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BELGIUM. 



5. Divisions. Belgium comprises 8 provinces. 



South Brabant, Namur, Limburg, East Flanders, 



Hainault, Liege, Antwerp, West Flanders 



6. Canals. The canals of Belgium are numerous, spacious, and commodious, connecting 

 all the great cities, though not equal in number to those of Holland, and uniting every village. 

 The Great Jforlh Canal extends across the country from Antwerp to Venloo on the Meuse, 

 120 miles. The Brussels Canal connects Brussels and Antwerp, 50 miles. The Ostend Ca- 

 nal., passing through Bruges, connects Ghent with the sea at Ostend, whence it is continued 

 to Dunkirk. Brussels is also connected with Mons and Charlerol by canals. 



7. Railroads. These works were projected by King Leopold, who adopted the enlighten 

 ed policy of undertaking a great public work, for the encouragement of industry, the employ- 

 ment of labor, for strengthening, consolidating, and enriching the country, and to serve as a 

 monument of his devotedness to the interests of the state. He ordered tlie whole country to 

 be surveyed by able engineers, the necessary plans and estimates formed, and, on the 1st of 

 May, 1834, a law was proclaimed, for the introduction of a system of railroads, through the 

 whole kingdom, in difl'erent directions, to be executed at the expense of the state. These 

 railroads lead to seaports at two points, — Antwerp and Ostend, — connect with France at two, 

 and with German}^ at one ; and all unite in one centre. The portions completed are a rail- 

 road from Brussels to Antwerp, 32 miles, and another from Ostend through Bruges, Ghent, 

 Malines, and Tirlemont to the Meuse, 150 miles. 



8. Cities. Brussels, the capital, stands on both sides of the little river Sonne, flowing into 

 the Scheldt. It is partly situated on a rising ground, and makes a fine appearance at a distance. 

 The city was formerly surrounded by a double wall and ditch, but these have been demolished, 

 and the space formed into a handsome public walk planted with trees. The suburbs are exten- 

 sive, and there are many neighboring villages joined to the city by long avenues. The lower 

 part of the town consists of narrow streets and old houses. The upper part is modern and 

 regular, with fine buildings and a beautiful park laid out in large, regular walks, shaded with 

 tiees and surrounded by palaces, public offices, and elegant private houses. Public fountains 

 are interspersed throughout the city, and a large canal here leaves the river. 'J"he Hotel de 



Battle Ground of Waterloo, with Monuments erected to the Memory of the Slain. 



Ville is remarkable for its exquisite Gothic spire, which looks like the work of fairy hands. 

 There are many fine squares and palace?, and in the Orange pal- ce i? a library of 100,000 



