New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-11-30
BRUSSELS AND WATERLOO.

.,,e indeed Like its great model, 1t has Its Iu
.'.,es its Boulcvards, its Opera, It's Cafes, It's
s,os Lectures, and its Gallery; but all are so
nl.;ny copies, and have such an unsatisfactory
s,ror Of Their original, that we are constantly re-
,o;Dded that though fish is good, mere hshlncss Is
d.cstablc. Its most interesting features are the
,elcs of its ancient splcndor, displayed by It's
Town. Hall, and the dccaying mansions OF the old
pabau. nobility, now degraded into shops The
hrmer is orc Of the finest of all the Belgic me-
mentoes Of the greatness Of the people, and of
their lust pride in the municipal cdiiccs where
their laws were made and administered. In its
Grand Hall Charles Y. executed his famous abd-
cation, and in front of it the cruel Alva bchcadcd
the Counts Egmont and Van Horn. The entire
square is surrounded by gorgeous old Gothic
houses, each one worthy Of long study. The
'Broodhuis,' Immediately opposite, was the scene
ofhc Ball given by the Duchess of Richmond,
The night previous to the Battle of Waterloo,
where the cannon's opening roar broke upon the
sound of revelry by night" BY strange CO.
incidenccit bears an old Latin inscription, i" From
nsllcnce, famine, and acar, deliver us, O Mary
cfpeace"
All the ancient buildings, and most Of the bust
ness of the city, occupy plain at the foot Of
hill. Streets lined with shops ascend its sidc and
oaits summit is the new and fashionable quarter
Here is fine Park, not bare, like our own, but
planted with shrubs and flowers, and populated
Nth statues The admiration which it cxctcs
astrangcr and the pleasure which he there en-.
pys, should remind us of the deficiencies of our
own city, and Of the different impression which
would make upon its myrlads of annual visit
us if more taste was exercised in its municipal
expenditures. The Park of Brussels with it's
classic embellishments, remains green spot in
The memory of him who has sojourned there in
the slltrincss Of summer. The arid Park of
Nev-York has no charm bat its Fountain, and
hx Battery always leads foreigners to lament that
such unequaled natural advantages arc not better
improved.
The paintings in the Museum include seven
attributed to Rubens, but are fer inferior to those
at Antwerp. A very choice collection may be
seen in the Palace Of the Duke of Aremberg,
which is itself a curiosity from the elegance and
ebony in Mncllul figures and are waxcd to a slip
perry polish, most perilous to Impractical demo
cratic feet. The walls arc decorated with EN-.
blematical designs and are lined with statues and
busts with drapery of varlegated marble. Every
corner is filled with antique vases and cabinets,
but the pride of the whole is a magnificent scup-
tured head, supposed to be that Of the famous La
COCOON The story runs, that an ancestor Of the
present Duke set out for Italy to pass several
years; in one month he returned, having spent
all his money! but bringing back with him this
head, the cost of which he never would disclose.
Brussels is now almost an English colony
The crushing taxes Of Great Britain have driven
TO the continent thousands of English families
with moderate incomes. The cheapness Of living
in Belgium has induced many to settle there, and
the gayety of Brussels attracts the majority
hither. Rosy John Bull faces meet you every
corner the shop keepers all talk English the
inns have English comforts, and in the main
street noticed sign Offering Beck steaks, Lon
don Porter and Welsh Rare-bits.' The city thus
loses much OF its national and peculiar aspect, and
is therefore very dull to a stranger.
Your lady-rcaders would never pardon me if
quilted Brussels withoutnoticing It's lace-famous
even in our American soilds. They, Of course,
know Though did not before that its peculiar
lty consists in its patterns previously worked with
the utmost possible fincncss, being seved on their
groundwork. The flax of which it is made
costs from $500 to $500 per pound, being worth
three times its weight in gold. The persons
who SPIN it arc obliged to work in dark rooms
into which light is admitted only by a small apcr-
ture, that their eyes may become disciplined and
qualified to assist them in attaining the necessary
spider.thread iinencss The best lace costs $40
per yard, but a very decent sort may be had as
cheap as $40. In England the duties double It's
cost, and fair fcllow-travcler, who bought some
here, prepared to smugglc it into her country by
sewing 1t upon her dress trusting that the Custom
House officers would galanty overlook the IN
congruty of proiuSion of the most expensive
lace upon wc.worn travelling habit.
But The most interesting point about Brussels
i IT'S vicinity To WATERLOO, and a visit to the
famous heio Is the most lasting rc1niniscencc
"nsch stranger carries from Brussels. The ten
miles which intervene, wind through the forest OF
solgnles, which Byron, by Unsuitable license Of
poetry, has identified with the ancient Ardcnnes
II slIll waves above the traveller its green leaves
dewy with Natures tear drops, as on tina, d,,
when it grlevcd over the uareturninp brave
At it's outskirts stands the little vila,e of W,,o,
loo, which, though a mile from the plain, has
given it It's name. The Church was tcmnor,r,
hospital after the battle, and is now crowded with
memorial monuments to the English officers uho