Star.
London, England, 1830-08-31 00:00:00

INTERESTING PARTICULARS.

Wednesday evening an immense concourse of people assembled at
the theatre, to witness the representation of the MUETTE DE POETIC!.
The theatre was not sufficiently capacious to hold all the persons who
wished to gain admittance, and crowds of persons congregated in the
Place de la Monnale who had been disappointed. After the Theatre
was over the number of persons in the Place de la filonnaie having
been increased considerably by part of the audience, proceeded in •
body to the office of the " National" Newspaper, where they broke the
windows, and endeavoured to force the doors. A person in the
crowd having called out " chez Libry !" (the ostensible editor
of this paper), the mob desisted from their attempt on the office,
and they proceeded to the private residence of the editor at the
Libraire Polynnatique, Rue de la Madeleine, next door to the Grande
Blessagerie. The mob continued to increase in number every Instant.
Having arrived at the house of M. Libry, they proceeded to break the
windows and force the doors, and having made themselves masters of the
premises, they threw the furniture out of the window into the street—
ransacked the shop:and store-rooms, in which were considerable num-
bers of books, and threw them also into the street; they afterwards
flung lighted flambeaus in at the windows ; fortunately M. Libry Bag-
nano was not at home. It being now about half past eleven, the mob
had increased to a formidable number. The Police, seeing their state
of fermentation, wisely abstained from interfering:: lone of the mob, ad-
dressing the Gendarmes, said " N'ogisses pas; on you. Iguana &an-
quilks."

Towards midnight the mob divided, one party directed their course
towards the Place Royal, preceded by a banner made from the window
curtains of M. Libry Bagnano: having arrived opposite to the guard-
house, the officer on duty, who was attended by the Commandant de
Place, demanded of them what they desired P A shout was imme-
diately raised, and the only intelligible words were, " Liberti!" Jos-
rice r One of the soldiers on duty left the ranks, and stepping up to
the mob, with tears in his eyes, entreated them to return to their
homes, saying, " De grace, dispersez.vous, epargnez-noun la honte de
devoir verses le sang Belge."—These simple words had more effect
than the most strenuous resistance. Another party, proceeding by the
Rue de I'Empereur, and the Rue de Rusbrook, stopped.opposite to the
Palais de Justice, where they broke the windows, and cried out—" A
has Van Nlaanen ! Vive de Potter I" A third party, more numerous
than the other two, directed their course to the house of M. de Knyft;
Head of the Police,in the Rue de Berlaimont. There, as at the residence
of M. Libry, they broke the windows, destroyed the furniture, and
set fire to the premises, but committed no plunder. One of the mob,
having been taken in the act of secreting a mantle, received immediate
chastisement, and the mantle was torn to pieces. About this time, the
riot assumed a serious aspect : all the city was in the greatest conster-
nation, the inhabitants left their houses, and the military were called
out. The lirst shot we heard filed was about one o'clock in the morn.
ing, but immediately afterwards it became more general.
The different parties having now again united, proceeded. in awful
numbers to the residence of M. Van Masnen, Minister of Justice, situ-
ated on the Petit Sablon, opposite the prison, where they forced the
doors, crying out, 4' A bas Van Maanen !" and threw the furniture out
at the windows. The military having attempted to interfere, the mob
assaulted them with the furniture, and they were compelled to retreat.
The Hotel was then set on fire, the flames immediately arose, and be.
fore lung the whole of this spacious building was one mass of fire. Tne
mob still remained, declaring that they would not leave till it wasburnt
to the very foundation. The fire having been seen by the Pompiers,
they proceeded with all dispatch with their engines to the scene of de.
struction ; but having been repulsed by the mob, they were forced to
return to the Hotel de Ville. During the night, the gunsmiths were
compelled to give the mob all the swords, guns, and every weapon they
possessed, which were distribute amon them. Opposite the Palace
Justice ,some workmen having d surroundg ed a militaryp
officer, presented
their weapons, and demanded his word of honour that he would not
command his company to fire on the people. About five o'clock in the
morning a battalion of Cliasseurs and a battalion of Grenadiers paraded
the streets. About six o'clock, an officer on the Sablon commanded his
company to fire, and several lives were lost, and many were wounded.—
Towards ten o'clock, the militia centinels in the Rue de Louvain filed
from a window, and shot an infant of eight years of age. The windows
in the house of M. Schuermans, Procureur du Rol, were broken during
the night.

" BRUSSELS, Auo. 27.
" HOTEL Dr BILLEVUE AV PARC.
" In my letter of yesterday, I transmitted you u correct and detailed
an account of the origin and first movements of the insurrection which
has unhappily broken out here, as the confusion and anxiety of the
moment would permit me to collect. The object of the insurgents was
and still continues vague and indefinite, and consequently all their pro-
ceedings partake of an uncertain and undecided character. The great
mass of those who first broke the public peace, were of the very lowest
order—manufacturers' labourers, and artisans, without bread or employ.
ment. These people felr they suffered from high taxes and low wages,and
inscribed their sufferings to the King's Alinisters, who, in their opinions
:noured the Dutch at the expense of the Belgians. Hence, In order to have cheap bread and plenty of employment, they were logically joined by the
party who called out for freedom of opinion and theabolition of all restraint
'tpon the press. Hence their began by burning the house of an oak/.
lunate journalist and bookseller, who supports the Government, and of
ILt Minister of Justice, who prosecutes for libel. Hence, M. Labry-
Bagnano's property was desuoyed to the cry of " Pity de Pons?!"
and the hotel of M. Von slaanen was burnt to the shout of " Visw la
titerte !" and " Point d'iosiobt tut le viande."
The Belgic and the Catholic party, like the French Liberals, had
polled the nation, and had found the secret of their strength. About
three hundred thousand of the Belgic people had last year tuned
Plinocis against the system of the Ministry, whom the MRS

nately persists in maintaining in power. The object of these petitions
had no reference to the distress of the lower classes • but they extended
the idea that they were oppressed. They related chiefly to the freedom
of the press, trial by jury, ministerial responsibility, freedom of instruc-
tion, and the perfect independence of the church on the state in reli-
gious matters. These petitions originated chiefly in the party of M. de
Potter, and were supported with all his activity and seal. Thus the
perpetual agitation of questions, in which, by the way, the Brussels in-
surgents could feel little practical grievance, led them to believe that
they really were oppressed, and the banishment of their champion
added what they thought insult and contumely to their imaginary
wrongs. In this state of their feelings, the revolution in France pre-
(tented them with an opportunity or a pretext for an insurrection against
the Government, though.they could not pretend, as in France, that
there had recently been any flagrant attempt to invade thcir rights.
The distress of the manufacturing labourers provoked to revolt, and
supplied to the more intelligent malcontents a body of men fitted for
their purpose ; because such a population can lose nothing, and may
gain something, in political changes.
" I stated yesterday what were the first results of this disaffected
feeling on the various classes on whom it operated. They only thought
of burning the houses or demolishing the property of their supposed
enemies. They issued no proclamation as a rallying point for their
friends, and made no specific demand on the Government as the price
of renewed order. They ran to seize arms—to occupy the posts of the
military, and demolish the furniture of the Ministers, without seeming
to have any ulterior purpose. The carriage of M. Van Knyff was burnt
before the Hotel de Ville, and all the official papers in his office lined
the streets, or were made into bonfires.
" The prudent precaution adopted by the military chiefs of retiring
from the streets, and forming their troops into-an imposing mass before
the Palace, joined to the great forbearance of both officers and men, has
saved the effusion of much blood. The ragamuffins who pervaded the
town with muskets, pistols, and swords, spades, and pitchforks, would
certainly have fought, had they been attacked, and their poverty might
have led them to pillage the city.
" I subjoin the notes which I made on the distressing scene before us,
since I wrote you yesterday.
" Four o'clock, p. m. Aug 2fi.
" The troops which were sent for last night, or early this morning,
have arrived. They consist of two battalions, one of dragoons and
another of infantry, from Antwerp and Mechlin.
" The Garde Communale marches past the lines of the Ring's troops
to relieve guard at the different poets, without giving or receiving any
challenge.
" The troops have formed in the Place Royale to protect the Ring's
Palace and the public establishments ; keeping together in a body, they
render an attack hopeless, and cannot be massacred in detail, as they
would be in the streets. _ _

" Several small parties have deserted from the line, and surrendered
their arms to their fellow-citizens. They are seen parading the streets
in their uniform, and mixing carelessly with the groups of the in-
surgents.
" The attack on private property continues, thus giving our insurrec-
tion a distinctive character from the late glorious revolution in Paris.
" The hotels of the Minister of Justice, and of the Commandant of
the Garrison, are still burning ; the windows, doors, and furnittue of
the Governor's house, have been entirely demolished.
" The Communal or Civic Guard having now got undisturbed pos-
session of all the posts of the town, and being intrusted by their fellow_
citizens with the protection of their property—a task which the general
government cannot in present circumstances exercise—there has of late
been no collision between the military and the people. A stormy night
is, however, expected, unless the wealthier or more respectable class of
citizens form themselves into patrols, and overmaster the rabble who are
disposed to mischief.
„ _

" 8 o'CLocx, P. X.
" The hope above expressed is likely to be realized. The better class
of shopkeepers and inhabitants are now under arms. Strong patrolling
parties traverse the streets in every direction and in every quarter, im-
posing a salutary tenor on the more tumultuous rioters.Theltri.coloured
flag, however, is still displayed, and the people from time to time shout
Pine /a Republique ! Five Napoleon If."
" The lamps last night were all broken. To-night the city is illu-
minated: whether in token of victory, or as a preventive of mischief, I
do not know. Probably both considerations have their weight, as they
affect different classes. It is seldom that Brussels has been so bril-
liantly illuminated.

" 10 o'CLocx.

" The troops are still drawn up in the place where they have re-
mained for the last 20 hours, and the hopes of peace are likely to be
realized for the night, as the civic guard protects the town. The land.
lord of the Hotel de Bellevue, where 1 lodge, has upwards of 100 men
engaged to protect his house.
"A patty of the city guard have arrived to have a parley with the
commanding officer of the dragoons. The conference was short ; but
the deputation went away satisfied, as they shouted, firma les braves
Bslges ; vivenl les dragons!"
"5 co'CLocte A.M. FRIDAY MORNING
. .

" There have been no disturbances during the night. No attack has
been made on the troops. or on the lives or property of the inhabitants.
On looking out this morning, we found the troops, cavalry, and in.
Pantry, bivouacking on the area of the Place Royal; or under the
pissaas of the Palace. The groups of the populace were neither nume.
roue nor formidable.

" There is a chance that the total want of political leaders among
the people, and the wise forbearance of the military, may allow of the
restoration of tranquillity without further bloodshed, or any extensive
change in the Administration. Had the people been equally decided to
carry any political point as in Paris, and had they been equally
disposed to overpower the resistance of the troops, they would have
planted themselves among the trees of the park, and have fired upon
their enemies in a situation from which they could not have been dia.
lodged. Their neglect of such advantages, their apparent satisfaction
at little acts of vengeance, and their inability to state any other grievance
than taxes, which the government cannot easily dispense with, would
give this insurrection the character of a lucre popular tumult, if we can
suppose that the majority of a large capital would, without cause, aid
the operations or submit to the sway of a mob for 48 hours.

" 10 O'CLOCK, FRIDAY MORNING..

" I have been round the town. All has been tranquil during the
night. The churches are open, and some shops. The people say that
they will be satisfied with the abolition of the tax upon meat and flour.
The last impost has had a strange history. Its presence in the budget
last year was one of the main causes of the rejection of the financial sys-
tem of the Government by the States General. His Majesty wisely re-
vised his system, and abolished the neotaure (tax on grinding corn) as a
part of the revenue of the State. The municipal bodies, however, have
likewise their budget; and, seeing a source of taxation thus abandoned,
the Regency of Brussels re-imposed, as a municipal tax, what could
not be tolerated as part of the national burdens. If the russels insur-
gents are satisfied with this, they need not have made such a noise about
their liberty and palrie..

- .
" If any arrangement is formed before the departure of the mail, I
shall mention it.

" FRIDAY, 11 O'CLOCI, A.M.
" Many of the facts I have stated above, become totally insignificant
after the disclosure of what I am about to state, and with which I was
previously unacquainted.
" The nobility and other classes have put themselves at the head of
the movement.

" Yesterday they entered into a contract with the chiefs of the
military force, who have joined their cause. The latter only required
that they might not be required to lay down their arms, and that the
custody of the Past* should be confided to them. The Civic and
Belgic Guard took possession of all other posts by that treaty.
" Palace will be given up, if the answer from the Hague is not
favourable to the views of the national party.
" They are to demand a new constitution, not °terve, but conquis.
They as yet speak of no change of dynasty.
" Either the King or the Prince of Orange is expected at Ghent.
The populace have set fire to the buildings in the park. The King's
Theatre is in flames.

" Last night the workmen out of employment, with whom the tumult
began, proceeded to different manufactories, and not only broke the
machines employed in them, but destroyed the depots of articles made
by machinery. They assembled in such numbers that resistance would
only have occasioned a useless effusion of blood. If the contest thus
goes on, it may soon assume the character of a servile war.
" 4 o'CLocx, P.Y.
" The Civic Guards are excellently organized. Every man who has
property to protect is called upon to enrol his name, and to give.his
set vices in this body.
" Confidence is not yet restored to any extent. The populace demand
the sunender of the Royal Palace, and threaten to set firs to it it not
given up to them. They think that by its possession the government
could be more readily be brought to terms.
" The tricolour worn by the insurgents of Brussels, is not the French
colours, but the old colours of Brabant.
" The rumour of disturbances at Ghent was wrong or premature.
None had taken place yesterday afternoon.
" The mails were allowed to leave Brussels yesterday ; but no letters
that came have yet been delivered.

(PROM ANOTIIKR CORRESPONDENT.)

" 5 O'CLOCK.

" The Garde Bourgeoise amounts this moment to 5,000 men, and
every hour is tulding to the number. They are under the command of
a man chosen by themselves, Baron Emmanuel d'Hoogvorst. The
Government is virtually in his hands. The Governor of the city is no
longer heard of. The Burgomaster and the &genet are mere
They sign the numerous proclamations, but no one cares for them ;
and a petition is gone to the Bing, calling for a change in the local
magistracy, and the removal of Mr. Van Maanen. Libry Beipano has
not been heard of. Neither are there any tidings of Baron Loyd', the
Director of Police. Their bowies are in ruins, with those of the Go-
vernor, Vanderfosse. Baron Vautier, the General Commandant, and
the Minister of Justice, Van Maanen. Bo thorough is the disorgani-
sation of Government, that there was no one found this morning to
issue stamps for the newspapers.

" I may say generally that nothing could display more temper than
did the troops and their Commander; but when ordered to tire, the
soldiers readily obeyed. There were about a dozen of the people killed,
and half as many soldiers. I saw several of the straggling conflicts be.
tween the military and the mob, and the latter showed no want of cou.
rage. Had they but had a cruse, one might have sympathized with
them. Their object is now apparently satisfied. They have given vent
to their feelings of hatred against the most eminently unpopular men ;
and being gradually disarmed, by fair means and foul, the rabble is no
longer dangorous. Strong patrols are in movement all through the city
and tatthourgs ;and the garrison now consists of 3,50 men. No more
troops arc to be brought into the town. The whole of the military
posts are confined to the Garde liour,coiee ; the name Communale is
no longer acknowledged; and no citizen wears uniform of any kind.
The city is divided into eight sections, and the citizens act under the
orders of as many chiefs, they, of course, to be directed by the Cont.
mandant.

" The aspect of things is now infinitely more serious to any think.
ing mind than it was yesterdayy, while the rabble were reeling about
in all directions, covered with blood and reeking with beer, firing their
guns at random, and spreading alarm that is now quite extinct. The
garrison is still in groat part under arms in the stations where it bi-
vouacked all night. But we must now look for events of higher ma
meet than skirmishes between soldiers and mob. It is now a demand
against grievances, real or imagined, between an armed people and their
sovereign. What the result will be, it is idle to foretel or guess at.
People wonder at the non-arrival of King or the Prince of Orange.
The armed force is every hour increasing in number and confidence;
and a thousand reports are afloat as to the events of yesterday, at
Ghent, Antwerp, Liege, and the other towns. Many English are
quitting—some afraid to stir—...and certainly no new comers expected."

LETTER IN THE MORNING CHRONICLE.
Pains, Atha. 28, 1830.
Sta—Do you know the history of the Revolution ? It may be that
you do, or it may be that you do not. In either case you will be dis-
posed, I believe, to receive information. I know Belgium from Fumes
to Aix-la-Chapelle, and from Antwerp to Luxemburg. I have known
Belgium some years—have watched day after day with interest and
anxiety the proceedings of the Government, and the conduct of the priests
and the people. 1 have some friends there with whom I constantly cor.
respond, and I have walked through nearly all the provinces. I do not
speak Flemish ; but I seldom found it necessary, for almost all speak
rench. The Revolution in the Pays Btaisthe result not of one, but of
several causes; and I shall endeavour in a few letters to present to the
readers of The AiorniNg Chronicle the true state of the question.
The Pays Bas consists of two countries—two people, distinct in their
habits—religion—political opinions—and political desires. The Dutch
are dull, heavy, and wealthy—sound Protestants, good Tories, and con.
tent to sell gunpowder to their enemies with whom the/ are at war, to be
used afterwards in shooting their own army and navy, provided they
can make a profit of 50 per cent!! The Dutch inhabit Holland—speak
Dutch—are cold, calculating, honest, and sincere. They must know
you a good many years before they consider you a friend, but let me do
them justice and admit, that when their friendship is once secured, it is
durable and devoted. The Flemings contain in their veins the blood of
Spaniards, French, and the natives of the country. They are more
lively than their Dutch neighbours—less avaricious—less industrious
—less honest—but more gay, more attached to liberty, more desirous
of advancing with the age in which they live, and yet, on the other hand,
bigutted in their religious principles, and devout to a great excess.
They are all Catholics—obstinate Catholics—and, if you will, bigotted
Catholics. They very rarely speak any other language than French—
they lore France and its Government—they trace half their troubles to
their separation from that country, and they sigh to return to it. They
declare that the natural boundaries of France ate the Alps, the Pyre-
nees, and the Rhine ; and out of every thousand, at least 950 will tell
you that they desire to be governed by the French, and no longer to be
united to a people whom for ages they have detested, and with whom
they will never fraternize.
At the commencement of my correspondence on the affairs of Bel-
gium, I set out with one decided opinion, which is founded upon facts
the most incontrovertible, and which I have seen with my own eyes,
and heard with my own ears. The fact is the following, which I beg
of you to remember, and you will find that ere long I am right, viz- -
Belgium will never be permanently tranquil, until it again forms part
of Francs !

I am very anxious to impress this point upon you—and through the
Morning Chronicle, upon those who direct in your country the march
of public affairs. I may be told that Prussia will not allow this !
Granted. I may be told that France does not desire it ! and for the sake
of clearing the road a little I will say—Granted. I may be told that Eng-
land will never rennit it -that Flanders is an English sea port
to the Continent, and that the Duke of Wellington, as in-
spector of the forts and strong places in that country, would
sooner see Belgium in revolution for twenty years, and involve Great-
Britain in a continental war, than permit it. To this also I say
Eanted. I may be told that this junction would destroy the balance of
urope, would make France too powerful and Holland too feeble, would
render Russia omnipotent, by weakening the alliance of the Pays Has
with Prussia; and to all this, if you will, 1 am disposed, for the mo-
ment, to say granted. I may be told that the revolution will be put
down, that the armed forces of Prussia and Holland will march upon
the people, and destroy thousands and tens of thousands, and that nought
shall remain in Flanders but empty towns and desolate villages. And
once more I will even say—Granted. But what of all this ? Can a
whole population be exterminated ? No. Men women, and children,
with the army and marine of Belgium—are all—l speak of the mass, all
for a union with France ; and though the event may be delayed, it can. I
not be prevented.
Assure yourself, then, I pray you, of the truth of another remark.
which is the consequence of the last, viz. that this revolution in the Pays
Baa commenced in 1815. As soon as the Flemings had ceased to hear
the sound of cannon, and had buried the slain ; as soon as their tears had
ceased to flow for the defeat of Napoleon ; as soon as the loud and oft.
repeated curses of the whole Flemish population at the success of the
holy alliance had subsided into a death-like silence, only occasionally
intercepted by sighs, the Flemings began to consider their real position.
They found that their country had been reunited to Holland without
their consent; that they had been turned over by treaty, as a piece of
land changes proprietors by deed ; and that although it was well.
known that Belgium had never been so prosperous and happy, as
since she had formed part of France, yet that her wishes
were not considered of any moment when compared with those of
the House of Orange; and that it was deemed right by her con-
querors to annex her to her ancient foe, Holland ! Flemish Catho.
lics beheld their provinces ruled by Protestant Governors, their King
was a Protestant Prince, the Ministers and Officers of Sate Dutch-
men and Protestants, and Belgium found herself encumbered with
the ancient debt of Holland. But this was not all. During the
reign of Napoleon, Belgium had scarcely been taxed ; now she found
herself paying more taxes than the Dutch. I shall prove this in
another letter. During the reign of Napoleon, Belgium had obtained
a free market for all her manufactures, and had obtained in return
good Bordeaux wine at ten-pence per bottle. Now she found her-
self without • vent for her manufactured articles, and the tax on
Bordeaux wino was so heavy as almost to amount to a prohibition.
During the reign of Napoleon, the Conscription had certainly been
established, and thousands of her sons had perished in the field of battle ;
but then her officers had been promoted—her brave youth were re-
warded—Belgians had governed their own affairs, under the superin-
tendence of France—and the Dutch had not been permitted to interfere
in their concerns. During the reign of Napoleon, the Belgians had
identified themselves with France. They had nearly forgotten their
own most barbarous language, and had adopted that of the French. In
their courts of law—in the army and navy—in the public schools—and
everywhere, French was the language of the people—and to the lowest
class was confined the speaking of the Flemish dialect. But now they
found that the old language was revived ; that all reminiscences of the
former junction of Belgium with France were to be destroyed, and that
an attempt was to be made to amalgamate the Flemings with the Dutch.
This alone was sufficient to induce a moral resistance, and that moral
resistance has been going on for the period of 15 years. I ant about to
state a tact which 1 know to be true—that from 1815 to the present
day, the Belgians never have been really satisfied ; and I must add,
that they never will be until France shall govern them. That such de-
sire has been greatly increased by the events which have recently occur.
red in France 1 of course admit, since, in the very sante proportion that
France becomes truly great and truly free, the Flemings increasingly
desire a connexion with that country.
I am disposed, then, to state that which I think h 0 one who knows
any thing of the subject will deny, that even had the Constitution of
the Pays Bas been perfect—even had the King acted with impartiality
and wisdom—even had his Ministers been selected equally from
Belgium and Holland—even had the Press been free—even had the taxes
been diminished—even had the Judges been permanent —even had the in-
struction of the ycuth of the country ben put or. a proper basis—and if a
thousand wrongs that have been committed had not been perpetrated, and
a thousand petitions which have been rejected had met with attention, still
that the Belgians would never have been satisfied until their country be-
came once more united to France. I do not say that the Revolution might
not have been yet further prolonged. I do not say that even now it
may not be for a while suppressed ; but it is as certain that Belgium
must be re-united to France before there can ever be repose and happi-
ness in the country, as it is that nothing but superior military force can
now prevent the Flemings from declaring themselves free.
And then arises a question of the highest importance and the deepest
interest; one which, sooner or later, must be discussed, and must be
decided ; and that question is, whether a people, consisting of millions of
enlightened and noble-minded citizens are to be transferred against their
will from one Government to another, and forced against their will to
belong to that Government, although in a thousand ways they have
evinced their repugnance and wretchedness ?
I know I shall be met by the old answer of the law of force—the
right of conquest—and the power of the stronger over the weaker. But
I answer, this by saying, that such an argument is one only which can
weigh with the Members of the ancient Holy Alliance, and cannot pos-
sibly convince any man possessed of common sense or mere ordi..ary in-
tellect. In my next letter I propose to continue the history of the po-
pular dissatisfaction in the Pays Bu, and to notice some of the imme.
diate causes of the Revolution.