an enemy could be descried, and in which was a tocsin-bell that called the citizens to arms, and to debate. The gilt dragon on the top was carried off from Bruges by the Gantoises, as a trophy of their conquest of that town, under Philip Vlaenderlaudt. It has lately been re-gilt. Its history is rather a remarkable one, it having originally adorned a Greek church at Constantinople, from whence it was carried off by the men of Bruges, who went to the first crusade as soldiers under Baldwin, Count of Flanders. It is now used as a prison, and had deposited in the lower part of it, not long since, the title deeds and records of Ghent. From its top a magnificent view can be had, and the entrance to it lies through the shop of a watchmaker, who charges 2 francs for admission. The following reply was made by Charles V. to his cruel and atrocious minister, Alva, who advised him to destroy the city, "Combien, il fallait de peaux d'Espagne pour fair un gant de cette grandeur?" -(How many skins of Spanish leather would it take to make such a glove?) Thus spoke the king, pointing out the city from the top of the Beffroi.

The Cathedral of Ghent is one of the handsomest Gothic buildings in Belgium. It was formerly a church dedicated to St. John, but took the name of St. Bavon in 1540, when Charles V. removed thither the collegiate chapter of the Abbey of that saint, and 19 years afterwards it was raised to the dignity of a cathedral church. The present building was commenced in the thirteenth, and finished in the beginning of the sixteenth century. The majestic effect which the structure is calculated to produce is much impaired by the want of an open area around and in front. The tower is remarkable for its elegance; it is 271 feet high, and the ascent to the platform which terminates it is by 446 steps; the view from the summit is of great extent and beauty. The Cathedral itself is divided into three aisles by a double range of light and elegant columns.

On each side are disposed twelve chapels, which, as well as the choir, are in excellent keeping with the rest of the building. The choir which has two side aisles, is raised

above the floor of the body of the church by flight of steps: in front is the grand altar, enclose by three bronze doors of elaborate workmanshi and surmounted by Corinthian columns of t purest Carrara marble, with a statue of the sai in his ducal robes, and two colossal mart statues by Van Pouche, representing the apostl Peter and Paul. In front of the altar are four ti copper candlesticks, remarkable as having bee the property of Charles the First of England. is surmised that they may have adorned th Chapel of Whitehall, or St. Paul's Church. It supposed that they were sent out of England and sold; on them are still seen the arms of England.

The stalls of the canons in the choir are said to be the finest specimens of carving in mahogany known to exist in the world. Over these stalls are eleven paintings in imitation of bas-relief, by P. Van Reyschoot. Most of the numerous chapels which line the Cathedral are adorned with paintings. The first contains the beheading of St. John the Baptist, by Crayer; the second, the Donation of St. Colette (a saint of Ghent, who died in 1447), of a piece of ground for a convent, by Paelinck, a modern artist; the third, the Baptism of our Saviour, by Crauwer; the fourth, a dead Christ, by Abraham Janssens; the sixth, Christ disputing with the Doctors, by Pourbus, all the figures of which are portraits of different individuals holding official situations under Phillip II.; the seventh, a fine picture of the Martyrdom of St. Barbe, by Crayer; the tenth, a Christ between the Thieves, by Vander Menen, a pupil of Van Dyck. In the eleventh is the Agnus Dei, one of the most celebrated pictures of the Flemish school, painted by the brothers Van Eyck, the inventors of oil painting, in 1482; and, though more than four hundred years have elapsed since this picture was painted, the colours retain a vividness truly wonderful, the numerous figures are all finished with the most elaborate care, and each countenance is endued with admirably appropriate expression. The towers, which in the luminous horizon are supposed to represent the New Jerusalem, are taken from those of Maestricht, near which town the artists were born. Above this picture are three smaller ones by the same artists; the centre represents Christ on a