er orders of society. It resembles, in
this particular, the state of the people in the West Riding of
Yorkshire, and in the beautiful scenes of the vale of Gloucester.

In the neighbourhood of Brussels, the condition of the peasantry
appeared exceedingly comfortable. Their neat gardens, their substantial
dwellings, their comfortable dress, indicated here, as elsewhere in
Flanders, the effects of d and general prosperity. Most of these houses
and gardens belong in property to the peasants; others are hired from
the proprietors of the ground; but when this is the case, they generally
have the advantage of a long lease. The peasants complained, in the
bitterest terms, of the taxes and contributions of the French, stating
that the public burdens had been more than quadrupled since they were
separated from the Austrian Government, of which they still spoke in
terms of affection and regret. The _impot fonciere_, or land-tax, under
the French, amounted to one-fifth of the rent, or 20 _per cent_. The
wages of labour were from 15 sous to one franc a-day; but the labourer
dined with the farmer, his employer. Most of the land was laid out in
garden cultivation, and every where tilled with the utmost care. The
soil appeared rich and friable; and the crops, both of agricultural and
garden produce, were extremely heavy. The rent was stated as varying
from 60 to 150 francs _journatier_, which appeared to be about
three-fourths of an acre.

One thing struck us extremely in the condition of the people, both here
and in other parts of Flanders--the sumptuous fare on which they live.
It is a common thing to see artisans and mechanics sitting down to a
dinner, at a table d'hote, of ten or twelve dishes; such a dinner as
would be esteemed excellent living in England. The lower orders of the
people, the day labourers and peasants, seemed to live, generally
speaking, in a very comfortable manner. Vegetables form a large portion
of their food, and they are raised in large quantities, and great
perfection, in all parts of the country.

On leaving Brussels, we took the road to Malines and Antwerp. The
surface of the ground the whole way is perfectly flat, and much
intersected by canals, on whose banks much rich pasture is to be seen.
For the first six miles, the road is varied by chateaus and villas, laid
out in the stiff antiquated style of French gardening. The cultivation
between Brussels and Malines is all conducted in the garden style, an