FOOTNOTES

[1]Made by Nurse and Co. Crawford Street, Bryanstone Square.

[2]So styled in the act by which Philip II, ceded to them the Sovereignty of the Low Countries.

[3]Wordsworth’s Sonnet to Bruges.

[4]Query, St. Salvador.

[5]I must take this early opportunity of adding my tribute of gratitude to the compiler of these most invaluable volumes, the Hand-books of Northern and Southern Germany, they have been my constant companions, and I cannot do less than unite with every tourist, whom I met on the continent, in pronouncing them as matchless in the value and variety of their contents, as they are faultless in their accuracy.

[6]It is the custom in Belgium, in order to distinguish one member of the same family, to append to the surname of the husband that of his lady.

[7]At Ghent, this fee has been reduced to one half the sum.

[8]De l’Industrie en Belgique, Causes de Decadence et de Prosperité, &c. par M. N. Briavionne, Bruxelles, 1839, vol. ii, p. 345.

[9]By the French commercial code, there are three descriptions of trading companies. First,sociétés en nom collectif, with all the attributes of an ordinary partnership in England; secondly,sociétés en commandite, where the great majority of the associated capitalists are sleeping partners, with no share in the management, no name in the firm, and responsible only to the extent of their registered capital, one or more of the partners, alone, having the conduct of the establishment, and being responsible to the public to the full extent of their property; and thirdly, thesociétés anonymes, which are, in every incident and particular analogous to the joint stock companies of England, only with a liability, limited in every instance to the amount of their shares.

[10]These engines are in great esteem, and I have found them in almost universal use in Belgium. The one alluded to above, was consuming from 5½ of to 6½ lbs. of coals, per hour, per horse power; whilst a low pressure engine in England, would require from 12 to 14lbs. In this country, they are likewise coming in greater demand, although here the saving of coal is a matter of less importance, and may be, in some degree, counterbalanced by the risk, and more frequent repairs, incidental to high pressure engines.

[11]The price of coal at Ghent, when I visited its manufactories was 20 francs for 1000 kilogrammes, or about sixteen shillings a ton for coals of Mons, which are brought from a considerable distance by the Scheldt; those of Charleroi are of better quality, and a shade higher in price. Coals have increased in price in Belgium within the last few years, as well from the greater demand, as an apprehension that the coal fields of the Ardennes were rapidly exhausting, but this alarm has of late been regarded as groundless. England, with a liberality, which manufactoring jealousy scarcely sanctions, has recently permitted the free export of coal both to Belgium, France and Prussia, a boon for which these governments, which are prohibiting British manufactures, and their mechanics and mill owners, who are contending with our own for the market, cannot be too grateful.

[12]Three hundred bundles per day, being as nearly as possible eleven cuts to the spindle.

[13]COMPARATIVE WAGES PAID WORKERS.Description of Workers.Wages per day of 11½ hours.England.Wages per day of 11½ hours.Belfast.Wages per day of 11 hours.Ghent.Average.Average.Average.s.d.s.d.d.s.d.Spreaders13to1610011¾First Drawing10138½08½Second Drawing10138½08½Roving1115909¼Carding10167½to9½09¼Spinner10141008½Doffer085½04¾Reeler (piece work)101610to1109¼Dyer26301s.4d.13Bundler26301s.5½15Hackler (Roughing for Machine)1s.6d.1s.4d.17Overlooker4s.6d.3s.6d.24½These wages,at present, paying in Ghent, it must be borne in mind, are hardly a fair criterion, as flax spinning being entirely a new trade there, it was necessary to give an inducement by extra wages, for the cotton spinner’s to leave the work to which they were accustomed; but this will soon find its level.

[13]COMPARATIVE WAGES PAID WORKERS.

These wages,at present, paying in Ghent, it must be borne in mind, are hardly a fair criterion, as flax spinning being entirely a new trade there, it was necessary to give an inducement by extra wages, for the cotton spinner’s to leave the work to which they were accustomed; but this will soon find its level.

[14]One cannot but remark the wretched quality of the window-glass, even in the most luxurious houses. It is uneven, warped, and of a dirty-green colour. It is chiefly made at Charleroi.

[15]The joke against Mechlin arises from an alarm being given that the cathedral was on fire, by some one who had seen the moonbeams shining through its gothic steeple—whence the proverb, that “the wise men of Mechlin went to put out the moon.”

[16]Les machines sont là aussi multipliés, aussi variées que les besoins où on les applique: il y en a une pour chaque pensée, ou plutôt, c’est la même pensée qui a mille ministres; l’une scie, l’autre fend, l’autre coupe, l’autre rabotte; il y en a pour degrossir la pièce, il y en a pour lui donner la forme exacte, il y en a pour l’orner; il y en a pour la polir, le ciseau, le tour, le rabot, l’emporte pièce la tenaille, le marteau tous les instruments du menuisier, du tourneur, du forgeron, s’évertuent sur le fer comme sur le bois la plus tendre, mais sans menuisier, sans tourneur, sans forgeron—la main qui les meut est une machine, cette main, toujours sûre, toujours ferme, délicate, légère, qui n’a pas d’inégalité, qui ne depende pas d’une pensée capricieuse, qui ne se lasse pas, qui ne s’alourdit pas, qui ne vieillit pas! * * * * Cette machine n’a besoin de personne: on lui donne sa tâche un certain jour, et pourvu qu’on ne lui retire pas la portion de force motrice qui l’anime, elle terminera cette tâche à jour fixe: elle vous la livrera comme un ouvrier à la pièce: vous arriverez un beau matin, et vous la trouverez sortie du cylindre et tournant à vide, en attendant que vous lui donniez une nouvelle tâche.—From an account of the great works at Seraing, in theRevue de Paris.

[17]“Les manufactures de Manchester ne voulant pas s’en remettre de ce soin au gouvernement, se sont cotisés, out réuni une somme annuelle suffisante pour organiser autour de leur ville une ligne de douane specialement consacré à empêcher la sortie des mécaniques qu’ils inventaient.”—De l’Industrie de Belgique, vol. ii, p. 326.

[18]“She was in black down to her toes, with her hair concealed under a cambric border, laid close to the forehead: she was one of those kind of nuns, and please your honour, of which there are a good many in Flanders.” “By thy description Trim,” said my uncle Toby, “I dare say she was a young Beguine, of whom there are none to be found any where, except in the Spanish Netherlands, they differ from other nuns in this, that they can quit their cloisters, if they chose to marry—they visit, and take care of the sick by profession, but I had rather, for my own part, they did it out of good nature.”—Sterne.

[19]The 17th article of theConstitution Belge, contains the following pithy enactment as to national education. “L’Enseignementest libre, toute mesure préventive est interdite.”

[20]“Quelques mots sur l’état actuel de l’instruction primaire en Belgique, et sur la nécessité de l’améliorer.”See also a clever paper by R. W. Rawson, Esq. in the Quarterly Journal of the Statistical Society of London, vol. 2, p. 385.

[20]“Quelques mots sur l’état actuel de l’instruction primaire en Belgique, et sur la nécessité de l’améliorer.”

See also a clever paper by R. W. Rawson, Esq. in the Quarterly Journal of the Statistical Society of London, vol. 2, p. 385.

[21]The linen which we saw was of low quality, coarse and strong, and by no means cheap. It consisted of sheeting, for export to the Havannah, which, for five quarter’s wide, was sold at one shilling a yard.

[22]This latter quantity is found in the tables published by the Board of Trade, under the head of “Flax, Tow, or Codilla of Hemp and Tow.” The importation of “undressed hemp” is under another head, and amounts to 730,375 cwt.

[23]It is curious that this process which all concur in representing to be one requiring the utmost cleanliness and purity, should of all places be performed in Holland with an utter neglect of both. In an able document by Mr. Acton, in the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture for 1832, he gives the following account of the operation. “The mode of watering flax in Holland, and in the low lands of Belgium and France, is to put a dam across the canal, clean out the weeds and mud for a few yards next the dam, lay in three or four rows of sheaves of flax next the dam, and then covering these six inches deep with the rank herbage that grows in the canal, and the mud raked up from its bottom. A few more courses of sheaves are next placed in the same way as the first, and covered in the same way with weeds and mud, till the whole is put in steep. These fosses, and the mode of placing the flax in them, are as they ought to be, but the propriety of dragging up so much mud or slime from the bottom of the canals, to cover the sheaves, six inches deep, may well be doubted, it cannot fail to besmear the lint so much, as to render it so nasty, that it would require to be much rinsed and washed in the water to remove the mud. This not only creates labour, by no means the most agreeable, but must greatly injure the flax by ruffling it in the water, a thing that ought to be avoided.”—Vol. iv. p. 174.

[24]This important association has been for some years in operation, and amongst its functions has sent several commissioners into other countries to ascertain the relative value of their various processes. The result of these inquiries, they have condensed into a short manual for the use of the farmers and others engaged in the trade in Flanders; in order to confine it to whom it has been written and printed in Flemish. A copy of this valuable document translated into French, for which I am indebted to a particular source, I have placed in the appendix to these volumes. Knowing it as I do, to be the genuine and anxious suggestions of the best practical men in Belgium, it may be regarded as a faithful guide to their process, and would be well deserving of extensive circulation in the flax districts of Great Britain and Ireland.

[25]It consists, I believe, of about thirteen sail of small vessels.

[26]On the first out-break of the revolution, the people of Antwerp, strongly opposed to it, sent the following address to the King of Holland. “Sire, it is not without painful sensations that we have been apprised of the demand made to your Majesty, tending to obtain a separation of interests between the southern and northern provinces. The fear that our silence may be interpreted as an adhesion to this proposition, imposes upon us the duty of exposing to your Majesty, that the wish is in no way participated in by us. The experience of fifteen years has proved to us, in the most evident manner, that is to the free and mutual exchange of produce, that we are indebted for reciprocal prosperity.The advantages that navigation derives from the colonies, the increasing outlets that these same colonies constantly offer to the produce of our industry, are irrefragible proofs, that any separation would not only be fatal to this province, but to the commercial industry of all Belgium.Intimately persuaded of this great truth, we dare to make it known to your Majesty, with that confidence and respect inspired by a King, who desires the welfare of his people, and who will never labour but in the interest of its well understood prosperity.”—Antwerp, September13th, 1830.

[27]De l’Industrie en Belgique, vol. 2, p. 384.

[28]Exposé de la situation de la Province de la Flandre Orientale, pour l’année 1840. Ghent de l’imprimerie de Vanryckegem-Hovaerz, imprimeur du Governement Provincial.The numbers are as follows:Twowhose deficiencyis between1,000 ff.and2,000.Four””2,000”3,000.One””3,000”4,000.One””6,000”7,000.Two””7,000”8,000.One””14,000”15,000.One””19,000”20,000.One””20,000”25,000.Three””25,000”30,000.One””35,000”40,000.Two””unknown

[28]Exposé de la situation de la Province de la Flandre Orientale, pour l’année 1840. Ghent de l’imprimerie de Vanryckegem-Hovaerz, imprimeur du Governement Provincial.

The numbers are as follows:

[29]Le Guide Indispensable, p. 103.

[30]The Belgian manufacturers themselves were, as I have before stated, perfectly alive to the mischief which the separation from Holland was certain to entail upon them; and it is curious, as well as interesting, to remark the circumstantial fidelity with which these protectors warned the movement party of the consequences which they were provoking, and which have since been accomplished to the letter. The following reasons against separation from Holland were published at the time in one of the journals of Antwerp, when the prospect of Repealing the Union was most unpalatable:“Ever since some parts of our southern provinces have unfurled the banner of insurrection, all business has ceased. Circulation has been interrupted, and several establishments, which required the employment of great capital and afforded the means of subsistance to numerous families, have been destroyed and burned. Public tranquillity disturbed in every manner; men, the most peaceable, and a short time ago happy in the bosom of their families, prospering under the protection of order and the laws, now forcibly torn from their homes to perform military service of which they are ignorant, and which they dislike; their property every day exposed and ready to become the prey of an unbridled populace—a state of anarchy which will end by creating parties who will shortly lacerate each other; and lastly, a most forbidding future preparing for them. Such is a faint picture of the evils which a rebellious and unconstitutional rising has already produced. But all that has hitherto been witnessed is in no wise to be compared to the consequences which must result from an unseasonable separation, which has been demanded with a levity which no man of sense can comprehend.It is true, that among the men who figure as the authors and supporters of a separation, there are to be observed no manufacturers: and, indeed, what manufacturer, what merchant, what agriculturist even, could fall into such an error?You cry out for a separation, and would fain persuade yourselves that it would be all in your favour. With similar levity you take upon yourselves to dictate the conditions of a separation. This shows but little foresight.The northern part of the kingdom has taken up the gauntlet, which you so imprudently threw down. Hear one of their organs, and consider the consequences which must, and ought to ensue to Belgium when once isolated and abandoned to itself.”The following is the reply of the Dutch to your challenge:—“‘We are glad,’ say they, ‘that the proposal for a divorce has been made by you. Let it take place, and the cloud which has darkened the horizon of our country will be dissipated. A glorious sun will then soon shine upon it. Soon will the decadence of Amsterdam and its causes cease, and the separation will give it the life and activity which it lost by the union.But let us examine what will be the result of this divorce to the northern provinces?Relieved from an odious manufacturing system, we shall be able to establish our customs on a perfectly commercial system: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dort, Middleburgh, will become so many free ports, into which moderate duties, exempt from vexatious modes of collection, will bring back our old commerce in all its force. The duties at present imposed upon sugar, coffee, and other articles of trade, will be revoked.The inhabitants will purchase fuel, clothing, stuffs, and all the commodities which trade, manufacture, and the necessities of a people require, in England, and wherever they can produce them upon better terms than in the southern provinces, where all these articles will be loaded with duties and restrictions, and will be therefore dearer.Our country will again become the centre and mart of all the productions and riches of the world which are destined for and consumed in Germany and the provinces of France bordering on the Rhine, as well as in many other places which now escape us.The products of our colonies will be no longer carried except to our own ports, to the exclusion of all others, and they will be freed from all the duties and charges with which they are at present burdened, and which our Sovereign has established for the advantage of the Belgians alone. Thus not only the mother country, but the colonies, also, will enjoy the advantage of the separation. The duty of 25 per cent. established at Java in favour of the Belgians will be abolished, and it is thus that, wherever the standard of Holland shall be displayed, liberty, prosperity, and public happiness will prevail; and let no one present to you as a burdensome set-off the debt which will remain to our charge.’”

“Ever since some parts of our southern provinces have unfurled the banner of insurrection, all business has ceased. Circulation has been interrupted, and several establishments, which required the employment of great capital and afforded the means of subsistance to numerous families, have been destroyed and burned. Public tranquillity disturbed in every manner; men, the most peaceable, and a short time ago happy in the bosom of their families, prospering under the protection of order and the laws, now forcibly torn from their homes to perform military service of which they are ignorant, and which they dislike; their property every day exposed and ready to become the prey of an unbridled populace—a state of anarchy which will end by creating parties who will shortly lacerate each other; and lastly, a most forbidding future preparing for them. Such is a faint picture of the evils which a rebellious and unconstitutional rising has already produced. But all that has hitherto been witnessed is in no wise to be compared to the consequences which must result from an unseasonable separation, which has been demanded with a levity which no man of sense can comprehend.

It is true, that among the men who figure as the authors and supporters of a separation, there are to be observed no manufacturers: and, indeed, what manufacturer, what merchant, what agriculturist even, could fall into such an error?

You cry out for a separation, and would fain persuade yourselves that it would be all in your favour. With similar levity you take upon yourselves to dictate the conditions of a separation. This shows but little foresight.

The northern part of the kingdom has taken up the gauntlet, which you so imprudently threw down. Hear one of their organs, and consider the consequences which must, and ought to ensue to Belgium when once isolated and abandoned to itself.”

The following is the reply of the Dutch to your challenge:—

“‘We are glad,’ say they, ‘that the proposal for a divorce has been made by you. Let it take place, and the cloud which has darkened the horizon of our country will be dissipated. A glorious sun will then soon shine upon it. Soon will the decadence of Amsterdam and its causes cease, and the separation will give it the life and activity which it lost by the union.

But let us examine what will be the result of this divorce to the northern provinces?

Relieved from an odious manufacturing system, we shall be able to establish our customs on a perfectly commercial system: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dort, Middleburgh, will become so many free ports, into which moderate duties, exempt from vexatious modes of collection, will bring back our old commerce in all its force. The duties at present imposed upon sugar, coffee, and other articles of trade, will be revoked.

The inhabitants will purchase fuel, clothing, stuffs, and all the commodities which trade, manufacture, and the necessities of a people require, in England, and wherever they can produce them upon better terms than in the southern provinces, where all these articles will be loaded with duties and restrictions, and will be therefore dearer.

Our country will again become the centre and mart of all the productions and riches of the world which are destined for and consumed in Germany and the provinces of France bordering on the Rhine, as well as in many other places which now escape us.

The products of our colonies will be no longer carried except to our own ports, to the exclusion of all others, and they will be freed from all the duties and charges with which they are at present burdened, and which our Sovereign has established for the advantage of the Belgians alone. Thus not only the mother country, but the colonies, also, will enjoy the advantage of the separation. The duty of 25 per cent. established at Java in favour of the Belgians will be abolished, and it is thus that, wherever the standard of Holland shall be displayed, liberty, prosperity, and public happiness will prevail; and let no one present to you as a burdensome set-off the debt which will remain to our charge.’”

[31]White, v. i, p. 124, &c.

[32]A full detail of the state of the kingdom, at the outbreak of the revolution will be found in a volume published by the Baron Keverberg, who had been governor of East Flanders under the King of Holland,Du Royaume des Pays-Bas, sous la rapport de son origine, de son developement, et de sa crise actuelle, Brussels, 1836.

[33]Essai historique et critique sur la révolution Belge.ParM. Nothcomb.Brussels, 1833.

[34]A copy of this singular document, will be found at the end of these volume.

[35]Un des plus excellens moyens, et peut-être le seul qui existe aujourd’hui, d’assurer aux jeunes gens une éducation qui réunit tout à la fois l’esprit de la religion et les talens les plus éminensserait de rétablie les jesuitesdans la Belgique.—Memor. art. 8.

[36]This singular manifesto will be found in the appendix at the end of these volumes.

[37]Jurer d’observer et de maintenir une loi quisuppose(!) que l’église catholique est soumise aux lois d’état, c’est manifestaient s’exposer a coopérer à l’asservissement de l’église.—Jugement doctrinal, (Art. 193, see appendix).

[38]Page193.

[39]The list of candidates suggested for the throne of Belgium in 1831, contains some names which are rather extraordinary, such as Colonel Murat, La Fayette, Colonel Fabvier the Philhellene, Sebastiani, Châteaubriand, Prince Carignan of Piedmont, M. Rogier, Count de Merode, the present King of Greece, Prince John of Saxony, the Duke of Leuchtenberg, son to Eugene Beauharnais, Louis Philippe, and the Duke de Nemours, who was actually chosen, but declined the honour.

[40]La Belgique, No. 1, p. 13, 16, 20, 23, 24, 27; and No. 2, p. 49.

[41]White, vol. i. p. 23.

CorrectionsThe word “controul” was changed to “control” throughout the text.The first line indicates the original, the second the correction.p.39the sign-board of the “Diaman-zetter,”the sign-board of the “Diamant-zetter,”p.91it was ever dragged to to the fieldit was ever draggedto thefieldp.115lying immediatetely in frontlyingimmediatelyin frontp.153would get over their associatonwould get over theirassociationp.160that the goverment reduced the termthat thegovernmentreduced the termp.176fearful of the slighest speculationfearful of theslightestspeculationp.252in the nineteenth centurryin the nineteenthcenturyp.261at no measure, how-verat no measure,howeverp.268the consciencious, but inefficient opponentstheconscientious, but inefficient opponentsp.277were jeopardied by the jealous rivalrywerejeopardisedby the jealous rivalryErrata“Hans Hemling” should read“Hans Memling”.“Audeghem” should read“Auderghem”.The errata have been applied to this etext.

The word “controul” was changed to “control” throughout the text.

The first line indicates the original, the second the correction.

p.39

p.91

p.115

p.153

p.160

p.176

p.252

p.261

p.268

p.277

“Hans Hemling” should read“Hans Memling”.

“Audeghem” should read“Auderghem”.

The errata have been applied to this etext.

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