Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-08-03

Correspondents Of the Gazette.

| Correspondents Of the Gazette.
Letters from Europe--No. 10.
Brussels--Society- Bsrsay Of tie Pork
| .antscerp-The Cathedral Pmnfings Of
| Reubsns--xa Flemish Fair--Return 70
| Brussels-JMuseuas- Paintings Char
acter Of the Belgian Reasant,y Scenery Of
BLgism-Tns Fssldof Waterloo.
| ls HorEL De L'Us1vrRs,
Rue Neuve, Brussels, May 18th 1874.
! On arriving at Brussels | proceeded to
the Hotel De L'Univers, per recommend
alton Of my friends at Lille. Here found
that several Of the servants spoke English,
which is great advantage to the foreign
traveller, especially in q large city where
there are many objects ofinterest and worth
visiting. Brussels is indeed beautiful
city and justly deserves being ranked a.
mong the most delightful capitals Of Europe.
1t is to Paris what Edingburgh or Dublin
are to London; and being the residence Of
the King and Court, Of course draws around
it much of the best and most affluent society
Of the Kingdom, as well as many distin-
guished personages from other portions of
Europe. lobe sure, the court Of Belgium
is not kept up on that magnificent and ex-
pensive scale as are those Of France or
England. That would be consummate fol-
". The society Of Brussels is essentially
French. 1t partakes much more of the
French character than Antwerp. The lat
. ter city still exhibits . fine specimen OF
Elar,s,b ,,,aooors acI c,,ctr,cc 7 cct:cc
on the corners of the streets in Brussels,
the names are designated both in French
and Flemish. A most striking constrast
to the traveller, who had spent some time
in England, is in the whiteness and beauty
Of the buildings Of Belgium. Brussels, Ant
werp, Client, SC. nearly all Of them are
entirely of white stone or succeed. The
climate in this respect being far more ia
vorable to retain their beauty than that Of
England. The Park Of Brussels is among
the most Beautiful spots ever beheld. Il
: is beautifully laid out, with broad avenues
and stately trees, and interspersed with
fountains and statuary. Here the people
r Of Brussels assemble In the afternoon and
evening and take their accustomed walks
Some sit in little groups and coteries; 9th.
,, sers promenade, and here and there may
, seen, on verdant piece Of lawn, the nur.
: sery maid having in charge three or -four
beautifully dressed children, enjoying their
, innocent gambols, watching the golden fish
or perchance, the msjesticswan with breast
OF snowy whiteness, or racing over the
green grass. Happy beings, thought |, as
! sat for an hour gazing upon their beauty
: and innocences and my heart flew to m,
: treasures in distant land. My sou
breathed forth fervant prayer that Goo
kwould protect and keep them. In the cen
tire of one Of the broad avenues Of the Parl
is beautiful temple, in the midst of al
enclosure of flowers. Here the grand con
: certs are given. One took place last Sun
J day. The King and Queen were in at
E tendance with their children. Leopold i,
:, quite popular with the people and is fire.
quently seen on a fine evening walking il
the park with the Queen and their Lowell,
children. The park is surrounded witt
. stately palaces and elegant mansions. 0,
: one side is the palace Of the King, Palai
du Roi) on the opposite side is the pa
8 lace Of the Nation Parliament House.
Upon the west side is the palace of tn
. . Prince Of Orange, the opposite side bein,
Z adorned with stately mansions.
e 18th. This afternoon took the railroa,
e for Antwerp. This ancient city, with it
), magnificent cathedral, had been strongl,
n associated in my mind from early child
$ hood, and scarcely had | entered the gate,
: Of the city and delivered up my passpor
! before | found myself crossing the thresh
a hold Of Notre Dame, and gazing upon III,
q masterpiece of Rubens. When cntere,
the cathedral service was performing. Th'
tapers were lighted, and the multitude
kneeling before the various affairs and saints
produced a sublime effect. Certainly tn
i Catholic ritual performed in an edifce ik
IS this appears to elevate the soul above al
e sublunary objects. gazed in admiration
on the celebrated pictures Of Rubens, ant
Van Dyke, but the light was too feeble t
e see them to advantage, and ! deferred 70
the morrow.
l4th. Early this morning | repaire'
again to Notre Dame to look again upo1
IF the "descent from the cross" This is cal
led Rubens' masterpiece. ! believe TIL
: connoisseurs represent him to have excel
b led in his exquisite colouring, but for m,
own part saw quite as much in the ex
preston of his figures as in any other por
e ton Of his wonderful genius. The Ant
y werpians are justly proud Of his fame, an
in beautiful park adjoining the cathedrs
% is erected his statute. Antwerp is anon
i the strongest fortified cities in Europe. Il
2 walls look sufficiently impregnable to stan
: s a siege Of an hundred years. Indeed,
,e seems odd enough 10 an American to Sc
I, frowning battlements planted with cannon
d m rats filled with water, draw-bridges, q,
:, adels, &c.; and to enter the gates Of cit
) through long deep archways and mass
te portals, and as you enter, surrender u
N your passport to mustached gendarmes VII
" accost you with ssPasse Porte, Monsieur!
, This afternoonI went without the wal
g Of Antwerp to witnessa Flemish fstk-
"a Anglioe, fair. This gave me an &C
i, mirable opportunity Of Witnessing the Gu.
toms Of the Belgians. I followed ii
g; crowd until we reached kttlc villae
about two miles from the city on the roa
to Rotterdam. Here were booths, show
c.rcuses, huckster stands, and tents Of q
lery possible descrinfion. n short The,