Star.
London, England, 1828-08-02 00:00:00

BRUSSELS, JuLv 27.

I had not visited this town since 1815. Thirteen years
base produced a very great change in the appearance
vr ere city and in the manners of the inhabitants. At
CIA period the King was extremely disliked ; there
existed an universal wish that Belgium should be
separ.ited from Holland, and limns a part of the
French territory. But the Princes of the House of
Orange have always been remarked for their shrewd-
ness and political talents in Mining adverse events
to their own advantage; and this was the case in
the present instance. His Majesty watched with at-
tention tl,e conduct of the French Government ; and
observing the errors into which the Ministers were
falling, he resolved to pursue a directly opposite course.
Thus, u hilst France was fettering the liberty of the press,
King William afforded patronage and assistance,
not only to native authors and printers, but also to
the French who had been persecuted in their own
country for political opinions. While Decazes was
encouraging Jesuitism and annoying Protestants, the
3elgiuni Monarch was obtaining a Concordat, and
s code of religious laws, for the equal protection
of Protestants and Catholics. Louis increased the
national debt by the unpopular and silly measure
of sending his troops across the Pyrennees ; and his
successot, by the indemaity to the Emigrants, laid a
dead weight upon the country of forty millions ster-
ling ; and, clueing this time the Belgian Ministers were
cultivating the artsc f peace, establishing wise laws, and
pi °letting agriculture and commerce. The consequence
of this skilful policy may be easily foreseen; the King
has become truly beloved by his subjects, who are grate-
ful for the happiness be has bestowed upon them ; and
a-, in 1815, every one was wishing to belong to France,
now you would scarcely find a person who is not satis-
fied with his political situation. From the conversations
I have had with Noblemen,Merchants,and Landholders,
a is not exaggerating to say that Belgium is at present
the happiest country in Europe.
The whole country between this town, Ghent, Mech-
lin, and Antwerp, is in the highest state of cultivation,
although the crops appear to have suffered from the
rain, particularly lye, of which there is a great abun-
dance in these parts. I have recently visited the mag-
nficent estate of Count Masai:, the Grand Veneur,
and was much pleased in inspecting several immense
decoys for wild ducks; there are none in England to
be am with on so grand a scale. One of the gams:-
keepers assured me that in winter time, during a hard
frost, 1,5(X) to two thousand couple of wild ducks
are caught, and in a favourable season, most of the
towns within 100 miles of Bo; ahem are supplied with
them at the rate of Is. 2d. a couple. In the middle of
this estate these is a lake about seven miles in
length, which many centuries ago formed a branch
cf the Scheldt. Here I beheld for the first time, a
novel and amusing mode of angling, or rather in
making ducks angle for you. To the legs of half
a dozen tame ducks, short lines, with books and
bits are attached ; the bird swims about, and as the
lake is well stocked with fish, in a few minutes they ate
sure to bite; a struggle then takes place between the
duck and thelfish, the latter attempting to escape, and
the bird endeavouring to get to shore, where the instant
he arrives, a good supply of food is given to him. The
scene is only hidicr.rus, some wilt say cruel, when;as it
happened whilst I was present, a large pike seizes the
bait ; the poor bird struggles with all his might to reach
the batik, but is ften pulled under water, and would, in
tie case I am speaking of, hive been drowned, had not
a person gone out in a brat to his assistance. •

The Duke of Susaci gave a grand dinner to the
Duke of CLIIIISALAND and a select party of the Nobility and Gen-
try on Tbutk:4, at his apaitments in the Zing's Palace, at Nev.-
sington.

The Duke of CLARSNCE was expected to leave Ply-
mouth oo Thursday, in the Royal Yacht, on his tent% to Ports-
mouth. Tt.e Duchess of CLAIIIIICII and suite Were expected to
leave Plymouth toe same day, on their return to her Royal High.
uess's residence ha Bushy-park.

A Cabinet Counctl was held at fear o'clock yester-
day afternoon, at t►e Foreign Office, Downing-street, which was
attended by—
The Du►e of Wellington, the Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Mel-
ville, Lord Ellenborough, Air. Secretary Peel, Sir George Murray,
ins Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Berries, and Mr. Vesey
Fitzgerald. The Lord Chancellor joined the other Ministers soon
after five o'clock. The Ministers continued in deliberation till near
lii o'clock.

The LORD MAYOR and a deputation of the Corpora-
tion of thy city of London waited on the Lords of the Treasury
yesterday, and had a long couference with their Lordships. The
Duke of WILLINGTOII, as First Lord of the Treasury, presided at
tte meeting.

The Duke of WaradmoToN gave a grand dinner yes-
terday to some of the Foreign Amliasbadors and Ministers, and
some foreigners of distinction, at his residence, Apsleyliouse.

The E4ll of ABERDEIN gave grand dinner patt4s
yesterday and en Thursday, at Argyll House, at which his Lord-
ship entertataed the whole of the Foreigo Ambassadors and Ali-
Lbw*.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER entertained the
Cabinet Monsters to dinner on Wednesday, at his residence in
Downing-street.

The Marquis de PALMILLLA and Viscount STRANG-
nab had interviews with the Earl of ASSROILLN yesterday, at the
Furtip Mee, Downing-street.

Mr. PHILLIPS, Under Secretary of State for the
Done Department, kft town yesterday morning for the Continent.
The late Archbishop of CANrEssuax is said to have
left options at the disposal of his successor to the amount of at least
ten thousand pounds per annum. •

Tae office of the French Ambassador has been, for the
las: fortright, thronged with passport hunters, whose spare cash,
as the proverb has it, " burns in their pocket."
Much to the credit of the country (in which the Press
may claim some share), gaming of all descriptions has fallen off
among the higher circles, to a degree hardly credible, consider.
Ong how strong the mania was a short time Since.

The Seine rose the other day in several places neatly
three tett le a few bouts, in consequence of the great rains is
Ise:Lundy.
Saturday, as Captain G. W. MANBY was proceeding
to Norwich by the Dart, Yarmouth coach, while the horses were
[banging at Acle, and in the act of descending from the coach, by
tte sopping of the ladder, he bad the misfortune to fall and break
to leg.

At 'he Oxford City Court yesterday, William Johnson,
a joureyman shoeniaker, complained that a society of shoemakers,
c•itrd shops-meetings, existed in this place, connected with othe►
sccirties throughout the kingdom, and that two delegates had called
on his (Johnson's) employer, Mr. Lucas, and insisted upon his
discharging him from his employ; that Mr. Lucas had, in come-
flume t►ereof, discharged him, and that be, his wife, and all his
children, were forced to seek for refuge in the House of Industry.
'Miscast was attentively listened to by the Court, and Mr. Dicke.
son, the Governor of the House of Industry, who was present,
ezprio,ed bis %Ansel that means might be immediately taken for
tbe punishment of tibiae delegates, and for the suppression of such a
dangerous combination.

THE POLSTRAD MURDER.—The LORD CHIEF BARON
bast:l%W Thursday for the trial of this important case at Bury Sc. Ed-
tusdArs ; and trous the number o'. witnesses tlat ate to be examined,
it if expected to occupy at least two days. Mr. AP/DIMS is to lead
tit pruwcution. The Learned Gentleman has already received his
brut, and the instructions are exceedingly voluminous. Mr. Boos.
axis will come down special to conduct the defence of Corder.
Mr. l'xixzettnAST is thf 'UAW. The priacipal la‘inss are tall
taken at But y.