Star.
London, England, 1814-09-10 00:00:00

IMPROYAMENIS dT ANTWERP.

The following letter from Antwerp communicates
some interesting particulars, especially in a commer-
cial point of view, respecting that important city,
labial are az.t masa-idly known :
ANTIVIMP, SEPT. 2.
Tbe !jiver which passes by the western and longest
• o rather fronnof the city, has, at low water, an
eves depth 0125 feet in.tho middle ; the tide rises 15
feet, and Vesiebi of feet draught of water may lay
closp 3160 g-side .the wharf or quay and discharge.
thew car, gdes; the length of such accommodation is
about halt, nr three-fourths. of a •mile, besides several
meals which run from the river into the city, e ch
of:which has, at, high-water, from ten to 18 feet of
water, with wharfs" and warehouses on each side ;
these canali aresrossid at the ends next the river by
double.,dnawbriJges of a peculiarly light and elegant
corritructit is, thus forming an uninterrupted commu-
nication twin aril to end of the principal quay r:r
Whirl bet..re spoken of. The river is of about the
same bre:idth of the Thaines at illackwall; it has no
bridge over it; but is passed either by ferry-boats or
the Boating bridge, formed by two ptaanss or gun-
briars coanrctad with each (Mies by a flooring of con-
- wheal& width; they go horn the south end of the.
grand (poi; near the dock-sate on the eastern side of the
Scheldt ovtr to the Tete-du. Fl Anders, as it is called, an

out-work on the other side of the river, commanding
the road io•-sards Ghent, and guarding the ferry.-:--
'Mt arsenal or dock-yard is sitated at the south end
-of the city and has slips for 17 vessels of -the largest
siza, and. room. for h rating 12 or 14 more; 16 yea.
`Ws; all of the line; excepting two frigates, are now
iso the stOcks,.and only one slip is unoccupied ; within
"the. Joekrplect are the smiths'Abopi, sail loftsonast•
'opuses, &.. 'and a most beautiful plain beading, built
of brisk and slated, 1,240 French feet long by 46
.lokoad, haviog.thrsisitcries crectid.as a rope mann-
4cspry, there is also space within she Walls to have
erected four or Ere times the extent of
those now existitigiliet rather than incur so great an
viiptess and occasion so.lonta delay, Bonaparte con-
ffeseda college,or nunnery, and a church adjiining.
together Avith many private houses, into warehouses
fir coral storeiand equipments. Another church in
• &tetra part of the• town has been converted into
ao entrepar, and a chapel, standing in the further
si,-;cltrYards is now-appropriated to the a/c:Amen. A
esilitgp.of Jesuits, in the -middle of the town, has been
turned•lnto a ball room for the nobles. The shops.
and. counting houses are mostly open all Sunday,.
thoegh.saisware shut up-part of the day. I was yes-
teiday evening much gr.rtified by seeing one of the.
Frenohltiree-deckers sailing diwn the river, at half
t'bb tide, poet the city; although she had frequently
tego. considerably to one side er other of the river to
clear the vessels which were at, anchor in different po-
sitions; it was that which gave me a much greater in-
sight axe its uniformity of depth than I before enter-
tained. At the extremity cf the city, opposite the dock-
yatd or arsenal, viz, at the north, ate two excellent
wet docks, having about 24 or 2.5 feet t2f water each,
the exterior one about halt or two-thirds the size of

the London Doek, and the interior twice the size of
the exterior,' communicating by a short canal or cut,
furnished with gates, all within the fortifications ; be-
tween 'the two docks stands the ancient building, for-
tsterly'belonging to the Hans?. "Towns, now used also
es a naval store house for the fleet. In the outer-
dock yesterday evening' were lying five sail of the
tine, and still room for full as many more ; seven sail
of the hne, bearing the. Freftli flag, erg in ilia river
ready for sea, and one of the five mentioned was only
waiting the next tide to get out, when she would be
teady;tlso. The before-mentioned docks were bezun
and coopleted by bonaparte in less than 1.8 months;
the outer one is walled and properly finishe4l, like the
cLondon Docki, the inner one has sloping earth edges,
,Iltt the Isb cf Dogs Ca:1111 ; h is to be tegretted, how-
4,4.4o,iiikraillorraparto dirt rot finish the grand designs
orovietpikeu for beaatifying Antwerp, af well a
uyinkr it•
'l'lre,nunl;er of trarettOusicready built; and of the
hest :kind, the.flfvourable terms of ctlmneree. its vi.
-diary •to the 136741)—nietrofoliS; ifs advantages of
•beirtg thibest harbour in Europe, sod its superior fa-
sfrittotivntinicAticA with the interior of Ger malty,
fhenderg; Svoititerbne, f tgl France, conspire-10 tender
it in every repeat the Otkat eligible, and in prospeci
praisoricaU ifs ti,- r,I toMost teuaivo. c4rn rnerc ial
'guy in- tits Amide Mots of the celrbrated boon,
thr3sen across the 5eidi....44 to plievest th-...l3ritish ships
trout isii;lig vp• *MI 1b11.14143. is sow Iyutg l thv
11146.-k-portibu

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