of the Bible, suffered martyrdom in 1536, crying out, "Lord, open the King of England's eyes." At present this little town has acquired considerable reputation, from its possessing an excellent boarding-school for the education of young ladies; this establishment is conducted by Mademoiselles Squilliers, and the concurrent testimony of innumerable Protestant families represent it as being one of the best and most irreproachable institutions on the continent.

The route on leaving the last station takes in the view of many beautiful country seats, spread along the banks of the canal leading to Brussels. To the right, as we approach Brussels, is seen the Palace of Laeken, belonging to the King of the Belgians, some time the residence of his sister, the widow of the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico. This palace was originally built for the Austrian Governor of the Netherlands. It was afterwards inhabited by Napoleon, and is remarkable as being the place where he planned his Russian campaign. It is enclosed by magnificent gardens and a park, in which Leopold II. has erected a large and handsome observatory. The late queen, Louise Marie, is buried here (1850). A statue of Léopold I. stands under a Gothic cross. A statue of Madame Malibran is erected in the cemetery at Laeken, where she is buried, her husband having brought her body from Manchester. The statue is by Geefs, and is placed in a kind of temple. A beautiful and lengthy avenue of trees (l'Allée Verte) extends from Laeken to Brussels. The railroad traverses the opposite side of the canal, and near the Botanical Gardens, opposite the Rue Neuve at the Port de Cologne, enters

minus is approached, and we arrive at the station, on the Quay Escaut.

Tournai (Station). Flemish, Doornik.

Hotels: De l'Impératrice; de la Petite Nef; des Neuf Provinces.

A fortified city, in the province of Hainault. The town itself is indifferently built, and has a gloomy aspect; it contains a population of 32,835, who are engaged in the manufacture of cotton and woollen stuffs. The workmen labour at home, instead of in factories. Of the public buildings, that of the Cathedral is the most celebrated; it is one of the most ancient and curious in the country. The internal ornaments are numerous. The choir is of a remarkably bold and striking nature; the pulpit is a gem, by Gilis, and the shrine of St. Eleu Marcus a masterpiece of workmanship in gold. There is also a beautiful gallery, by Lecroux, of Tournai, and four genii, the gems of the place, by Duquesnoy. The pictures are, a Purgatory, by Rubens, and a Crucifixion, by Jordaens.

The churches of St. Quentin, St. Piat, and St. Jacques are interesting specimens of the primitive Gothic style. The Church of St. Nicholas du Chateau is of remarkable architecture, and possesses some fine pictures.

Henry VIII. captured Tournai in 1518, and bestowed it upon Cardinal Wolsey, who yielded it up to Francis I., and persuaded his royal master to sell the town to the French King, influenced by the promised interest of that monarch to obtain his elevation to the papacy.

The Public Library contains 20,000 volumes, and several curious manuscripts. The cabinet of natural history, in the museum at the Hotel de Ville, is worthy of notice.

Post Office.-Rue Notre Dame.

Five miles south-east of Tournai, to the right of the post road to Ath, is the battle-field of Fontenoy, seen immediately after passing the village of Bourquembrays. In this spot was fought the battle between the English, Dutch, and Austrians, commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, and French under Marshal Saxe.

Quitting Tournai, the following stations are met with, none of which is of any importance:

Havinnes, Bary-Maulde, Leuze (where the lines from Renaix and Mons come in), and Ligne. After which we arrive at

Ath (Station)-Inns: Paon; Duquesne. Pop., 9,000. A fortified town on the Dendre, 21 miles from Tournai. A terrible fire in 1433, a hurricane in 1600, and an earthquake in 1691, and other disastrous events, dismantled Ath of all her monuments, &c. St. Julien's Tower and the Parish Church alone escaped the conflagration. Ath has sustained many deadly sieges. The fortifications constructed in 1815 are strengthened with great care A line goes down the Dendre to Grammont and Alost, past Lessines (Station); where a branch strikes off to Ollignies (Station), 33 miles, and Bassilly (Station), 6 miles. Another line is open via Vaudignies-Neufmaison (Station) to St. Ghislain (Station), page 49, near Blaton (Station). At a short distance from Ath, on the direct line to Brussels, viâ Hal (see below), is

Enghien (Station). A town containing about 4,000 inhabitants. The beautiful park and gardens surrounding the chateau of the Duke D'Aremberg, destroyed during the French Revolution, deserve notice. At Meslin l'Evêque, near Ath, the cultivation of the mulberry and silkworm has been introduced with much success. The Belioel, 6 miles from Ath, not far from the road, is famous as the patrimonial estate of the Prince de Ligne illustrious in the triple capacity of diplomatist, soldier, and author.

[The old route to Brussels formerly passed by Maffles, Attre, Brugelette, Lens Stations, to Jurbise (Station). A small commune, with a population of 700 souls. It is about 8 miles from Mons by railway. The country along from Jurbise to Braine-le-Comte is rather interesting. there is a correspondence with the railway from Mons.

Soignies (Station).

Here

one of the most renowned in Belgium; it is still well attended. The principal trade carried on is in the quarrying of the stone, known as that of Soignies. It gives name to the forest towards

Waterloo.

Post Office, near the church. Braine-le-Comte (Station).-Hotel: De la Station. Pop.,7,220. A small ancient town of Hainault, in the district of Mons. It is said that Brennus, the Gaul, 391 years before Christ, founded a fortress and tower upon the site of the present church. The parish Church has a stone tabernacle at the choir, a fine piece of sculpture, but much disfigured with gilding and painting. The front of the convent of the Dominicans is an elegant structure. The manufactures are chiefly cotton spinning and lace thread spinning. On the right the line turns off to Charleroi and Namur. Travellers, proceeding direct to Namur and Liége, change carriages at this station.

The surrounding district here is celebrated for the superiority of its flax, the best grown anywhere. It is employed in the manufacture of Brussels lace. To the north-west, a few miles distant, is Steenkerke, the spot where the Duke of Luxembourg defeated William III., with a loss of 7,000 men, in 1692.

Quitting the last station, the railway pierces the tunnel of Braine-le-Comte, and enters a deep cutting, passing Heunnuyres, a commune of the province of Hainault; and La Gennette, where Jean Jacques Rousseau died, in 1741; after which it arrives at

Tubise (Station). A commune in the district of Nivellos, in the province of Brabant, with a

population of 2,500 souls. Branch to Robecq (Station).

Lembecq (Station). A town containing 2,300 inhabitants, with no objects of interest save its old chateau and its numerous distilleries.]

The present Direct Line runs from Enghien through Saintes to

Hal (Station).

Hotels: Des Pays Bas; Duc de Brabant.

A pretty town of 7,815 inhabitants, built partly on the Senne, and on the canal Charleroi, having no objects of particular interest, save the church of St. Mary, celebrated as possessing

miracle-working image of the Virgin. It is of wood, two feet high, and has acquired immense wealth by pious offerings, including gold plate given by Charles V., Maximilian I., Pope Julius II., &c. A side chapel contains 33 cannon balls, aimed, it is said, at the church, and caught by the Virgin in her mantle, which she had spread over the town to protect it during a bombardment. The high altar deserves special notice, it being one of the most beautiful in Belgium, made of marble, and sculptured, it would seem, by Italian artists. Below is the tabernacle, and underneath St. Martin dividing his cloak. The Seven Sacraments are represented on the bas-reliefs, admirable works of art, at the lower rows, and the entire construction is surmounted by a pelican. The gorgeous font, of brass, cast at Tournai, by the artist Lefevre, in 1467, is worth seeing. It is placed in the octagon baptistery of the church, and is covered with a spire, adorned by statues, and groups representing the Baptism of Christ, St. Martin, &c.

Leaving Hal, we pass the village of Eysingham, and crossing the Senne, arrive at

Loth (Station), about 5 miles from Brussels. It has a very fine church, richly ornamented, and having over the high altar a painting (the Martyrdom of St. Peter) by De Crayer.

Quitting Loth, the railway runs parallel with the canal Charleroi, passes Ruysbroeck and Forest stations. After which, it leaves the suburb of St. Gillis, crossing the gate of Hal on the left, the boulevard, and arrives at the south station, entering

Brussels-(Route 7).

ROUTE 3.

London to Brussels, viâ Dover, Ostend, Bruges, and Ghent.

London to Dover-(Route 1).

Mail steamers leave Dover for Ostend at 9-35 a.m. and 10-5 p.m. The distance from port to port is 63 English miles, and the voyage is made in 4 to 5 hours. Express trains run in connection to Germany, Basle, the St. Gothard, &c. Fifteen miles south, the light of Dunkirk is seen, before the Ostend one shews itself. Two jetties flank the Ostend harbour, which is dry at low water, and form very nice promenades.

English Church Service.-In Rue Longue. Ship Brokers.--Messrs. Perier and Son. Omnibuses attend the arrival of each train. The Harbour of Ostend is formed by a natura inlet of the sea, which has forced a passage between two sand-hills. The south-western bank, or beach is elevated above high-water mark at half tide, and on this bank the town is built. About 60,000 pas sengers pass yearly to and from England; and: to 4 million rabbits are exported in cases of 60 dozen

Ostend is a strongly fortified town, contain. ing 19,720 inhabitants, and is placed between the sea and the harbour, being surrounded by water on every side, and enclosed with ramparts. The

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miracle-working in wood, two feet hig wealth by pious o given by Charles V II., &c. A side ch aimed, it is said, the Virgin in her over the town to p The high altar de one of the most marble, and sculp artists. Below is St. Martin dividin

ments are represer works of art, at construction is: gorgeous font, o artist Lefevre, placed in the oct is covered with

groups represent Martin, &c.

Leaving Hal, and crossing the Loth (Stati It has a very fi having over the dom of St. Pete Quitting Lot

the canal Charl stations. Afte St. Gillis, cross boulevard, an

entering

Brussels

BRADSHAW'S HAND-BOOK

sca and the harbour, being surrounded by water on every side, and enclosed with ramparts. The