TOWNS. 415 



piiuces, or governors. It is one of the great centres of population of Europe, 

 for outside its pentagonal boulevards, which enclose 161,816 souls, populous 

 suburbs extend in all directions, and raise the total population to 864,327.* 

 Nay, if we include more distant outskirts, such as Uccle (9,800 inhabitants), 

 Ocerij.ssche (5,350 inhabitants), As-sc/ie (6,200 inhabitants), Vilrorde (8,250 inha- 

 bitants), and others, the population of the Belgian metropolis will be found to 

 approach half a milion. 



Brussels can boast of edifices worthy of it. In its very centre rises a glorious 

 town-hall. Its towers and turrets, up to the fifteenth century, and perhaps even 

 early in the sixteenth, were roofed with plates of gold. The catliedral of Ste. Gudule 

 is a noble Gothic edifice of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, disfigured by 

 chapels of more recent date. Its two unfinished towers are majestic of aspect, but 

 the interior, although ornamented with fine stained windows and numerous statues, 

 leaves the beholder rather cold. The National Palace, in which the two Chambers 

 meet, and the Royal Palace, are remarkable rather on account of the art treasures 

 which they contain than for their exterior. The new Palace of Justice is a build- 

 ing of vast proportions, whilst the Bourse is one of those gaudy edifices to be met 

 with in many towns, and in which wealth of ornamentation usurps the place of 

 real beauty. 



The museums of Brussels are rich in rare treasures. The so-called Palace 

 of Industry contains a natural-history museum, an anthropological collection, a 

 library of 250,000 volumes, and a gallery of 400 paintings, all by the old 

 masters — Hubens, Jordaens, Van Byck, and other Flemish artists being most 

 worthily represented. The valuable collection of the Duke of Aremberg is 

 limited to select Butch and Flemish masters, whilst another museum contains 

 works by modern Belgian artists. The picturesque tower of the Gate of Hal 

 has been converted into a museum of antiquities. Amongst other treasures it 

 contains the famous Roman milestone of Tongres. 



The capital of Belgium and native town of Andreas Vesalius, Van Helmont, 

 Philippe Champagne, Van der Meulen, and Duquesnoy natur^illy became the 

 seat of the leading scientific societies of the country. Amongst these there is 

 an Association for the Exploration of Africa, which owes perhaps more to the 

 royal patronage bestowed upon it than to a true love of science, for similar societies 

 in other parts of Europe, though of more ancient standing, are far less wealthy, f 

 The observatory of Brussels has become famous through the labours of Quetelet, 

 whilst the university, an institution equally independent of Church and State, is 

 annually increasing in importance, and was attended in 1877 by 880 students. 

 Amongst the special schools is a Conservatory of Music, which has perhaps 

 achieved greater success in the training of its pupils than any other similar 



* These suburbs of Brussels are Ixelles, 31,992 inhabitants ; Etterbeek, 10,014 inhabitants ; St. Josse- 

 ten-Noode, 26,492 inhabitants; Schaerbeek, 34,177 inhabitants; Molenbeek-St. Jean, 37,292 inhabitants ; 

 Anderlecht, 18,615 inhabitants; St. Gilles, 27,782 inhabitants; and Laeken, 16,147 inhabitants. In 

 1856 Brussels, including the suburbs named, had 289.961 inhabitants. 



+ Up to January 1st, 1878, this association had collected £17,490, and its annual revenue amounted 

 to £4,530. 



