is to be found in any of the public buildings of Ghent. Each of the chapels, which are twelve in number, contain one or more pictures of various merit. It will be sufficient to direct the attention of the amateur to the Annunciation, by Lens, and the Assumption, by François, both in the newly finished chapel, to the right of the cross of the church; the Apotheosis of St. Catherine in the third chapel, by Crayer, and the Finding of the Cross, by the Empress Helena, whose figure, represented in the picture, was furnished by the Empress Josephine, who sat for the model. There are also in this church numerous paintings by Belgian artists, and a St. Francis, of Paula, by Ribera. The organ recently erected in this church is remarkable for its sweetness. The pulpit of massive mahogany is handsome. The other principal churches worth visiting are those of Saint Pierre, St. Nicholas, and St. Jacques; this latter church is situated in a vast square. It was destroyed in 1720, and afterwards rebuilt.

St. Jacques has two good paintings of Van Cleef, and some monumental sculpture of merit from the chisel of Van Poucke.

The Church of St. Martin has a magnificent painting of the Resurrection, by Crayer (his master-piece).

The Dominican Oratory deserves to be inspected on account of its bold and lofty wooden vault, designed by the Dominican Francis Romain, in 1700.

The Béguinage.-The community of Béguines was founded by St. Bagge, Duchess of Brabant, and sister of Philip of Landen. The community is peculiar to the Netherlands. Clement V. issued a bull against these sisters, but John XXII. revoked it, and accorded them many indulgences. It is one of the few nunneries not swept away by the fury of the French revolution, or suppressed by Joseph II. Their existence received a legal ratification in 1826. The sisters are bound by no vow, and may return to the world at any time. Their chief duty is to attend to the sick and visit the hospitals, where they are constantly to be met with. In the order are persons of the highest families and wealth. The sisters in Ghent amount to about one hundred, whilst their entire number in Belgium is six thousand. New buildings of

red brick outside the town now replace the old house, or Grand Béguinage, a moated pile, which was situated in the Rue des Bruges, and was founded by Jane, Countess of Constantinople, in 1234. There is also a Petit Béguinage, with 400 girls of a poorer class. The first chapel was built in 1242. The sisters live in separate houses, and each door has inscribed on it the name of some saint, chosen as its protectress. Visitors to Ghent should visit this church at the hour of vespers, which are sung at half-past seven each evening. The scene is most impressive. The sisters are all dressed in black robes with white veils; the novices are distinguished by a different dress, whilst those who have but lately taken the veil are distinguished by a chaplet, which they wear around their heads. The chapel, barely illuminated by a few lamps, and the solemn singing, together with the large assemblage of sisters, so picturesquely dressed, imparts to the scene an aspect of solemn grandeur and mystic beauty. The chapel itself is interesting in the extreme, and on the stone work of one of its pillars, was inscribed the following touching inscription by Lamartine:

The Hôtel de Ville is situated partly in the Rue Haute Porte, and partly in La Marché-au-Beure. The portion standing in the former street, built in the Gothic style of architecture, presents a magnificent appearance, and is adorned with It has two exquisitely wrought ornaments. façades, built at intervals between 1482 and 1620, after several plans, by as many architects. The turret or tribune at the corner was built in 15271560 by Eustace Polleyt, and is in the richest flamboyant Gothic style. The other façade, built between 1600 and 1620, has columns of three different orders of architecture, one surmounting the other. In the Salle du Trone, so celebrated in the annals of Ghent, was signed the treaty known as the "Pacification of Ghent," drawn up, in 1576, by the congress of confederates, who assembled to adopt measures calculated to drive the Spaniards out of Belgium. Two modern

paintings are to be seen in the interior of the building, which will not elicit very much admiration. Palace of Justice. A striking building by Rôlands, is situated in the Rue du Théâtre. The ground floor is used as the Exchange, and the upper chamber as Courts of Justice.

Palace de l'Universit.-Founded by William I., King of Holland, in 1826. It is a beautiful and modern editice, having a splendid Corinthian portico, modelled from the Pantheon, at Rome, and is built on the site of the Jesuits' College. The principal hall, and the amphitheatre, in which the academé meetings are held, can accommodate from 1,600 to 1,700 people, and is richly ornamented and embellished.

The Museum of Natural History is not less remarkable for its extent than for the richness of

collection. The university contains a library, open to the public each day from nine to twelve and from two to five o'clock, unless on Sundays and feast-days. This library contains 60,000 volumes, and very many precious manuscripts. The Jardin Botanique, instituted in 1797, belongs to the university, and is spoken of as one of the finest in Belgium. It contains a collection of 8,000 plants, of 1,000 different species.

Maison des Bateliers, on the Quai aux Herbes, is an old and picturesque edifice, built in 1513. The Halle aux Draps will also repay notice. Maison de Detention, a house of correction, situated on the north side of the city, on the Coupurea canal, which is bordered by a double row of large trees. It was constructed in 1773, in the reign of Maria Theresa, and forms a perfect octagon, in the centre of which is a spacious court, communicating with the different quadrangles of the establishment. Each quadrangle or ward has a yard, and in the centre of that belonging to the female ward is a large basin of water, in which the female prisoners wash the linen of the whole establishment. Each prisoner sleeps alone in a small but well-aired room, and is employed during the day in working at whatever trade or business he or she is most competent to do; and of the produce of this labour, five-tenths are retained by government when the prisoners are merely detained correctionally; six-tenths when they have been sentenced to hard labour. The remainder is divided into

two portions; half is given to the prisoners weekly for pocket money, and the other given to them at the expiration of the term of their imprisonment, to assist in their re-establishment in the world. Religious service and instruction are provided and attended to in an admirable manner; and if prisoners are found ignorant of the first elements of knowledge, as reading, writing, and arithmetic, they receive instruction in the various branches. Insubordination or refractory conduct is punished by solitary confinement. The shop for refreshments sold to the prisoners is kept under strict regulations by the officers of the establishment, and the profits are employed as rewards for the most industrious and well-behaved prisoners. The new part of the building, which has been recently completed, has cost upwards of £40,000, and the whole edifice will, when finished, contain two thousand six hundred prisoners. There is still, however, much to be done.

Le Kauter, or Place d'Armes, is a large square planted with trees. It is a beautiful promenade, and has a military band usually playing there on summer evenings.

The Marché au Vendredi (Friday's market), a vast square, so called from the day on which the fair is held. It is remarkable as having been the spot where the trades' unions of the middle ages planted their standards and rallied to arms. On it the ceremonial of inaugurating the Counts of Flanders was celebrated with a gorgeous and luxurious grandeur, unequalled at the present day. This spot is also identified with one of the most painful and tragic reminiscences connected with the history of Ghent. It is celebrated as being the scene of an internecine slaughter, in which fifteen hundred citizens were slain by fellow-citizens. The weavers and fullers constituted the two factions, and the former were led on and headed by Jacques Van Artavelde, called the brewer of Ghent, in the corporation of which body he enrolled himself, though descended from one of the first families in Flanders. The day, to mark the sanguinary and disgraceful work, was called Evil Monday, in the annals of the town. On that spot, and on that day forty years after, Philip, the son of that Jacques, was saluted Protector of Ghent, and received the oath of fidelity from his townsmen on the occasion of

his being called upon to lead them against Louis de Mâle. In the Marché au Vendredi also were lighted the fires of the Inquisition, under the Duke of Alva. The great cannon, situated in a street called the "Mannekens Aert," close to the Marché, is called Du dulle Griete, alias Mad Margery, is the most enormous ever cast, measuring 10 feet in length and 10 feet in circumference. It is made of hammered iron, and was used in 1382 at the siege of Oudenarde, by the citizens of Ghent. An interesting monument of antiquity stands in the Place St. Pharailde, near the Marché aux Poissons. It consists of an old turreted gateway, called the Oudeburg, or the count's stone or castle, built in 868, by Baldwin Bras de fer. It is incorporated with a cotton factory now, and deserves a visit, as one of the oldest buildings in Belgium. In the year 1338, Edward III. and his family resided here. During his residence his queen gave birth to her son, John of Gaunt (Ghent). An intimate and friendly alliance existed for years between the English and people of Ghent. It may not be uninteresting to mention the fate of Jacques Van Artavelde, the brewer, whom Edward III. of England used to style familiarly "his dear gossip." He was a faithful friend and ally to this king, and lost his life, it may be said, in his service. invited Edward III. over to Sluis, in 1344, with a view of taking council for the promotion of the promise made to the king by Jacques, to the effect that he would make him "Lord and heritor of Flanders," a thing altogether opposed to the wishes of the Gantoises. Public indignation was excited against him, and was further increased by a rumour to the effect that he had, during his administration of the government of Flanders, stealthily sent large sums of money out of the exchequer to England, which so exasperated the people as to cause them to enter into a revolt against him, assault his house, which was attacked by a mob of 400 persons, and broken into, when a citizen, named Thomas O. Dennys, slew him without mercy. Thus perished the man by the hands of those citizens whom he once influenced, led, and governed. His statue was set up in the Square, 1863, on the site of one of Charles V., which stood here till 1796.

He

Portes de la Ville, or City Gates.-There are seven principal gates, the most remarkable of which are

those of Brussels, St. Lievin, St. Peter, and Bruges, all of which present curious relics of the ancient gates erected in the 14th century. The greater portion of these gates have been re-constructed, after a style of beautiful architecture.

The

Casino. Situated near the canal, cut in 1750, to unite the Lys and Bruges canal together. Botanical Society and the Musical Society of St. Cécily had this edifice constructed, in which might be held the reunions of the latter, and the floral exhibitions of the former.

Citadel.-Was erected by Charles V., and was the first thing of the kind raised in Belgium. It was called "Château des Espagnols," and is situated on the east side of the town, not far from the Porte d'Anvers. In it were imprisoned the Counts Egmont and Hoorn, and it was besieged in 1570 by the townspeople, under the Prince of Orange, when they rose to throw off the Spanish yoke. The Spaniards vigorously defended it, but 3,000 Gantoises, wearing white shirts to distinguish them, assaulted it, and were repulsed, in consequence of the ladders being too short. The Spaniards capitulated next morning, after the attack, and, terms being granted, the Senora Mondragon, who had bravely defended the fortress during her husband's absence, with about 150 men, some women, and a few children, the sole remnant of the garrison, marched out, to the surprise of the victors.

Hospitals.-Ghent possesses 21 hospitals, civil and military. The principal of these is the Byloque, founded in 1225, and capable of containing 600 sick. In the church attached to it, Jacques Van Artavelde was buried. The military hospital is situated near the church of St. Martin, among beautiful gardens.

Theatre. A magnificent theatre has been lately erected at the corner of the Place d'Armes. The salon, concert hall, and ball-rooms are beautiful in their construction and decoration. It was erected at a cost of 2,500,000 francs.

Palais de Justice-Situated in the Rue du Theatre, is a very fine building, and will repay notice.

The commerce and manufactures of Ghent are very extensive and various; the most important of the latter consist in cotton printing, cotton spinning, lace making (Brussels and Valenciennes), cloth working, gin distilling, sugar refining, soap making, brewing, goldsmiths' work, paper making,

and numerous other branches of industry, particularly the making of masks, of which large quantities are exported all over the world. There is also a superb iron foundry and engine manufactory, called the Phoenix, founded 1821 by M. Huytens Kerremans, in Ghent. Every day, in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, a bell rings, to announce to the workmen, who amount in number to 1,500 and upwards, the hour of going to work. While this bell is ringing, none of the bridges are allowed to be turned, lest they should intercept the passage of the industrious artizans.

The environs of Ghent are pleasant and fertile, abounding particularly in corn, flax, madder, and tobacco. Outside the gate of Courtrai are numerous country houses, and the road is bordered with pleasure gardens. Near the Antwerp gates are still to be traced the ruins of the citadel constructed by Charles V., on the site of the abbey of St. Bavin; and in the neighbourhood of the gate of St. Lievin is found a transparent stone, resembling the flint of Fleuris.

The fairs held at Ghent commence on the 16th March, and continue for eighteen days; 10th July, seventeen days; 9th August, one day; and 3rd October, two days.

A communication between the sea and Ghent exists by means of a canal, which enters the Schelde at Terneuse. This ensures all the advantages of a seaport to the city. Vessels drawing eighteen feet of water can enter the basin. About fourteen miles north, at Sas van Ghent, are sluices, by means of which the entire country can be laid under water.

GHENT TO ANTWERP, see Route 9. Six other lines run to Selzaete, Hecloo, Bruges, and Ostend; Thourout, Qudenarde, Malines, &c.; and to Brussels, via Alost, half-an-hour shorter than viâ Malines.

Ghent to Mechlin.-Leaving Ghent, the railway after crossing the Scheldt is carried along the south side of it. The scenery is interesting, and such as usually characterises the environs of a great and populous city, until we arrive at

Melle (Station), on the Escaut. Containing a population of 1,900. The route from Brussels to Ghent, and from Ghent to Mons by Grammont here join. From this station to Wetteren the line describes an immense curve, following the bend of

the Escaut, on whose surface can be seen the boats as they sail up and down the river.

Wetteren (Station). A charming village, or rather town, the capital of a canton, situated to the right of the railway, on the right bank of the Escaut. It contains a population of about 9,000 souls. At this point the direct line to Brussels diverges to the right, forming a communication with

Alost (Station)-Hotels: Pays Bas; Des Trois Rois. On the river Dendre, the chief town of the district of East Flanders, said to owe its origin to a fortress built by the Goths in 411.

It was formerly the capital of what was called Imperial Flanders, and was reduced to ashes by a conflagration in 1360, and in 1667 the celebrated Marshal Turenne took and dismantled it. The town hall is a fine Gothic edifice, built in 1210, and is in excellent preservation. The collegiate Church of St. Martin was built by the same architect as the cathedral of Amiens, and contains a fine picture by Rubens, representing the "Plague of Alost." The population is about 20,000, chiefly engaged in linen, soap, and thread-lace manufactures.

Leaving Wetteren, the road crosses a viaduct, and passing along, has to the left the little villages of Cherscamp and Schelle-Belle, and arrives at Wichelen, after passing the Molenbuk, a stream flowing into the Escaut.

Wichelen (Station). A small commune to the right of the railway, with a population of 4,000 inhabitants. This station is the point-d'arrét for each train. On quitting this place, the railway proceeds through a rather uninteresting piece of country, and arrives at

Termonde (Station), or Dendermonde.

Inns: Aigle; De la Demi-Lune. Population, 8,640. An ancient town, said to be earlier than the time of Charlemagne. It is situated at the mouth of the river Dendre, at its confluence with the Scheldt. The inhabitants have a taste for the fine arts, and the traveller may readily obtain access to several private collections, among which we may name those of M. Schellekin and Madame Terlinden. David Teniers married in this town, and resided for several years. The population is chiefly engaged in the hemp and flax trade. It is 16 miles by railway west of Malines and 19 from Ghent. The church of Notre Dame will repay a visit. It is a low, old building, sur