Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

is corroborated by Major Luard, who says that when they are taken into the plains of Bengal, their hair becomes short and coarse, and the wool greatly deteriorated. This happens in all cases of extreme change of temperature. The coat, for instance, of the common sheep of India, consists of a stronglycrisped hair, resembling wool, but coarse and wiry. As soon as the animal is removed into more temperate latitudes, as has been proved by transporting some of them into Europe, this rough covering gradually softens; it assumes a finer texture, and within a year the sheep's back is covered with wool. The wool of European sheep in the same manner degenerates into coarse hair, if removed to the scorching locality of the Gangetic plain. Animals naturally without hair in warm climates, are furnished with it so soon as they come into colder, and it is quite the reverse with those which have shaggy hides. It is therefore, evident that the soft wool of the Tibet goat, as well as the coarser covering of other animals, is solely attributable to the effects of climate.

It is observable, as Cuvier remarks, that Nature has given two sorts of hair to all animals which naturalists class under the general head of Mammalia: the one fine, curled, and generally gray, covering the skin with a sort of down more or less thick, as if to preserve it from cold and moisture; the other coarser, glossy, commonly coloured, giving its colour to the animal, and in a great number of cases appearing to be the organ of feeling.

The coats of animals which have hair, are more or less thick, according as they are exposed to a hot or cold temperature; and it is to be observed, that they become more curled, and increase in

fineness of texture, in proportion as the cold is dry. It is the remarkable fineness, he observes, of the downy wool on the skin of the. Tibet goat which renders that animal so valuable. From this, those

exquisite fabrics are wrought so renowned all over the East, and so highly esteemed in Europe, that especially in France, no gentlewoman would consider her wardrobe complete, without, at least, a couple of Cashmere shawls; and they fully claim the distinction which has been accorded to them, above every other similar manufacture in the world.

It is surprising, that the attempt has never been made to introduce this breed of goats into Europe; for though they should lose some of their qualities by transportation, still they would, no doubt, retain them to a degree that might render them extremely valuable to our shawl manufacturers. The experiment is yet to be made, but it is surely worth while to ascertain how far, by feeding them on the highest northern hills of Great Britain, the qualities of the fine Cashmere wool, as it is usually termed, might be preserved. It has been frequently remarked as a singular fact, that the finer hair of some of the domestic goats of Europe should never have been applied to the purposes of manufacture; for though of a far less beautiful texture than that of the shawlgoats of Tibet, it might, nevertheless, be converted into fabrics even more beautiful and more delicate than those produced from the best wool of the Merino sheep. The annexed engraving is copied from one in Major Luard's beautiful work on India, to which we are already indebted for several interesting illustrations. J. H. C.

A WISE man will desire no more than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and live upon contentedly

GOODNESS, aspersed by slander, may be compared to that finely-tempered steel, which, though dimmed for a moment by the breath, presently re-appears in all its accustomed brilliancy.

[graphic][merged small]

LONDON: Published by JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND; and sold by all Booksellers

THE

[graphic]
[blocks in formation]

PRICE ONE PENNY.

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small]

34

BRUSSELS is the chief city of the kingdom of Belgium, and one of the principal towns in Europe. Various opinions have been entertained respecting the origin of its name; according to the Flemings, it is derived from Broekselen, bridge on the Senne, or Broekselle, chapel near the bridge, whilst others derive it from Bruysel, a nest of swans, on account of the number of those birds which were formerly found in the adjacent marshes; according to the Walloons, the name is obtained from Broussailles, bushes or brambles, the spot being formerly covered with wood. Nothing certain, however, is known respecting its etymology, though many reasons have been adduced in favour of each of these opinions. The town had no existence in the seventh century, but appears to have originated in a little island of the river Senne, on which St. Gery, the Bishop of Cambray, built a chapel; he died in 619, and the island still bears his name.

Charles, brother to Lothario, king of France, chose this place as his residence, and in 980 erected a castle in one of the islands formed by the Senne, in which he continued to reside till 991, when he quitted it with the intention of dethroning Hugues Capet, the usurper of the French throne. He was, however, made prisoner in the town of Laon, and died a captive. Gerberge, the daughter of Charles, inherited the county of Brussels, and married Lambert, the Count of Louvain, so that the two counties became the property of the same master, Louvain having the supremacy, and being the capital. The frequent residence, however, of Lambert and Gerberge at the castle of Brussels attracted thither a great number of strangers. In 1012, Count Lambert commenced the erection of a splendid church here, and caused the body of St. Gudule to be removed to Brussels, of which she henceforth became the patron saint. St. Gudule was a celebrated virgin, who lived in the seventh century; she was brought up at the Abbey of Nivelle, under St. Gertrude, the daughter of Pepin, and died about 712, at Ham, whence her body was removed to Moorzel, a village on the Scheldt, and thence to Brussels. During the tenth century, the trade of the neighbouring towns of Bruges and Ghent began to extend, and the clothiers sent large quantities of goods to Cologne; this contributed to the increase of Brussels, as it was situated on the direct road between these towns, and formed a halting-place for the carriers with their horses.

In 1015, Henry the Elder succeeded Lambert, and in 1039 Otto succeeded his father Henry, and died without an heir. In 1040, Lambert Balderic, brother of Henry, became Count of Louvain and Brussels, and to him Brussels may be said to be indebted for its rank as a town, as in 1044 he caused the portion then existing to be enclosed by a stone wall, and fortified with towers.

During the twelfth century, Brussels increased so much in consequence of the number of strangers drawn there by the manufacture of cloth, that it began to rival the neighbouring town of Ghent. It was also famous for the manufacture of armour, and its cuirasses were considered particularly strong. The quantity of charcoal furnished by the adjacent forest of Soigny, likewise attracted many founders from the banks of the Sambre and the Meuse, where iron-mines had been explored long before the discovery of coal-pits.

A new wall round the town was commenced in 1357, and not completed till 1383. In this wall were seven gates, called Halle, Namur, Louvain, Schaerbeke, Laeken, Flandres, and Anderlecht, the names of which are still retained, though the buildings are no longer standing. The circumference of Brussels at that period was about five miles. In later times the Spaniards fortified the town, outside the enclosure of the walls, on the modern system.

[ocr errors]

Brussels appears to have been several times a place of refuge for sovereigns. Charles the Fifth, Duke of Lorraine, being driven from his territory by the French, repaired here in 1649; Christina, having abdicated the crown of Sweden, arrived at Brussels in 1654; and to this city, when driven out of England by Cromwell, came Charles the Second, accompanied by his brother the Duke of York, afterwards James the Second.

In 1695, Brussels was bombarded by the French under Marshal Villeroy, in the vain hope of making William the Third of England raise the siege of Namur.

In 1704, the streets were first lighted with lanterns, and in the following year tea, which had hitherto been only sold at the apothecary's shops, came into general use as a beverage. The Duke of Marlborough entered Brussels, in 1706, at the head of his victorious army, and appointed his brother Governor of the Low Countries for Charles the Third; and Peter the Great visited the city in 1717.

The Battle of Fontenoy took place May 11th, 1745. The Duke of Cumberland retired to Brussels, and was followed by the French, who captured the city at the beginning of 1746, after a siege of twenty days. Four years afterwards the French were replaced by the Austrians, the Low Countries having been given up by treaty to Maria Theresa.

During the war which succeeded the French Revolution, Brussels was taken possession of by the French, and its sacred edifices appropriated to secular purposes. One of the churches was made the Temple of what was miscalled Law, and the others were desecrated in various ways. After the fall of Napoleon, the Low Countries were formed into a kingdom, of which William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, was the first king. He was proclaimed May 17th, 1815, and entered Brussels the 30th of the same month.

In 1830, Brussels became the scene of another revolution: the inhabitants rose against the Dutch troops who garrisoned the city, and after several days' fighting, succeeded in expelling them. The result was, that the reigning family was deprived of the throne of the Netherlands; and Belgium, being separated from Holland, was made a separate kingdom, at the head of which was placed Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg, under the title of Leopold the First. He began his reign July 21st, 1831.

Brussels has produced but few men of distinguished talents. Charles the Seventh, Emperor of Germany, was born in this city in 1697; and the French poet, Jean Baptiste Rousseau, died here in 1741. Here also, Lesley, the faithful adherent of Mary Queen of Scots, expired in 1596. The principal native artists were Vandermeulen, the companion and flatterer of Louis the Fourteenth, who was born in 1634, and studied under Peter Snayers: Van Tilburg, born in 1625; and John, called Velvet Breughel, in 1589, who excelled in flowers and landscapes.

SITUATION AND CLIMATE.

BRUSSELS is situated 4° 15' East longitude, and 50° 51′ North latitude. The climate, compared with that of Paris, is cold; but compared with that of London, it is warmer in summer, and colder in winter. The air, although humid, is healthy; fogs are seldom seen, and are never of long duration. The greatest degree of heat in ordinary summers, is 28 degrees of Réaumur (96 of Fahrenheit), and the greatest cold of ordinary winters, 5 degrees of Réaumur below the freezing point (21 of Fahrenheit). During very severe winters, the thermometer has descended, for one or two days, as low as 18 degrees of Réaumur below the freezing point, or 8 degrees below the freezing point of Fahrenheit.

In 1553, Brussels witnessed the assembly of seven crowned heads, who were entertained by Charles the Fifth According to observations which have been made, it rains under a large tree in the forest of Soigny: amongst these on an average, at Brussels, half the days in the year. princes was Muley Hassem, king of Tunis. It was in this Snow very seldom falls more than two feet in depth, and city also, in 1555, that Charles the Fifth resigned his the ice is rarely more than a foot in thickness. Storms are dominions to his son, Philip the Second, during whose by no means frequent, as they usually disperse over the reign were perpetrated the atrocities of the Duke of Alva. neighbouring forest of Soigny. The dampest, and the This sanguinary tyrant came to Brussels in 1567 as Captain- most unhealthy months, are February, March, April, OctoGeneral of the Netherlands, and in the attempt to esta- ber, November, and December. The greatest number of blish the Inquisition, and to destroy the liberties of the deaths are during the first three of these months. One people, tortured, hung, burnt, or beheaded great numbers thirtieth of the inhabitants die every year, and very few of the nobility and citizens, who were accused of Protestant-persons exceed the age of seventy-five years. ism or of rebellion.

In 1794,

the population of Brussels amounted to 110,000, but it afterwards decreased to 60,000. Its present population, including the suburbs, may be estimated at about 100,000.

EXTENT, STREETS, &c.

BRUSSELS is situated partly on a hill, and partly in a vale, on the banks of the little river Senne. The city is built in the form of a pear, the stalk of which is formed by the suburb outside the gate of Halle. Its greatest length from N.N.E. to S.S.W., or from the Laeken Gate to the Halle Gate, is about a mile and a half; and its greatest breadth from E.S.E. to W.N.W., or from the Louvian Gate to the Flanders Gate, is about a mile. The ancient portion of the city is built partly on the side of a hill, the surface of which is very irregular, and partly on the plain at the foot of this hill. The modern part, consisting of the Park, and the adjacent streets, occupies a flat surface at the top of the eminence. The streets in the former are narrow and irregular, and have no pavement for foot passengers; the carriage-way is laid with hard granite stone, and is very disagreeable to walk upon. Those in the latter are spacious and airy, and may vie in grandeur with many at the west end of London. They are all lighted with gas, which was first used here in 1819. Mrs. Trollope says, No contrast in style and effect can be more perfect than that between the upper and lower town. The former is airy, gay, brilliant, and entirely modern; the latter, close, dark, sombre, and venerable."

Brussels contains about 15,000 houses, the greater part of which are built of brick, covered with plaster, which requires constant recolouring. This is done with an argillaceous earth, of a light green hue, found near Namur, which produces a very pleasing appearance. With the exception of the modern streets near the Park, the houses are built on no uniform plan: those of the first class, having in front from ten to fourteen plate-glass windows on each floor, are frequently found in secondary streets, and even in lanes; and in the best streets, large houses adjoin others of a very inferior description. The principal shops are in the streets between the Grande Place and the Place Royale, The stillness which pervades the streets at night forms a singular contrast to the bustle of London, at the same period: the shops are usually shut, even in winter, at dusk; and at eight o'clock in winter, and ten in summer, scarcely an individual is to be seen in the streets.

BOULEVARDS.

THE ramparts which formerly surrounded Brussels have been gradually demolished since 1818, and their site is now occupied by boulevards, which form a pleasing promenade. Those portions which are finished, consist of a handsome row of houses, with a double row of trees, and a coachway in the centre.

At intervals round the town, are the various gates of the city, some of which are very ornamental. The principal is the Laeken Gate, consisting of one large and two small arches, on either side of which is a lodge. The angles formed by the central arch, and compartment over it, are adorned with basso-relievos.

SQUARES, PARK, &c.

THE principal square in Brussels, and the most beautiful in Belgium, is the PLACE ROYALE, (Royal Square,) situated at the upper part of the town. Its form is oblong, and it is surrounded by eight ranges of buildings, rising two stories in height, and remarkable for the regularity and beauty of their architecture. Six of these are detached, and the space between the other two is occupied by the Church of Kaudenberg, the portico of which forms a noble object on the south-east side of the quadrangle. This beautiful square was erected in 1776 from designs by Guimard, and in imitation of the Great Square of Nancy. Adjoining the Place Royale is the PARK, which is one of the finest public gardens in Europe. It was originally attached to the forest of Soigny, but was afterwards annexed to the Ducal Palace, since known under the name

of the Burnt Court. This park was laid out as a pro

This edifice occupied the site of the large buildings which now stand between the Place Royale and the Park. It was the palace of the sovereigns, and consisted of four piles of building. It was commenced in 1300, finished in 1452, and destroyed by fire in 1731; from this circumstance it took its name in later times. The vaults which were attached to it still exist, it is said, beneath the Place Royale.

menade in 1774. It is about 540 yards in length and 380 in breadth, and is surrounded by four handsome streets. The Rue Ducale, in which is the palace of the Prince of Orange, bounds it on the east side, and on the west side is the Rue Royale, which extends beyond the park in a straight line, as far as the Schaerbeke Gate. On the north side is the Rue de Brabant, with the Senate House; and on the south side is the Rue de Belle-Vue in the centre of which stands the King's Palace.

The centre of the park is laid out as a garden in the formal style of the last century, intersected in various directions by wide walks, bordered by lofty trees, and interspersed with lawns, ornamented with statues. It is the favourite rendezvous of the fashionables, particularly in the

afternoon

The GRANDE PLACE, or MARKET PLACE, situated nearly in the centre of Brussels, is distinguished by its antiquity, as well as by the architectural majesty and variety of the buildings which surround it. On one side is the Town Hall, extending nearly the whole length of the square, and opposite to that are several large houses, which, though sadly defaced during the Revolution at the close of the last century, still exhibit vestiges of their ancient splendour. Amongst them is the Maison du Roi, or Bread House, originally used as a Town Hall. Pope Innocent II., and St. Bernard de Clairvaux, were entertained here in 1131.

In 1518 the Bread House was rebuilt of stone, and restored in 1625 by the Infanta Isabella. No less than seven streets diverge from this square. Here the fairs are held, and the public executions take place.

The GREAT SABLON is the largest, though not the handsomest, square in the city. It derived its name of sablon (sand), from the circumstance of its being formerly without pavement. In the centre is a fountain erected by Lord Bruce, an English nobleman, as a public expression of his gratitude for a residence of forty years in the city of Brussels.

The LITTLE SABLON, which is connected with the former by a short street, is planted with trees, and forms a pleasant promenade. Count d'Egmont, so celebrated in the history of the Netherlands, resided in a large mansion which stood in this square.

ST. MICHAEL'S SQUARE, near the north extremity of the town, was erected in 1775 from designs by Fisco. It is surrounded by a double row of linden-trees, and the centre is laid out as a garden, in which are various monuments in honour of the citizens killed during the revolution in 1830.

THE KING'S PALACE

Is situated at the south end of the Park. It is a handsome edifice, two stories in height, having in the centre a portico, consisting of five arches, above which rise six columns of the Corinthian order, supporting an entablature and balustrade. This palace unites the two buildings which were erected in 1784, one as the residence of the Imperial Plenipotentiary to the Netherlands, and the other for the Secretary of State. In 1790 the Belgian Congress assembled in the former, and during the occupation of the Netherlands by the French it was the residence of the Prefects. Napoleon lodged here at the time he was First Consul. He also came here again in 1807 with Josephine, and in 1810 with Maria Louisa. The late king of the and it is now occupied by King Leopold. Netherlands made it his residence when he was at Brussels,

THE PALACE OF THE PRINCE OF ORANGE

Is situated in the Rue Ducale, at the corner of the Park, and in sight of the Royal Palace. It is a freestone building of two stories, with projecting wings. The exterior is very plain, the only ornaments being pilasters of the Ionic order, which separate the windows from each other, and support a simple entablature. The apartments are, however, splendid; the floors are all curiously inlaid with various kinds of wood; the ceilings exhibit rich specimens of stucco work; the furniture is of the most elegant description; and the walls are hung with fine pictures by Vandyck, Mrs. Trollope thus describes her visit to this edifice in Rubens, Snyders, and other eminent Flemish painters. 1833. "The Palace of the Prince of Orange is not only the first object of admiration in the capital of Belgium, but would, I presume, be considered in every part of the world as a finished model of a splendid palace. It is not large, but, I think, it may be called perfect in magnificence and in taste; at least, I can imagine nothing superior to the

197-2

36

[merged small][ocr errors]

It is certainly not easy to conceive a more striking occasion for meditation on the uncertainty of human affairs, than that which the sight of this gorgeous, yet desolate, palace suggests. In 1828 the princely founder took assured possession of its marble halls and in 1830 they knew him no longer!

66

Every thing within the palace is kept in the most perfect order; the visiters, who throng to see it, walk over the inlaid floors in list shoes, which are furnished by the guide, who watches every individual with jealous attention, lest the envelope should slip aside, and vulgar shoe-leather approach the beautiful parquet. The boudoir of the princess is stated to be exactly as she left it, and it has in The magnificent truth every appearance of being so. even the chiffoniers, the pretty collection of gems, writing-table of the banished lady, remain as she left them. The pens, stained with ink, still hang suspended in their golden cradles, and sundry sheets of paper, edged with black, show that she was still in mourning for her empress-mother; even her gloves, looking as if just drawn off her hands, lie on the table. There is something very melancholy in this.

"To describe each princely chamber, going on crescendo, as they do, in splendour, from the first to the last, is quite out of the question. It is useless to say that one room is lined with Italian marble; another hung with crimson velvet, bordered by fringe of gold; and a third, of which the violet-stained walls are sprinkled with stars of silver. To expatiate upon all this with the best skill I have, would fail to convey a just idea of this princely dwelling. I may, perhaps, do greater justice to its dazzling magnificence, if I confess, that for the first time in my life, in a mansion containing good pictures, the decorations and furniture made me forget them."

THE SENATE-HOUSE

Is a noble edifice of stone, situated at the north end of the Park, exactly opposite the Royal Palace, so that a person standing in the middle walk of the Park, has a view of both these buildings. It was originally built in 1779, and consists of a centre with two extensive wings, forming three sides of a small square: the portico is formed by eight columns of the Ionic order, resting on five arches, and supporting a pediment in which is a fine piece of sculpture by Godecharle, representing Themis, the goddess of laws, denouncing crime, and protecting innocence. The exterior of the building was designed by Guimard, and the interior by M. Van der Straeton. The hall is spacious, and on each side of it is a splendid marble staircase; one leading to the Chamber of Peers,—a large and handsome room, and the other to the Chamber of Deputies. The latter is a very elegant semi-circular theatre, fitted up with seats for the members, and surrounded by galleries, appropriated to the ambassadors, the peers, and the public, who are admitted, both male and female, during the debates.

THE HOTEL DE VILLE, OR TOWN HALL,

The

Is situated in the market-place, and is certainly the finest Gothic building in Belgium. It was begun in 1401, but not finished till 1442. It is a square edifice, surrounding a court of the same form, and is built with a very hard stone. The most conspicuous object is the tower, which rises 364 feet in height, and is surmounted by a gilt statue of St. Michael, seventeen feet high. It consists of several stories, and is richly adorned with fretted-work. principal entrance is immediately below this tower, which is not exactly in the centre of the building, one of the wings of the edifice having been rebuilt on rather a smaller scale after the bombardment of 1695. There are forty windows in front, that is, nineteen in each story, and two in the tower, and between them are niches intended for statues of the sovereigns, and other eminent personages of the Low Countries. In the roof, which is covered with slates, are about eighty small windows. This vast pile is flanked by small hexagon towers.

The apartments, which were formerly occupied by the second Chamber of the States-General, and now by the City Government, are approached by a gallery, in which are whole length portraits, by Granger, of Philip the Good, Charles the Fifth, Philip the Second, Albert and Isabella, Philip

[ocr errors]

the Fourth, and Charles the Second, who were all sovereigns of Brabant.

The ancient Treasury Chamber is now used for the solemnization of marriages; and the Great Hall, where the lottery was drawn, during the government of Austria, and which was likewise the scene of the installation of the States-General, is now employed as a ball-room at the city In one of the rooms is a picture, containing festivals. portraits of the persons who formed the Provisional Government in 1830.

THE PALACE OF THE FINE ARTS,

FORMERLY called the Orange Palace, or the Old Court, is situated at the end of the Rue du Musée, a small street leading out of the Place Royale. The first foundation of this building was laid by William of Duyvenvoorde, in 1346; but the property afterwards passed into the Orange family, and the palace was erected by the Count of Nassau, in 1502. After the fire in 1731, which destroyed the ancient palace, it became the residence of the Governor-General of the Low Countries. Charles of Lorraine, the governor, under Maria Theresa, rebuilt a considerable portion of it in 1744, and resided here till his death. Maria Christina, and Albert, afterwards occupied it till 1792, and the Archduke Charles, till the French entered the Netherlands. This palace now contains the Museum, the Library, and the Cabinet of Natural History.

The front of the building was designed by Folte, and the sculpture with which it is decorated, by Delvaux. At the bottom of the principal staircase is a fine statue of Hercules by Delvaux: the ceiling, painted by Verschoot, represents Ólympus surrounded by the Seasons, and the twelve signs of the Zodiac. The ceiling of the first room is also painted by the same artist: this apartment is a rotunda, and the pavement in the centre is disposed in the form of a star, each ray of which is a different kind of marble from the other, but all brought from places in the Netherlands.

The MUSEUM, which is on the first floor, consists of a tolerable collection of pictures, principally of the Flemish School. They are arranged in several rooms, but the principal apartment is a long gallery erected about ten years ago, divided at intervals by pillars, and lighted by windows in the roof. This gallery is 225 feet in length, 28 feet in breadth, and 27 in height. In addition to the pictures, there are several pieces of sculpture, particularly a fountain by Gripello, which is much admired.

On the same flor is the PUBLIC LIBRARY, which consists of about a hundred thousand volumes, occupying seven large rooms, which were formerly the state apartments when the building was inhabited as a palace. The manuscripts and books of the ancient library of Burgundy, which were saved from the fire in 1731, formed the foundation of this library, which was first opened to the public in 1772, at a house in the Rue d'Isabelle. It was afterwards removed to the Chancery near the Senate-house, and then to its present situation in 1797. During the occupation of the French, many of the manuscripts were taken away, but have been since restored. The library contains several curious missals, and some scarce specimens of early printing, many of which are splendidly illuminated. Amongst the manuscripts are the evangelists of the ninth century, and a Flemish Bible in 2 vols. of 1360. Here also is preserved the first Flemish Bible, printed at Delft, 1477.

The CABINET of NATURAL HISTORY and PHILOSOPHY is

on the ground-floor, and occupies several large apartments. In the corridor are two immense planks, one hundred feet in length, which were cut out of the same tree, grown at the Abbey of Villers. Here also are preserved a coat of mail which belonged to Charles the First of England; the horse on which the Infanta Isabella made her entry into Brussels as sovereign of the Netherlands; the cradle of Charles the Fifth; and the horse which carried the Duke of Alva six miles after it had been twice wounded.

The Museum, Library, and Cabinet, are open to the public two or three days in each week.

* Brabant, of which Brussels is the capital, was one of the seventeen United Provinces. Its deputies spoke first in the general assemblies. According to tradition, it derived its name from Salvius Brabon, one of the army of Julius Cæsar, who freed this country from a formidable giant, who resided at a fortress on the banks of the Scheldt, and cut off the hands of all passengers who went up the river without paying him tribute. It is said that he threw them quite across the river, and hence, according to the story, was derived the name of Antwerp, which occupies the site of this giant's castle, hand-werpen being the Flemish for hand-thrown.-See Saturday Magasine, "Antwerp," Vol. III., p. 170.

« AnteriorContinuar »