BRUSSELS. 279 



seeing ; he even took his leave, after reiterating the same 

 sentiment. In all this he acted like a judicious courtier ; 

 for, having by perseverance made good our entry into this 

 garden, we found that sure enough it displayed only the 

 marks of departed grandeur and of present poverty. But 

 the magnificence of the gardening establishment of the 

 founder of the chateau was here evinced ; the remains of 

 two large hot-houses, and of a vast greenhouse or orangery, 

 testifying it most distinctly. The orangery had been about 

 200 feet in length, and 26 feet in breadth, measuring over 

 the front wall. One of the hot-houses immediately adjoin- 

 ing, intended probably for ornamental plants of warm cli- 

 mates, had been nearly 80 feet long, by 23 broad. The 

 other hot-house, with an aspect somewhat different, had 

 been more than 130 feet in length, by about 20 in breadth : 

 this had probably been used for the forcing of peaches, 

 grapes, and other fruits, A small portion of this last house 

 is still kept up ; the others are so completely in ruins, that 

 it was not easy for us, in some places, to trace the founda- 

 tions. The fruit-walls remain nearly in a perfect state, 

 and are admirably suited to their purpose, being both 

 lofty and well built : The bricks have been laid in rows, 

 alternately lengthwise and endwise, so as to produce, when 

 seen from a little distance, the appearance of diamond ar- 

 rangement. There has not yet been much time for im- 

 provement by the new sovereign ; but had he possessed 

 a taste for horticulture or gardening, some repairs might 

 before this have been accomplished : after having been three 

 years in possession, however, it is evident that his Majesty 

 cannot command a dessert of fruit from his own garden. 

 The ground is cropped with the usual culinary vegetables, 

 cultivated in very ordinary style. We left this garden, 

 with a conviction, that, considering the richness of the soil 9 



