68

HINTS of OCCURRENCES, &c.

There is a fmgular part of Bruflels, which is in fad a little town; for it is inclofed by a wall and ditch, anddivided into ftreets. It is called the Beguinage. The number of Beguines is near a thoufand, governed bymatrons, and under the fpiritual diredion of the bifhop of Antwerp.

The fuperftitious charader of the Brabanters is difcernible in almoft every thing. Their attachment to particularnumbers is fcrupulous: feven principal ftreets lead into the market-place, in which are feven ftately palaces apper-taining to the fenate, &c.; their parifh churches are feven; the public gates feven; their ancient noble families,feven; and their licenfed mid wives are feven.

We were informed, that in peaceful times, the inns are equal to any in the world: their ordinaries or tablesd’hote being remarkably elegant and cheap. We found the wines good and reafonable.

In this city the council of ftate, the privy-council, that of finances, of war, and the feudal court of Brabant areaffembled. The trade is in camblets, laces, and tapeftries; which the Brabanters convey to every part ofEurope.

From Bruflels, we proceeded to Lifle. We had the misfortune here to find the fpirit of difcontent in fulloperation. I fpeak as a traveller, when I call it a misfortune. I am not fufficiently a politician, to give an opi-nion on the principles and condud of the French revolution. The government has been confidered as defpotifm,though mild, and often wife in its adminiftration. Of that defpotifm it was difficult for a traveller to perceivethe traces. For the urbanity of the French manners, the hofpitality of the nation, and the particular difpofition ofthe common people to favor the inhabitants of a country where they imagined the common people to be held inconfideration, rendered travelling in France at all times pleafing to an Englifhman.

On approaching Lifle, and hearing that a fpirit of innovation or improvement was aduating all the dominions ofthe French monarque, we prepared our minds for a repetition of thofe fcenes which had driven us out of AuftrianFlanders : and expeded to be queftioned on that admired conftitution of England, which we fuppofed the objed ofimitation wherever liberty was fought. But we were greatly miftaken.

Perhaps in all the hiftory of mankind, there has not been another inftance, in which fuperftition has totallyand at once loft its dominion over the people. In Bruflels and Namur, we faw two powers difputing for a prize,the government of the people. In French Flanders, and on the borders of France, the people, even to the loweftmechanics, feemed to be engaged in one effort, to demolifh defpotifm, civil and ecclefiafticak

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