MECHLIN.

THIS fine and well built city stands on the banks of theDyle, exactly at equal distances from the cities of Brussells,Antwerp and Louvain. Although situated in the very heartof Brabant, it was, formerly, the capital of a little territoryor lordship, which ranked as one of the seventeen provincesof the Pays-Bas. The form of the city is almost perfectlycircular, having a large square or market place in thecentre.

The cathedral, dedicated to St. Rumbold, stands con-tiguous to the market place, and its lofty and magnificentgothic tower rises conspicuously above every other object.The interior of the cathedral is rich in ornaments, statues,and a variety of splendid carvings. The pulpit is a mostsumptuous piece of workmanship, carved in wood byVerbruggen, a celebrated artist of Antwerp, whose perfor-mances are seen in many of the churches of the Netherlands.Mechlin was raised to the dignity of an archbishopric inthe year 1559 by pope Paul the IV th , and its prelate receivedthe title of primate of the Low-Countries.