f^isit to Anliverp al (he Capitulation of 1 833. 229 



lopiug couriers, increasing as we advanced, indicated some very extraordi- 

 nary cora motion in tlie neighbourhood. 



Kerchem, one of the small suburban villages of Antwerp, at this time 

 contained the head-quarters of MartJsctial Gerard, and was the grand dep6t 

 for piles, gabions, and fascines, and other requisites for opening and main- 

 taining the trenches ; the tool-chests and paraphernalia of the artillery 

 were piled up in the church-yard; and near, within an open square, were 

 the unpretending memorials of some who had fallen in the trenches. The 

 little village was in grand confusion ; troops mustering, orderlies galloping 

 in all directions, the slightly wounded loitering about, and idlers ofif duty 

 devouring their brown bread and scanty rations, with a gusto that would 

 have done credit to better viands. 



In advance of Berchem, on the right, out of shot, but within the barrier 

 or octroi of Antwerp, was the park of artillery, each piece neatly arranged 

 with its attendant limbers, and the picturesque rows of blindages, or tents 

 of straw and earth, in which the artillerymen were lodged ; a few spare 

 mortars, of large calibre, were visible from the road, the whole arranged 

 with that precision and regularity, which pervades and marks a well dis- 

 ciplined engineer department. 



The trees and hedges here, as in many places along the road, had been 

 cut down for military purposes. 



We were now close upon Antwerp, and the houses on either side of the 

 road bore very manifest tokens of their contiguity to the citadel. The high 

 road, for about three hundred yards, had been exposed to Chass6's fire, and 

 the houses, low slight buildings, were perforated at various heights by the 

 balls. But few shells had fallen beyond, to the right of the road, although 

 the huge pits made by these missiles were very numerous on the left. One 

 of the two windmills, mentioned, I think, in Gerard's dispatches, had re- 

 ceived a bi'll in its wooden pedestal ; the other, although prominently ex- 

 posed, had escaped unhurt. 



Upon entering the fortifications beyond the outer ditch of the town, two 

 mortar batteries, pointed towards Fort Montebello, were visible, with a 

 guard-house upon the left, and three enormous shells, whose appearance at 

 once told us that they were intended for the great mortar of Liege, 



Passing over the inner ditch, by means of a broad wooden bridge, raked 

 by two casemated guns, we arrived at the gate-house, an edifice of some 

 grandeur, erected by the Spaniards, and having delivered up our passports, 

 were permitted, without further hindrance, to enter the town, of which we 

 shall now proceed to take a short survey. 



Antwerp is a city of very considerable magnitude, which, although like 

 most of the ancient emporia of commerce it lias passed the zenith of its 

 prosperity, still preserves abundant vestiges of its former splendour and 

 magnificence. Tlie houses, or rather palaces, of the rich are extensive, 

 lofty, and in good taste; the windows frequent and capacious, the panes of 



