of Luxembourg, who sold her to the English. The Tour de la Pucelle marks the spot. A most lovely excursion may be made to the pretty village of Pierrefonds, distance 6 miles, one of the most agreeable and quiet retreats in France. Hotels, Grund Hôtel and Hôtel des Etrangers. Here the beautiful medieval castle, erected in 1390, by Louis, Duke of Orleans, partially destroyed by Richelieu, 1617, and restored by the Empress Eugénie, 1865, should be visited. The decoration of the interior is most fine, the chimneypieces in the great halls being particularly worthy of notice. CHARLEROI. Cambrai, a manufacturing town of 22,897 inhabitants, which is situated on the line between St. Quentin and Lille. Fénelon, the author of "Telemachus," was buried here. His coffin was torn from the grave by the demons of the Revolution, and melted to make bullets. There is a very fine monument erected to his memory in the new church, built on the site of the old cathedral, which was razed to the ground by the Revolutionists. The article known in England and the United States as "cambric" is named from this town, being manufactured here. Cambrai was taken by the English in 1815. It is noted also for the treaty of peace signed here between Charles V. and Francis I.; also for the League concocted against the Republic of Noyon, a town of 7000 inhabitants, contains a fine old cathedral of the 12th century, but is principally noted for being the birthplace of John Calvin, the great Re-Venice. former; he was the son of a notary of Novon. From here you can take a diligence to visit the state prison of Ham, rendered famous by its being the place where the late emperor of France was confined for six years. We have described the circumstance in his biography. The walls are 36 feet thick, and the donjon 100 high; strangers are not admitted. St. Quentin contains 34,811 inhabitants. Hotel du Cygne the best. It is a manufacturing town, prettily situated on the banks of the Somme. The principal manufacture is that of linen cloths. The cathedral is one of the finest in northern France. St. Quentin is celebrated for the great battle fought between the French and Spanish troops in 1557. Queen Mary having dispatched a large force, under the command of the Earl of Pembroke, to assist her husband, Philip II., the town was carried after the eleventh assault; the inhabitants were treated with great cruelty. It was taken by the Germans October 21, 1870. Two miles north of the town is the battle-field on which the Germans (January 19, 1871) defeated the Army of the North under General Faidherbe, which had been raised for the relief of Paris. The Canal of St. Quentin, completed by Napoleon I., forms a communication between the River Scheldt and the Atlantic, through the rivers Somme, Seine, and Loire. Beyond St. Quentin a line branches off at Busigny to VOL. I.-Y Diligences daily to Arras and Douai. Le Cateau, containing 9974 inhabitants, has of late years rapidly increased in size, owing to the working of some neighboring coal-mines. It stands at the beginning of the great coal-field, the most important in France, of the Département du Nord, which is a prolongation of the Belgian coal-field. The principal collieries are at Anzin, Denain, Fresnes, Lourches, and Vieux-Condé, from which a large portion of the coal is transported to Paris by the canal St. Quentin. At Le Cateau the treaty between Philip II. and Henri II. was signed in 1559. In the town is a statue by Bra of Marshal Mortier, Duke of Treviso, a native of Le Cateau, who was slain in Paris by Fieschi's infernal machine. Maubeuge contains 13,734 inhabitants. Hôtel du Grand Cerf. It is situated on the Sambre, and forms one of the fortresses on the second line of defenses toward Belgium. The fortifications were constructed in 1680 after plans made by Vauban. The parish church contains a slipper and veil said to have belonged to St. Aldegonde, the founder of a celebrated nunnery. Previous to arriving at Charleroi we pass the Jeumont station, where baggage examined coming from Belgium; the next station is Erquelines, where baggage and passports are examined going to Belgium. Charleroi, the first Belgian fortress on the line of defense toward France; population, including suburbs, 20,000. It is one 497 Paris to Brussels, via Clermont, Arras, Douai, Valenciennes, and Mons; or to Ghent, via Arras, Douai, Lile, and Courtrai (branch line from Lille to Hazebrouck, St. Omer, and Calais). Time to Brussels, 12 hours; fare, 39 fr. 70 c. Time to Ghent from Paris, 11 h. 45 m.; fare, 36 fr. 70 c. For description of route as far as Amiens, see Route No. 110. At Albert station, diligences for Péronne await the arrival of the trains. This fortress, situated on the north bank of Somme, contains 4262 inhabitants. In the castle of this town Louis XI. was detained a prisoner by Charles the Bold, and released only after he had signed a treaty most disadvantageous to himself. Arras.-Hôtel Petit Saint Pol. This is a first-class fortress, containing 25,907 inhabitants, and situated on the right bank of the Scarpe, on the site of the ancient Nemetacum. It is divided into two parts, the Haute and Basse Ville; in the former is situated the Hôtel de Ville, a beautiful building, dating from 1510, with some fine oak carvings in the reception-rooms. The Cathedral, completed in 1833, is an Italian edifice in the form of a cross, occupying the site of a building erected in the 7th century to serve as a mausoleum for VALENCIENNES. the patron saint of the town, St. Vaast. The north transept contains two triptychs of the early Flemish school, that representing the Adoration of the Magi, with the date 1528, said to be by Bellegambe. In addition to the Public Library, which contains over 40,000 volumes, there is a Museum, entered from the public gardens, with a collection of paintings, chiefly modern; also archæological, numismatic, and ethnographical collections. This town was famous in olden times for its manufacture of tapestry (arazzi), of which some specimens are to be seen on the staircase of the Museum, with the date 1672. Robespierre was a native of Arras, and was educated, together with his brother, by the charity of the clergy of St. Vaast, both having been abandoned in childhood by their father. Lace, china, and pottery are largely manufactured in Arras, which is also one of the largest corn-markets in France, and carries on an extensive trade in beet-root, chicory, sugar, and rape-oil. Arras to Douai in 33 minutes; fare, 2 fr. 15 c. Douai is a town of 24,105 inhabitants, situated on both banks of the Scarpe, and containing important scholastic and military institutions. The Hôtel de Ville is a fine Gothic building, dating from the end of the 15th century, surmounted by a picturesque beffroi. The town possesses an Arsenal, one of the most important in France, created by Louis XIV.; a Museum of natural history, which contains also a collection of paintings, chiefly of the old Flemish school; a public library of 40,000 volumes, and a Benedictine college. Visit the church of Notre Dame, and apply to the sacristan to see a remarkable Flemish altar-piece by Bellegambe, a native of Douai. Coal-pits abound in the neighborhood of the town, which carries on also a considerable trade in flax. Douai to Valenciennes, 50 minutes; fare, 5 fr. 30 c. Valenciennes is a first-class fortress, situated on the Scheldt, and possessing a citadel constructed by Vauban. Popula tion, 24,662. Hôtel du Commerce. Here is manufactured in large quantities the celebrated Valenciennes lace, also a large quantity of fine cambric. The town possesses a fine Hôtel de Ville, which contains three pictures ascribed to Rubens, a library of 25,000 volumes, and adjoining the library a museum, called the Musée Benezech, bequeathed to the town in 1852, and containing paintings, antiquities, sculpture, and arms. From Valenciennes the railway continues to Blanc Misseron, the French frontier station. For continuation of this route to Brussels, see Route No. 140. Valenciennes to Brussels, 2 h. 35 m.; fare, 8 fr. 90 c. COURTRAI. that of flax, which is largely grown in the vicinity, being the most important. From Lille a line branches off to Calais via Hazebrouck and St. Omer. Time, 3 h. 65 m.; fare, 13 fr. It Hazebrouck, a town of 9017 inhabitants, contains little to interest the traveler. is important as being the junction station of the lines from Calais to Paris by Arras, from Calais to Lille and Brussels, and the line from Dunkerque. [Dunkirk, or Dunkerque, is a seaport and fortified town of 34,350 inhabitants, Brussels, see Route No. 134. Valenciennes to Paris. Time, 6 h. 33 reached from Hazebrouck in 1 h. 10 m.; m.; fare, 30 fr. 80 c. If taking the route from Paris to Ghent, a line branches off at Douai in the direction of Lille. Time to Lille, 50 minutes; fare, 2 fr. 40 c. Lille (Hôtel de l'Europe) is an important manufacturing town, ranking fifth among the cities of France, and containing more than 170,000 inhabitants. It is also a firstclass fortress, but, except for a military man, possesses few objects of interest. Of late years the city has been much improved, the old walls having been pulled down and replaced by handsome boulevards. In the Place Rihour is an ancient edifice, built by Jean-sans-Peur in 1430, for many years the palace of the dukes of Burgundy, and at one time inhabited by the Emperor Charles V. The walls of the Salle du Conclave are decorated with paintings by Arnold de Veuez, 1726. On the second floor is a Museum and School of Art. Here there are five or six rooms filled with paintings, of which the finest are a Magdalen and the Virgin and St. Francis, by Rubens; a Medea, by E. Delacroix; and several works by a native artist, De Veuez, born 1642. The Museum also possesses a valuable collection of drawings, 1300 in number, by the old Italian masters, among which are numbered several by Raphael, Michael Angelo, Fra Bartolomeo, etc.; also a bust in wax, attributed to Raphael. This collection was bequeathed to the town by Chev. Wilar, a native of Lille, who passed many years in Rome. The Museum also contains an ethnographical collection, the gift of a citizen. Lille possesses, in addition, a public library, Palais de Justice, Bourse, and theatre. There are many manufactures here, fare, 5 fr. 5 c. Hôtel de Flandre. This is the best harbor possessed by France in the North Sea, and large sums have been expended in clearing its mouth from the sands with which it was obstructed. It is the great outlet for the manufactures of the extreme northern departments; the town is clean and well-paved, and the bathing during the season good. Steamers leave twice a week for London and Hull, also for Rotterdam and Hamburg. From Hazebrouck to St. Omer. Time, 45 minutes. St. Omer is a dull town and third-class fortress of 21,869 inhabitants, situated on the River Aa, and surrounded by marshes. Hôtel d'Angleterre. The principal buildings are the Cathedral, Hôtel de Ville, Artillery Arsenal, Museum, and Public Library. Of the abbey church of St. Bertin, the tower, dating from the 15th century, alone remains; in this abbey Childeric III., the last king of the first race, expired in 755. St. Omer to Calais. Time, 1 h. 18 m.; fare, 5 fr. 15 c. Calais, see Route No. 110. Returning to our route from Lille to Ghent we pass Roubaix, a town of 24,000 inhabitants, possessing extensive cotton manufactories. Tourcoing, the next station (population, 20,000), is famous for its carpets and woolen yarn. At Mouscron is the Belgium custom-house. Courtrai.- Hotel Lion d'Or. Population, 23,510. This town, situated on the banks of the Lys, is famed for its manufacture of table damask and other linen; the waters of the Lys being considered to possess good bleaching properties, there COURTRAI. [FRANCE.] COURTRAL are numerous large bleaching-grounds in | under the walls of Courtrai in 1302, bethe vicinity of the town. The principal tween 20,000 Flemings, under the Comte de buildings are the Hôtel de Ville, with two Namur, and the French under the Comte curiously carved chimney - pieces; the d'Artois. The latter were defeated, their church of Notre Dame, with a fine painting leader slain, and 700 gilt spurs, ornaments behind the altar, the Raising of the Cross, worn only by the French nobility, were by Vandyke; two ancient towers of the gathered on the battle-field, and hung up 15th century, and a Museum of modern in the church of the convent of Groenignen, paintings. since destroyed.] The Battle of Golden Spurs was fought 500 Ghent, see Route No. 137. BELGIUM. HISTORY. [BELGIUM.] HISTORY. BELGIUM is situated between France and Holland, and has been established since the separation of its provinces from those of Holland by the Revolution of 1830. Its territory is small compared with that of the great European states, being only about one eighth of that of Great Britain, while its population but little exceeds five millions. However, the important position the country has occupied in the political, military, commercial, and agricultural history of Europe-its former celebrity in manufactures and the fine arts, and its present rapid progress in every industrial pursuit and social improvement, give it a peculiar interest. Its climate is less chilly and damp, and more favorable to health than that of Holland; but it is certainly humid compared with France and Germany, and may be considered very similar to that of England, except that it is still subject to more frequent variations, with a tendency to excess. celled in desperate courage), and Luxem burg and Limburg by the Eburones, etc. In the great confederacy of these clans against the Romans, they levied about 120,000 fighting men, 60,000 of whom were reduced by Cæsar to 500 in his battle with the Nervii near Namur, and of the Aduatici he sold 53,000 for slaves on taking the town of Tongres. In stature and bulk they surpassed the Romans, whom they fiercely encountered, and nearly destroyed Cæsar's army of the best disciplined troops in the world. The highland tribes soon became amalgamated with their Roman conquerors, adopted their manners and language, and, during the long dominion of Rome in those regions, they served in her armies, and were greatly distinguished for their intrepidity; so that many of Cæsar's subsequent victories, especially that of Pharsalia, were decided by the cavalry and light infantry of Belgium. The lowland people, on the contrary, continued faithful to their ancient manners, customs, and language, and sought only to secure national independence by maritime commerce and agricultural industry. Pliny, who speaks from personal observation, says that, in his time, their fruits were abundant and excellent. In the 3d, 4th, and 5th centuries, the character of the Belgic population was greatly changed by successive invasions of Salian Franks from the North, whose progress westward terminated in the establishment of the Frankish, or French empire in Gaul, and under whose dominion the ancient inhabitants of the Ardennes were either destroyed or reduced to slavery. Christianity was introduced, and monasteries were founded in the immense for During the time of Cæsar, the natives of Belgium were considered the least civilized and most courageous of all the Gallic nations. They had cities surrounded by lofty stone walls and fortified gates, re-ests and solitudes of the higher country, quiring the use of the Roman batteringrams and moving towers. Their armies contained troops of cavalry. The country produced supplies of corn, and abundant herds of cattle. The people consisted of two classes, chiefs and slaves. Druidism from Britain was universally predominant. Flanders was occupied by the Menapii and Morini, Brabant by the Aduatici, Hainault and Namur by the Nervii (who ex where the French nobles visited only for the sake of hunting bears. The maritime lowland descendants of the Menapii, now blended with Saxons and Frisians, and known by the name of Flemings, continued to prosper in commerce and agriculture. In the time of Charlemagne, A.D. 800, the physical state of the country had become much improved. In the west embankments were raised against the en |