The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-23 00:00:00

TIIE MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE DE

BRABANT.

No event of recent date in the history of Belgium has
caused so much excitement at Brussels as the marriage
of the heir apparent of the throne with the Archduchess
Maria of Austria, daughter of that Archduke Joseph,
Palatine of Hungary. The dynasty of Leopold, already
consolidated by his consummate wisdom and all-con-
ciliating benevolence, receives a corroborative guarantee
in a union with the ancient house of Hapsburg, and a
renewal of closer relations with the powerful confedera-
tion which includes the land of his own birth and educa-

tion. The Duke de Brabant is still very young—only
18 years of age, but of tall stature, with quite a Bour-
bon face. His manners are precocious, as is usually
the case with plants of a Royal conservatory—the
coolness, the aplomb, and the knowledge of persons
which he has belonging rather to a man of thirty.
The interview between the bride and bridegroom took
place fin fa private apartment of the chateau of Vis-
count Biollay. The Arch-duchess Maria is of middle
height, of moderate embonpoint, of a fine healthy com-
plexion, and of a most pleasing expression of counte-
nance. She wore a costume of blue and white. When
the presentations and recognitions had taken place, the
King, leading forward the Duchess de Brabant, stepped
on the balcony ; and the moment he appeared the densely-
assembled mass of people who had crowded from all the
eastern part of Belgium into Verviers, burst into one
spontaneous shout of " Vive le Roi !" " Vive la Duchesse
de Brabant !" and the band striking up "08 peat on
etre mieux qu'au sein de sa fa2nille," affectionate and
significant glances were exchanged by the Royal group.
The Royal family and the commission then partook of
dejeuner, and the train started for the station at Verviers.
On arriving at the station there were the usual addresses
and felicitations of the authorities, with a profusion of
garlands and flags, and the same at other stations along
the route. The progress to Liege was through the
beautiful valley of the Vesdre. This is the Birmingham
and Wolverhampton of Belgium ; but the long furnace
chimneys, instead of rising from a Staffordshire inferno
of unvarying grim blackness, are mingled with vast
forests hanging on mountain slopes, verdant champaigns,
and clear rushing rills. Every fire was put out, and the
atmosphere was colourless. Liege and Verviers are the
principal localities of the very small Socialist and Re-
publican party in Belgium. Nothing, however, but
enthusiasm was visible at either place. This marriage
with a daughter of the first Catholic Power of Germany
has been very acceptable to the clergy, which is so
influential in Belgium. At Brussels the whole
of the vast station was thronged with the lead-
ing persons of the town, the State, and the army.
The warmth of the reception of the royal bridal party as
it proceeded up the Boulevard Botanique and the Rue
Royale was all that they could possibly wish for. Every
window of the tall and elegant mansions on the route
was crowded with ladies in gala costume, waving hand-
kerchiefs, and the King, upon his arrival at the Palace,
once more presented the Duchess on the balcony,amidst
repeated acclamations. The bells of the churches were
at this time ringing their merriest peals, and the cannon
firing salutes in honour of the occasion.
The civilmo
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affair of
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° ynjourney. The civil marriage is a simple
declaration and registry in presence of the witnesses.

BOOKS TO PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

The following notice to the public has been issued by
he Postmaster-General :

"The Lords of h"erG Majesty'sene ralPostrioreffiacsue, Auryhgusavint, 18543.
autho-
rised, by warrant, the extension to Prince Edward Island,
of the reduced rates of postage, and the regulations re.
cently established for books transmitted by post to the
British colonies in the West Indies &c., all printed books,
magazines, reviews, and pamphlets (whether British,
Colonial, or Foreign) may be sent, on and from the Ist.
September next, by the post between the United Kingdom
and Prince Edward Island, at the following reduced rates
of postage, viz.
" For each packet not exceeding ilb. in weight, 6d.
" Do. exceeding lb., and not exceeding 11b., is.
" Do. exceeding 11b., and not exceeding 21bs., 2s.
" Do. exceeding 21bs., but not exceeding 31bs., 3s.
" And so on, increasing one shilling for every addi-
tional pound, or fraction of a pound.
" Provided, however, that the following conditions be
carefully observed :
" Ist. Every such packet must be sent without a cover,
or in a cover open at the ends or sides.
printed book, magazine, review, or pamphlet),re than one,
" 2d. It must contain a single] volumel only
sheets, or parts thereof, where there are more
being sewed or bound together.
feet in length, breadth,
'°3d. It must not exceed two th(ewsheevteraher
width, or depth.
" 4th. It must have no writing or marks upon
or its contents, except the name and address p
to whom it may be sent.
thethe cover,erson
of the above conditions be violated, the packet
prepaid
pinrofpuller, number abfaemrinogf
stamps.
" If
ou`t'ssidthe.
tThheepapcoksteatg,
be charged as a letter, and treated as such in all
respects.
must
any eor m itsust cboev eprr e,
To prevent any obstacles to the regular transmission
ete may i
notde aeyx cteheed itnr ag
n 28-
same would otherwise
have
of
v letters
been o af
forwardednsy n oyf ti
sucher o
by
pytawhchekhi
meiPet oh.sf tot-
rho ffiea
meoafay be sent by any route which would
at which
postage on the department,
tehr'llihnoetai:lss:reAislosfaregulationsarnonmo expensetbhoeoktim
apply only to books, &c., sent by the
British contract packets via Halifax.
" The above instructions are not to extend to or inter-
fere with the transmission of printed votes and proceedings
of Parliament, or of printed papers allowed to pass by the
post under the newspaper privilege, all of which will NA!
tinue subject to the existing regulations."