BRUSSELS

(Flenush,^rti«MZ; French, Brttxellet), the capital of Belgium and of the province of Soutii Brabuit, is situated on the small river Senne, about 60 miles 8.S. of the Grerman Ocean; lat. 50" 51' if.; Ion. 4" 22^ E. Bru els ia built partly on the acdivity of a hill, partly on the plain, in a countiy agreeably diversified by sloping heights. Like many other continental towns whose political situation has changed, its old fortifications have been transformed into boulevards. These surround the dty on N.K. and B., extending for 5 miles from v. to B.; they are planted with ehns and linden trees in four rows, and form a wide and agreeable promenade, commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country. The numerous gates, most of which bear the names of the principal high-roads or railways which traverse the kingdom, are nearly all modem, but the Porte de Hal, built in 1879, is a remnant of the ancient ramparts^ a large military tower of remarkable construction, which in later days was long used as a prison. The city at its greatest extent is about 3 miles in length by 2^ wide. The Senne enters by two branches on the N.w. side, and forms four islwds within the walls. It ia not navigable, but Bru els po e es water communication by means promoted of canals with Charleroi, Mechlin, Antwerp, and the the ocean. The Antwerp Canal was opened in 1551, founding, that with Charleroi in 1830. Nearly everywhere maldng, within the walls Bru els presents a congeries of population. twisted streets. The upper or new town, containing c6ntemporary the royal palace, is the principal exception. The suburbs outside the boulevards, especially in the upper town, are large, and have recentiy greatly increased. The principal are the Quartier Leopold and the Quartier Louise, which are regularly and elegantiy built The principal buildings of the new town are the king's palace, the palace of the chambers, the palace of 'the Prince ox Orange,' the palace of the fine arts, the public library and museum, and the church of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours. The upper town is ornamented with a fine park of 17 acres, with fountains and statues, around which most of the principal buildings are situated. The lower town is rich in ancient architecture. The h6tel de ville (built 1401-55) is an imposing Grothic structure, with a spire 304 feet in height. • The square in front of it is perhaps the most pictorial of all the public places of Bru els. The cathedral of Saint Gudule is the finest of many fine churches, richly adorned with sculptures and paintings. It was founded in 1010, and its reconstruction, commenced in 1226, was carried on till the seventeenth century. The churches of Notre-Dame-de-la-Chapelle and Notre-Dame-des Yictoires are also edifices of great beauty. The monuments of Bru els, and the specimens of painting and sculpture with which its public buildings are adorned are too numerous to mention. During the middle ages Bru els did not attain to the extent or importance of several other cities of the Ijow Coimtries. The Emperor Otho dated a decree from Bru els in 976. It was walled by Baldric, count of Louvain, in 1044. It was more oompletely fortified in 1380, the wall then following nearly the line of the present boulevard. During the fifteenth century it was twice burned and once ravaged by the plague. It w the scene, in 1568, of the execution ox Counts Egmont and Horn. It was bombarded and burned by the French in 1695, and was the head-quarters of Marl borough after the battle of Ramilies. It w taken by vie French in 1794, and retained till 1814, when it became the chief town of the department of the Dyle. From 1815 to 1830 it was one of the capitals of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and in 1830 it was the chief centre of the revolt which separated Belgium from Holland. Since then it has been the capital of the Belgian kingdom, and one of the centres oi European dviUzation, being especially distinguished, far beyond its relative importance, for the cultivation and patronage of art. The scientific, literary, artistic, and benevolent institutions of Bru els comprise a free imiversity, founded in 1834, a proprietary institution, with about sixty profe ors and a istants, comprising four faculties, mathematical and physical sdenoes, belles-lettres, law, and medicine, a school of geography, founded in 1830, with an extensive museum, embracdng geology, chemistry, and natural history, one of the finest observatories in Europe; the Belgian Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters, and Fine Arts, and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts; the public library, containing 200,000 volumes and 18,000 valuable manuscripts; the picture gallery, with the finest specimens of Flemish art; the Royal School of Medicine, many institutions for elementary education, societies of horticulture and other natural sciences, several hospitals, an infirmary, a philanthropic society, . The manufactures and trade of Bru els are greatiy both by its canal communications and by net-work of Belgian railways. Printing, type and all the other departments of book give employment to a large section of the Until 1852 the reprinting of French works was extensively can i^ on, but in that year a treaty with France gave protection to workB of literature and art. Lace was ancient manufactore, and is atill of some importanoe; the printing of cotton and woollen f abrica, muaUna, , and many minor manufactures are carried Bru elB carpets are chiefly made at Toumai, but are manufactured in the dty. There are breweries, distilleries, sugar •refineries, foundries of iron and steam-engine factories, . The trade carried the canals and railways is that of a capital dty manufacturing town, for the supply of internal and the distribution of its own products. The guages spoken in Bru els are SVench, and Flemish or Dutch, the former chiefly spoken in the town, the latter chiefly in the old. English is good deal spoken, from the number of English dents and yisitors. The pop. of Bru els is estimated, in 186d, without the suburbs, at 171,377; 1870, including the suburbs, at 314,077. 451