250 Travelling Particularities : [Serr 
Monvay.—To-day, our traveller had better devote his time fo visiting 
all those objects which possess an external interest only ; such as the 
public squares, the portes, the market places, the fountains, the quays, 
&c.; during the course of which examination he will over-run every 
part of the town that he need desire to see. The only very remarkable 
of the squares, after those alluded to above, is that called the Grande 
Place, in the centre of the town, where are situated the Hotel de Ville, 
‘a building of great interest for its antiquity. The Place de la Monnaie 
is the next in interest. It contains the new theatre—a building as much 
vaunted for its beauty as it deserves to be condemned for its absolute 
ugliness. In fact, it is as ugly outside as it is inside: which is the 
utmost that can be said in the way of depreciation. It has, however, 
the merit of being entirely detached. Among the fountains, perhaps the 
most remarkable is one in the Place du Grand Sablon, built, in 1768, 
by an English nobleman (Lord Bruce), to commemorate and repay the 
pleasure he enjoyed during a lengthened residence in this city. 
It is probable that an early breakfast will enable our traveller to see 
all that is needful in the above department of sights before dinner ; in 
which case he will devote the after-part of the day to the interior of 
some of the churches—all of which should, if possible, be looked into, 
and some dwelt upon with particular attention. He cannot do better 
than conclude his day at the cafés and theatres, as before; there he is 
sure of amusement, and (in the former in particular) can never lack food 
for observation. 
Turspay.—Again the churches,—which, as they are only eleven or 
twelve in number, a long day may finish. That which merits most 
attention is St. Gudule. Its exterior has that fine advantage, in point of 
effect, of being entered (at its principal door at least) by a flight of 
steps, about forty in number. Its interior is embellished, among other 
antiquities, by one of those carved oak pulpits, of which so many are 
to be seen in the continental churches; and particularly the Flemish ones. 
‘This is perhaps the finest of them all. It is, in fact, executed with infi= 
nite force, spirit, and truth. The subject of it (including the supports, 
&c.) is Adam and Eve expelled from Paradise, the figures being the size 
of life-—Again finish by the cafés and theatres ; for of these a passing 
visitor of a foreign country cannot have too much. 
Wepnespay:-—To-day will be principally occupied by a visit to the 
Museum of Pictures, the Public Library, the Cabinet of Natural His- 
tory, and the Botanic Garden—all of which are united at the Palace of 
the Old Court, as it is called. None of these collections are very distin- 
guished in their several classes ; but all will repay a brief visit. After 
he has dispatched them, our traveller may, if he pleases, make an effort. 
to see the interior of the royal palaces. Whether he succeed or not in 
gaining admittance, will depend on the circumstances of the moment. 
That of Schoonenberg, situated at a village two miles from the town, is 
well worth a visit, dnd may, with proper management, be made to come 
within the limits of our circumscribed plan; to which end the other 
palaces may, if necessary; be well enough passed over. 
» We must to-night venture to mulct our traveller of his due portion of 
rest, in order to gain for him a whole day at Ghent. He will make 
_ his arrangements to leave Brussels by the diligence, which starts at — 
about midnight, and reaches Ghent by about six in the morning. | His 
bill at the hotel will amount to thirteen shillings, which will include a 
