contained 6,000 weavers. In 1312, Philip of Burgundy carried away a celebrated Clock,

Lille to Ghent, vià Mouscron and

Courtray.

46 English miles.

Roubaix (Station). An industrious and manufacturing town, which has lately risen into great importance and still continues to increase in population and trade. Hotel: Ferraille. It has a population of 83,700. Its staple manufacture is woollens and mixed fabrics, and it is generally called the French Bradford. Close to it, the English, under the Duke of York, suffered a severe defeat from the French, commanded by Pichegru, on May 18th, 1794. They lost 1,000 killed, 2,000 prisoners, and 60 cannon.

Tourcoing (Station), 7 miles from Lille. A town with 48,635 inhabitants, no way remarkable in its general appearance, but noted for its manufactures of table linen.

Mouscron (Station), in Belgium, 11 miles from Lille. The town is seen on an eminence to the right, with its beautiful church built of bricks. Its chief importance arises from the fact of its being situated on the frontier. It is the chief place of its commune, and contains a population of 5,536 souls. The country about is rich and well cultivated, producing wheat and rich pastures. Passports and baggage are examined at this station. Facing Mouscron, to the left, is the village of Luingues. Here (junction of the railway from Tournay) a change of carriage and an examination of luggage takes place. Travellers for Brussels, via Jurbise, also to Namur, should take especial care to get into the proper train. From this station the railway proceeds on through a beautiful country, until its arrival at Courtray, on nearing which the country appears highly cultivated and picturesquely agreeable.

Courtray (Station)-In Flemish, Kortryck.
Population (1882), 27,320.

Hotel: Du Lion d'Or.

A fortified town, and the chief place of a judicial and administrative district of West Flanders. It is situated on the Lys, which divides it into two parts, securing to it a communication with the principal towns in the north of France. The streets are large, and finely built. Under the name of Cortoriacum it existed in the time of the Romans. The first cloths were made here in 1268, and two hundred years afterwards it

considered at that time one of the wonders of the age, and the two figures (Jacquemart and his wife) which struck the hours. The regularity of the motions of these latter gave rise to a proverb which still exists in Courtray, when speaking of the love existing between a couple, "They agree like Jacquemart and his wife." It is still famous for its manufacture of table linen and other damask, though no longer possessing any monopoly in these articles.

The surrounding country is noted for its growth of flax, for the use of its own and other manufactories. In the neighbourhood are large and extensive bleaching-grounds. The flax is steeped in the waters of the Lys, esteemed peculiarly favourable for bleaching purposes.

In a plain near Courtray was fought, in 1302, the sanguinary Battle of the Golden Spurs, between the French troops, under the Count d'Artois, and the Flemish under John, Count of Namur; in which the former were totally defeated, and the Count d'Artois and the Constable of France, together with upwards of twelve hundred knights and several thousand men, left dead on the field. The battle derived its name from the immense number (700) of the gilt spurs worn by the knights, which fell into the hands of the victors. To the right of the road is seen a small chapel, erected in 1831 to commemorate the event. It is outside the Porte de Gand, and marks the centre of the battlefield.

The public buildings and monuments of Courtray are not numerous. We will describe shortly the principal.

Hotel de Ville: the interior possesses two chimneys, one placed in the police court or hall, the other in the council room; the sculpture of which is of exquisite delicacy and highly finished, and with the fine belfry worthy of attention.

Church of Saint Martin: this church was founded about the year 650 by Saint Eloi. It is remarkable for the tower (one of the loftiest in Belgium) which surmounts the portico. There is a tabernacle in the interior most admirably sculptured, and a picture by Vleirick, a painter of the 16th century, representing the "Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles," and on the two wings, "The S

of Adam in Paradise," and "The Baptism of Christ." There is another picture by Van Manderen, the historian and poet, representing "A scene of Martyrdom at Rome." The rich ornaments made use of in Divine worship are worthy of notice for the beauty of the chasing and engraving. Notre Dame: this church is worthy of notice, chiefly from the richness of its marbles. It was founded in 1238 by Baldwin, Count of Flanders and Emperor of Constantinople. It deserves to be visited on account of the richness and grandeur of its ornaments, particularly a chef-d'œuvre of Van Dyck, placed behind the high altar, and representing the Elevation of the Cross. The tabernacle, a fine piece of carving, by the famous Lefevre, of Tournay; two bas-reliefs by Godecharles; and Christ at the Tomb, deserve to be noticed. This church once possessed the small ivory statue of the Virgin, known as the Virgin of Oroeningen, celebrated for the miracles which, according to many, it performed; it is now in the church of Saint Michael, and still attracts crowds of pilgrims to its shrine. The two towers, called Brotom-Torren, built in 1413, are remarkable for the extreme strength and thickness of the walls; they are united by a bridge over the Lys, built in the year 1465. The Market Houses are seen in all their ancient simplicity in the centre of the town; the front of the building is adorned by five elegant turrets. There was formerly a high tower in the centre of the structure, in which the celebrated clock previously mentioned was placed. A modern building has been erected for market purposes.

The Theatre, remarkable for the beauty of its decorations, forms part of the new market building. Promenades: the ramparts or boulevards surrounding Courtray form a fine walk, from which may be had a beautiful view of the city. The park of Saint George is likewise a delightful place; but by far the most agreeable of the public walks is the esplanade; it is planted with chestnut and lime trees, and has nicely laid out plots of green, furnished here and there with elegant and comfortable seats.

Railway to Bruges and Ostend; also to Ypres, Poperinghe, Renaix, Mons, &c.; and direct to Brussels, via Audenarde, Sotteghem, Denderleeuw. Leaving Courtray for Ghent, the railway runs parallel to the paved road, and shortly arrives at

Haerlebeke (Station). A commune and chief place of a canton in the district of Courtray, containing a population of 4,486 souls. It was the oldest town in Flanders, and the residence of the first governors of the country. Antiquities have frequently been found here. The church is remarkable for its architecture, and contains a superb pulpit, a masterpiece of Decreux, of Tournay. It was formerly an important fortress, and suffered many vicissitudes in the 9th and 10th centuries. It has manufactures of woollens, cloths, and tobacco.

Waereghem (Station). An important and ancient commune of the district of Courtray; population, 7,220. It has a considerable trade in linen. Situated four miles north-west of it, is the village of Roosbeke, remarkable as the spot where Philip Van Artevelde, the brewer of Ghent, suffered defeat by the French in 1382, being killed with 20,000 of his countrymen. Shortly after leaving Waereghem the railway crosses the stype, and, quitting West Flanders, enters into East Flanders, passes Zulte, a town containing 2,000 inhabitants, and arrives at Deynze, after running in a right line, past Olsene and then Mochelen; the former a commune of the district of Ghent, with a population of 2,600, and the latter a town of the same district, containing a population of 2,100 inhabitants.

Deynze (Station) is situated on the left bank of the Lys. On the opposite bank, between the road and the river, is Peteghem, a small commune containing 1,400 souls. Deynze is the chief place of a canton in the district of Ghent, and an ancient town; its population is 3,800. The principal Church, Notre Dame, is an old Gothic building, containing a fine picture, attributed to Jordaens, representing the Birth of Christ.

[Railway to Thielt, and to Oudenarde. Thielt (Station) is the chief place of a canton in the district of Bruges. Itis the birth-place of Olivier le Daim, the celebrated barber of Louis XI. Pop.,12,000. From here a branch runs through Pitthem (Station) to Lichtertervelde (Station) on the way to Dunkirk; and another is open to Meulbeke (Station) and Ingelmünster (Station), a place for carpet factories. Oudenarde (Station) is of very ancient origin, where Marlborough and Prince Eugene defeated the French, 11th July,

one of its seven gates, situated at the confluence of the Scheldt and the Lys, to observe the animation and activity imparted by the flourishing state of its manufactories. Its population 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 distin

tières, it runs north-easterly along the border of 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 Westrem 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; where John of Gaunt was born. Population (1882), 133,755. 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.

Hotel de la Poste, Place d'Armes.-This old established first-rate hotel is highly recommended.

Hotel de Vienne, second class hotel-moderate charges and excellent accommodation. A. Roszmann, proprietor.

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. Post Office.-Rue de l'Université. English Church Service.

The traveller will be most agreeably surprised on entering this rich and populous city, through

mettrai tout Paris dans mon Gand," (i.e., I could put all Paris in my Gaunt-let-my glove, gant), is still the Manchester of Belgium. In 1800 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, and 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 strictures of Hallam, it calls up to the recollection many scenes which inspire us with every sentiment of sympa

thy and good-will towards many a name illustrated in centuries past by deeds of patriotism and domestic virtue. 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 it into an honour with this device, in which the city is characterised, along with others:

"Nobilibus Bruxella viris, Antverpia nummis, Gandavum laqueis, formosis Bruga puellis, Lovanium doctis, gaudet Mechlinia stultis." The Pacification of Ghent, when the North and South Provinces united againt Spain, was celebrated 1876.

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, as 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: