64 HINTS of OCCURRENCES, &c.

The fortifications do not appear to be ftrong; and they are commanded by the neighbouring hills. The fiegeand capture of the place by the duke of Marlborough in 1702 , are among the interefting traditions which thepeople of Liege relate with animation. The fubje&s of the late diffentions were difcuffed when we palled throughthe place.

The magiftrates pretend that Liege is an imperial city and a fovereign Hate. The bifhop afferts, that by hisele 6 lion or appointment, he becomes abfolute fovereign. It is known to Europe, how this queftion has beenlately decided. The bifhop is chofen by fixty major canons ; perfons generally of noble extra 6 lion: and theecclefiaftical privileges are fo great, that the bifhopric is faid to be the hell of women, the purgatory of men,and the paradife of priefts. The women draw boats inftead of horfes; dig, faw, and carry all kinds of heavyburthens ; and they are faid to be coarfely fed, and are wretchedly cloathed when cloathed at all. All the men,except the nobles, who are moftly priefts, are at the will and difpofal of their fpiritual mafters ; and are notinaptly faid to be in purgatory. The priefts have here truly a paradife. Their revenues and power are fo great,that many of the princes of Europe have made intereft to obtain the ecclefiaftical dignities.

On the borders of the Maefe, we faw feveral gentlemen’s houfes, like thofe on the banks of the Thames. Theyare called caftles, though without fortifications, or any appearances to diftinguifti them from gentlemen’s feats.The caftle of Shoqiere is an exception, and poftlbly a fpecimen of thofe caftles which formerly occupied thebanks of the Maefe, in the fituations of the prefent villas.

The caftle of Shoqiere is a modern building; fituated on a rock extremely high and craggy. Its appearanceis romantic and beautiful; and I have rendered it the fubje£l of the thirtieth plate. The rock rifes with gran-deur, and is broken into a variety of parts. The cavity beneath it affords a forcible fhadow to the furroundinglights: nor is the lime-kiln an indifferent object, where fo many .circumftances concur to form a pleafing pi61ure.

We proceeded to the abbey of Floan; where a romantic and beautiful fcene opened on us. The abbey, theprincipal objeft, is wholly furrounded with light. The two fmall diftant buildings are oratories, or chapels,having images for adoration : the front rock is nearly covered with ivy and bullies of under-wood ; and the treesare happily difpofed to give the effe<51 of contrail.

In the evening we arrived at Hui. I made a fketch of the town from the window of my apartment; and Ihave rendered it the fubje<51 of the thirty-fecond and the laft plate of this work. This is almoft wholly a

town