The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-02
BELGIUM.


The Petty Kingdom of King Leopold III, and It's
Purt In the Present Complications-A Descrip-
tive and Historical Sketch.
The discovery oil the secret treaty by which
Belgium was to be sacrificed for Napoleons
aggrandzement has directed the attention of the
world to that country. AS matters now stand,
both the French and Prussians have guaranteed
the neutrality of Belgian soil; but the secret
treaty has created so much uneasiness especially
in England, that the occupation of the country
by the latter power, as a guarantee of its integ-
rjty, is seriously mCoted and by no
means improbable before the struggle
between France and Prussia is over.
The peace establishment of Belgium is
10000 men, which has been recently increased
10 100000, and placed on y war footing to await
contingencies. There has been considerable
activity also in the different fortresses of the
kingdom, all of which have been overhauled
and placed in readiness for defense against as
sault from unfriendly powers. As Mr.. Disraell
said recently, Europe would regard the
absorption" of Belgium by France as a disaster;
and hence the anxiety of the English, not less
than of the Belgians themselves, to preserve
Intact the territory and independence of this
small but formidable barrier between the two
great powers Of the Continent.
Belgium was anciently part of Gallia Bel
min and 81 deg 80 min. north. and longitude
2 deg. 80 min. and 6 deg. min. east. 1t is
bounded on the north by Holland on the north
west by the North Sea or German Ocean, on the
west and south by France, and on the east by
the duchy of Luxembourg, Rhenish Prussia, and
Dutch Limburg. Its greatest length, from
northwest to southeast, is 165 miles, its greatest
breadth from north to south is 120 miles, and
its area is about IL 400 square miles.
About One-fifth of the whole surface of the
kingdom is occupied by wood, but the distrbu-
tion Is by no means equal. Flanders and Ant
werp are below the average, while Luxemburg
and Namur are densely wooded. These woods
are remains of the ancient forests of Ardennes,
which are described by Caesar as stretching far
into France from the banks of the Rhine.
There are several fine forests in Brabant, among
which is that of Soignies, made familiar by the
battle OF Waterloo. In some provinces little
wood is seen except that planted in the form of
bedgerows, which form is well known by means
of the landscapes of the ancient Flemish mas
ters.
The population of this comparatively small
country is more dense than any in Europe.
There are two distinct races, the Flemish, who
are Germans, and the Walloons, who are of
French ancestry. The former are the most
numerous and occupy Flanders and parts of
Antwerp, Limburg, and South Brabant. The
Walloons occupy Hainault, Liege, Namur, and
part of Luxemburg. The language of each
race corresponds with its origin. The Flemings
speak dialect Of German, and the Walloons a
mixture of French, Spanish, and other Ian
guages.
The two distinct races, and the changes of
masters to which they have been subjected have
been unfavorable to the formation of a national
character but in some leading features there is
great uniformity in the population. The posi-
tion of the country between France, Germany,
and England has made 1t the battlefield OF
Europe but yet the inhabitants themselves show
Gbut few warlike tendencies, and are unwearied
in pursuing the arts of peace. Large hostile
armies have again and again met upon its soil
TO decide the fate of nations, doing terrible
damage in every quarter, but no sooner have
they Withdrawn than the inhabitants have
quietly returned to their accustomed avocations
and the labors of the field and workshops have
been resumed. The local Notifications, how
ever, are considerable, 1t having as many a
twenty-five fortified places.
The population, in numbers, in the year lS6
was estimated at 4, ,S97, 794. According 10 th'
official statement of 1868 there were in Belgium
4,928 8l4 Roman Catholics, Sl93 Protestants
1922 Jews and 1874 connected with Other eccle
siastical denominations. The Roman Cathol
clergy received from the State on salarie
3,SOO,O00 francs, the Protestauts German AM
Anglican) 10000, and the Rabbis 25, 600 francs
The Government is constitutional monarchy
based on the broadest principles of rations
liberty. The crown is hereditary except in cas-
of failure of male heirs The Senate and Hous
of Representatives are both elected by tn
people.
Tha country is fraL manfionad Inv Caesar u,h
describes its inhabitants as peculiarly distiI
guished for yalor. 1t was under Roman rul
until A. ID. 400, when it became part of the eu
pire of the Franks under Clovis and also in th
year 800 became part Of The empire Of CharlS