Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-05
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
FURTHER EXTRACTS
From the Family Letters of an American Lady
abroad

BRUSSELS HOTEL BELLEVUE.
The route from Paris this prosperous capital pretty
enough but not interesting in the way scenery except
60 satsacians or agrculurists who beauty in
potato or cloyer-feld than in hoary mountains and
darklng gens.n We young ladies enjoyed it much, how
ever having for the first time rebeled and taken places
In seeondclass carriages which hold dozen more
people II seemed waste of opportunity to be shut up
twelve hours with ones countrymen hearing only
English for which pleasure need MT have crossed the
Atlantic. We had aforementioned seats, but much
more fun observing many national varieties in dress and
language, even to Flemish where lost, and which
Ono guards did not understand being obliged TO call
in the services Of accomplished courier. We had the
society OF this translator in democratic carriage while
our chief had the master in all the dull dignity Of first
class The guards, in emi-mtary dress are very civil
glad TO point out waysde lions and they blow buges
rather cracked sometimes, which thought great i'm
provemeut upon our Ego ahead" Another popularity
along this road is that instead Of gas men hold torches at
measured intervals and at the stations group together
picturesquey, reminding of the hambeaux had seen
held by living ebony statues lighting up the dark pine
woods Of hospiabe South Caronian. The city looked
gay with the public gardens bright with lamps, and
crowds moving about drove up to this admirable
hotel which merits its name having fine and extensive
lookout the CITY, BY daylight however, it
thiny built up, with many stroggers equpages to
enven them Except for the troops and sound of buges
which, from vicinity to the royal residence are con-
stantly sounding beneath my windows | could almost
fancy myself in President Square, the palace being very
much like Executive mansion. This is in the new
and fashionable quarters the old Is charming The
square Of the Hotel de Vile quite delicious First this
ancient building ITSELF noble and rich with profuson of
intricate and carving and its perfect beauty of
spre; then opposite is the palace Of Maria Therese,
with this inscription running along its ancient facade
\ peste fame ct bello liberia nos Maria pacis;
HE votum pacis pubce Elizabeth consecravt.
In the middle Of this grand place the heroic Egmont
executed by the atr0cious Alva but now the market
gather there in gay chaterng groups All around
ancient houses quaint architecture and relics
the of historical pageant desecrated pur
poses Of trade The venerable cathedral Of ST. Gudule
impressed me very much the Interior not highly
ented, but wonderfully imposing to my still fresh eyes,
with its superb painted windows, ancient monuments,
and whispers of the past The famous pulpit almost
into life with its exquisite carved history of Adam and
Ewes expulsion from Paradise, and birds and beasts
is charirgy beautiful though woodcarving may be
very high art The exterior is being Renovated and
of it whewashed. l was indignant at such outrage
and, moreover the walls half concealed by miserab BILE
shantes stuck against them like barnaclcs which seems
are quite number of lions here in the way of galleries
and museums; but, among them, the most interesting
perhaps is the palace OF the Due dAremberg wealthy
relative Of the King is filled with thousand pretty
things, superb collection of china, the tall
myself and the gallery containing several rare Flemish
master pieces, famous Cuyps and Teniers The Magda-
Zen Of Correggio IS shown original but almost
certain that Dresden that treasure this however
is very fine in rich coorng and the ~xauis;te
tIor4 han
The gardens extensive and would enchant of
our home amateurs; and the library is noble room,
softly lighted wooing to reading and reverie it has
many valuable manuscripts and coveted some leather
bound, iron-clasped glorious old Gregoran chants.
We have admirable table dhote, well served, but
miss the French cafes there are, be sure several
called here which ladies frequent but sad
contrast to the Tros Frere Brussels is called the mina
ture Paris but l confess not trace Of resem-
bance and hear these empty streets and dull gardens
chriscred Champs Eysces and Boulevard Ialien is
quite melancholy. French is the general language,
cspt with the lowest classes, who speak Flemish, and in
the Old the grisctte cap is commonly worm but
the heads of these Flooding heavy German women it has
little of the jauuty air Of their Partisan sisters. There
is little that is characteristic and national in Dress
cept tie pretty graceful mantia which frequent
ly seem Inc remaining Of the old Spanish dominion
here One may always this charming fastdisappear
ing style Of covering in the churches which are usually
filed with women, who here to say their prayers
oftener and longer than elsewhere. Opposite to win
dows is church, from which the most complicated chimes
ring the passing hour, and went over yesterday to
listen TO the fine music and enjoy the yespcr service The
in French the priest seeming to be perched
the branch of tree so covered the little pulpit
with leaves vines, and flowers
During the mass was much absorbed in watching
fair eyed young woman knceling the marble floor
and arranging her mana with coquettish air, which
would 10 dscredt to Seville, that did not observe
the people bowling down with hidden faces the raising
of the Host. Almost that seized my
shoulder and the verger Indignantly jerked up from
my chair just in time TO receive sprinkle Of holy water
incense they appeared combned from priest who
naenve the proper observance Of the church
mics, and shall be careful in future for any who
is concetedy ignorant and presumptuous to fail in
outward consideration at least for the popularity of any
church. or who cannot ympathze in Christian service be
the creed what may had far better remain at home. In
extcnuaon ofmy Involuntary srespect however, barring
the mana really loses sometimes the feeling Of being
In place divine worship The among
the congregation coming and going each moments getting
the little wooden chairs which to sit and pray, the
going round collecting for their hire strangers Cos
terng about and examining the church to the altar
steps, standing for q moment to stare at priest
preaching in corner while private may be going
on in opposite chapel oil renders it difficult for any
not or the "faith" to regard it otherwise than
spectacle This is said to be of the most Catholic of