NETHERLANDS. 403 



the natives of the Low Countries were usually called, though the ap- 

 pellation was strictly applicable only to those of Flanders, have been 

 generally esteemed a heavy, blunt, honest people, but their manners 

 are somewhat indelicate. They are ignorant, and fond of religious 

 ceremonies and exhibitions. Their diversions are the same with 

 those of the peasants of the neighbouring countries. In the part of 

 the Netherlands Which has been long in possession of the French, 

 the inhabitants are become entirely French in their dress, language, 

 and manners ; but in the other parts the peasants dress like the Dutch 

 boors, though the upper classes have long since adopted the French 

 fashions. The French language, manners, and intrigues, which pre- 

 vailed in all the principal towns, rendered the final reduction of the 

 country an easy task. 



Cities, chief towns, edifices. ...Brussels, the former residence 

 of the governor or vice-roy of the Austrian Netherlands, is an elegant 

 city, adorned with a noble square, one side of which is occupied by a 

 spacious town-house. The late palace of the Austrian governor is a 

 magnificent structure. The city stands on the small river Senne, and 

 contained in its flourishing state above 100,000 inhabitants : at present 

 the number is 66,000. 



The walls of Ghent, formerly the capital of Flanders, and celebrat- 

 ed for its linen and woollen manufactures, contain the circuit of ten. 

 miles ; but now unoccupied, and great part of it in a manner void ; 

 the number of inhabitants, however, is still 56,000. Bruges, formerly 

 so noted for its trade and manufactures, but above all for its fine 

 canals, is now dwindled into an inconsiderable place. Antwerp, once 

 the emporium of the European continent, is now reduced to be a 

 tapestry and thread-lace shop, with the houses of some bankers, 

 jewellers, and painters, adjoining. One of the first acts of the Dutch, 

 soon after they threw off the Spanish yoke, was to ruin at once the 

 commerce of Antwerp, by sinking vessels, loaded with stone, in the 

 mouth of the Scheldt ; thus shutting up the entrance of that river to 

 ships of large burden. This was the more cruel, as the people of 

 Antwerp had been their friends and fellow-sufferers in the cause of 

 liberty ; but they foresaw that the prosperity of their own commerce 

 was at stake. In 1568, when its trade is supposed to have been at its 

 greatest height, it was computed to contain above 200,000 inhabitants : 

 at present the number is only 61,800. 



The other principal cities of the Netherlands, are Mons, containing 

 18,000 inhabitants; Maestricht If, 000; Malines or Mechlin 16,000; 

 Namur 16,000; Bruges 15,000 ; and Luxemburg 10,000. 



Commerce and manufactures. ...The chief manufactures of the 

 Netherlands, are their beautiful linens and laces ; in which, notwith- 

 standing the boasted improvements of their neighbours, they are yet 

 unrivalled ; particularly in that species called cambrics, from Cam- 

 bray, the chief place of its manufacture. These manufactures form 

 the principal article of their commerce. 



Government. ...These provinces being now incorporated with Hol- 

 land are under the immediate government and laws of that country. 



Religion. ...The prevailing religion of this country is Roman Catho- 

 lic ; but all religions are tolerated. 



The archbishopric of Malines or Mechlin was the former metro- 

 politan see ; Cambray was also an archbishopric. The bishoprics 



