BELGIUM. 



777 



in their character and nianners, the latter are more like the French. The language of the high- 

 er classes is French ; of the lower classes, Flemish, a dialect of the Low German, or the Wal- 

 loon dialects, a sort of rustic French. 



The modes of dress, manner of building, manners and customs, food and drink, generally 



Woman of Brabant. Man nf Brabant. Coal Girl of Brabant. 



present little that is peculiar, but rather exhibit the same mixture of French and Dutch. A 

 black-hooded cloak is worn by the women in many places, a remnant of the old Spanish sway over 

 these provinces. The common people generally wear wooden shoes, as in many other parts of 

 Europe. Some of the Belgian towns are hardly to be rivaled anywhere else for the neatness and 

 general pleasing effect of the buildings. As to the character of the Belgians, it may be ob- 

 served, that, long subject to a foreign yoke, and in constant intercourse with foreigners, they 

 seem to have lost, in a great measure, the original Flemish character, and to present no very 

 distinctive features. A strong national antipathy existed between the Dutch and Belgians while 

 they were under the same crown, and the latter attempted to adopt the French customs and 

 manners, yet they have a greater resemblance to their northern than to their southern neighbors. 

 The amusements are much like those of Holland ; the great Flemish kermes or fairs, though no 

 longer subservient to commerce, exist still as festivals, at which there is a great display of hu- 

 mor and character, such as we find happily illustrated in the works of the Flemish painters. 



12. State of the v/lrts, &c. The fine arts were cultivated with great zeal and success in the 

 Belgic provinces, during the days of their opulence and prosperity. Wealthy merchants liberally 

 patronized the arts of design ; and the gentry and landholders being induced by the constant 

 wars, of which the Low Countries were the theatre, to live much in towns, acquired more re- 

 fined tastes, than could have been formed in a country life. Antwerp, during its prosperous 

 period, became, in some measure, a Belgic Athens. The Flemish school of painting, under 

 its great masters Rubens and Vandyke, displayed great splendor of coloring, grandeur of com- 

 position, and force of expression, although it never reached that grandeur of design and pure 

 taste, which were formed in Italy. 



13. Religion and Education. The Belgians are mostly Catholics, the number of Protes- 

 tants not exceeding 10,000. The Catholic clergy have shown a very intolerant spirit here, but 

 the great possessions of the church have been forfeited, and the monasteries liave been suppress- 

 ed, only a few nunneries having been allowed to exist. The clergy nov*' receive very mode- 

 rate salaries from government ; they consist of an Archbishop of Mechlin, 5 bishops, 64 vicars- 

 general and canons, and 4,530 inferior officers. There are 3 universities, and the pro>'ife.ion for 

 general education is extensive. 



14. Government. The form of government is monarchical, and the power of the king is 

 limited by the constitution. There are 2 legislative chambers, both elected by the citizenspay 



QS 



