children, their sports, pastimes, and usual occupations. In the delineation of those subjects he displayed an elegance of conception, considerable knowledge of drawing, great power of expression, and a vigor of execution, which, had not his affection for animals withdrawn him from the pursuit of this branch of his art, we can not doubt would have raised him to a place among the first of those artists who have made the human figure the principal object of their study. In the specimens before us, copied from his designs, it is impossible not to admire the simplicity and truth, yet perfect elegance of the composition. Every figure wears an animated expression, not only in the features, but in the whole form, and there are a grace and purity pervading the subject, which render it not inferior to the productions of Stothard. How inimitably graceful are those little figures swinging in the tub, and how admirably and elegantly is the idea of motion conveyed! We may almost see them move. And what a constellation of crescent beauty do we behold in those romping chil dren, who appear as though they could scarcely, all together, resist the suppressed strength of the hardy little mountaineer at their head! One has evidently to pay forfeit! The eldest of the girls is perhaps rather too womanish for such sports, but she is good-natured, and a favorite with the little ones, and she could not resist their entreaties that she would join them. But having promised, she engages, heart and soul, in the sport, and becomes as much a child as the rest. We can not quarrel with her. But alas! the hand that could have ministered to our wishes has long been cold and powerless, and we have only now to lament that the mind which directed it was so exclusively occupied with subjects comparatively so trivial. Godfrey Mind died November 8, 1814, in the forty-sixth year of his age. A selection from his works, which are much sought after by collectors, was published some years since, at Berne, in three parts. CHAPTER XXII.-BELGIUM. THE revolution which ended in the separation of the important continental state of Belgium from the Dutch government, may be said to date its commencement from a meeting principally composed of citizens, which was called at Brussels, August 24, 1830. From that moment the whole of the Netherlands seemed at once determined to throw off the yoke of the Dutch monarch; and it happened somewhat strangely, that one of the most popular monarchies on the continent became the first to follow the example of France, in changing its form of government. On the 26th of November, in the same year, a national congress, which had been convened by the people, came to a resolution, by a majority of one hundred and sixty-one to twenty-eight, to exclude the house of Nassau from the Belgic throne; and in the following month they decreed: 1. That the territory of Belgium should be divided into four great territorial arrondissements, which should be called the first, second, third, and fourth divisions. 2. The first should comprehend the provinces of East and West Flanders; the second, the provinces of Antwerp and South Brabant; the third, the provinces of Limberg and Liege; the fourth, the provinces of Hainault, Namur, and Luxemburg. 3. Each arrondissement to be commanded by a general of division. 4. Each province to be commanded by a general, or superior officer, who should have at least the rank of lieutenant-colonel. After a short struggle with the Dutch troops, in which the latter generally had the advantage, France lent her aid in the contest; and the European powers having become mediators, for the express purpose of dismembering the countries, it was finally settled that Leopold of Saxe-Coburg should become the head of the future kingdom. Thursday, July 21, 1831, Leopold made his public entry into Brussels, and in sight of the assembled people, solemnly repeated the oath to observe the constitution and maintain the national independence and integrity. In sight of the people also, the king signed the constitution. On the 8th of September, his majesty, King Leopold, opened the Belgian parliament for the first time with a speech from the throne. But little has since occurred to disturb the tranquillity of the two countries, with the exception of the attack on Antwerp, which our readers will find detailed when speaking of that city. The Belgians now possess a constitution of their own framing; and the general prospects of the country appear to have improved by the change. BRUSSELS, or Bruxelles, the capital of the new kingdom of Belgium, and, alternately with the Hague, the seat of the late government of the United Netherlands, stands on the Senne, a small branch of the Schelde, in north latitude 50° 51'. Its central position, joined to the facilities which it possesses for communicating with all parts of the kingdom, renders it a convenient situation for the residence of the government. As early as the year 1561, a canal was made from Brussels to the Ruppel, a branch of the Schelde, by means of which this city has now had the advantage of water communication with Antwerp and the German ocean for more than two and a half centuries. Another canal running south from Brussels, connects it with Charleroi on the Sambre; while a branch, that strikes off to the west before the canal reaches Charleroi, leads to the stone-quarries of Fontaine l'Evêque and the coal districts of Mons. The city of Brussels is partly situated on a small eminence, and partly on a lower level, some of the streets being very steep. The ramparts which once surrounded it, are now levelled and changed into promenades like the boulevards of Paris. Brussels is six or seven miles in circumference, has eight principal entrances, as many squares or public places, and before the late revolution, had about 100,000 inhabitants. The lower town, which is irregularly built, and contains a number of houses in the Gothic style, is chiefly peopled by Flemings, who speak their own language. A colony of Walloons is found in the southeast corner of the city; while some Spanish refugees, Jews, French, and English residents, add to the motley population of the place. The quarter of the park is that which is occupied by the people of rank and property, and by the English. The park contains a great central area, intersected by broad gravel walks, which are lined with elm, lime, and walnut trees, altogether forming a delightful promenade, and an agreeable shade in the hot days of summer. The Grand place, called also the great market, is an oblong square. Its chief ornament is the Hotel de Ville, or townhall, a Gothic building of a square form, and the handsomest structure of the kind in the low countries. This edifice was com menced in 1400, and finished in 1442. The tower, which is of a pyramidal form, does not stand precisely in the centre of the building. Its height is three hundred and sixty-four feet, and its summit is crowned with a gilded statue of St. Michael trampling a dragon under his feet. The statue itself is seventeen feet high, and as it turns with the wind serves the purpose of a weathercock. Like all the rest of the edifice this tower is built of a very durable blue-colored stone. The principal door is immediately under the tower, and an open piazza, which runs the whole length of the front, is formed by columns, which support a terrace of the same depth as the piazza itself. This terrace is ornamented with a stone-sculptured balustrade, loaded with ornaments. On the right side of the piazza is a staircase, by which we enter the rooms of the building, and this is properly the real entrance. The front has forty windows, and between each is a niche, designed to receive statues of the sovereigns and celebrated men of Brabant. The roof is slated, and pierced with about eighty small windows, which have pointed tops or coverings, and gilded ornaments. On the entablature of the wall a balustrade rises breast-high, and serves as the finish. The top of the roof is covered with lead, and variously ornamented. On passing through the principal door we come to an oblong square, or court; the buildings which form this square were erected after the bombard. ment of 1695, when the French, under Marshal Villeroi, destroyed fourteen churches, and several thousand houses. This court contains two fountains, each adorned with a statue of white marble, representing a river-god reclining in the midst of reeds, and resting one arm on an urn. All the rooms of the edifice are capacious and elevated, and each was appropriated to some particular purpose. That in which the states of Brabant met, together with its appendages, is in the part constructed after the bombardment of 1695, and merits a particular notice. It is connected with four other apartments, one of which used to be occupied by the officers of the states; there was also the registry-room near it, and several other apartments of small size. The great room is reached by a gallery, containing six portraits of dukes of Brabant, by C. Grangé. In three of the chambers are tapestries, which were made from the designs of Le Brun, and have reference to the history of Clovis. The ceiling of the second was painted by V. H. Janssens, and is an allegorical representation of the three estates of Brabant-the clergy, nobility, and the tiers état; which last consisted of the towns of Louvain, Brussels, and Antwerp. Over the chimney is a picture representing Godfrey III., called the bearded, in his cradle, which is hung from a tree in the midst of his army. The sight of the cradle animated his soldiers to such a degree, that after three days' fighting they gained a decisive victory over the confederate princes of Grimberghe and Malines. Over the chimney in the third room are the portraits of Maximilian of Austria, and Maria of Burgundy. The fourth room, that in which the states assembled, and which was called the states' chamber, is highly ornamented: over the chimney is a portrait of a prince of Lorrain, painted by Lins. The canopy and its adjuncts were of crimson velvet, ornamented with gold fringe. Under the canopy is a standing portrait of Joseph II., painted by Herreyhs of Antwerp. The ceiling, which was painted by Janssens, represents the assembly of the gods: the cornice is enriched with gilded sculpture. Between the windows are painted the three chief towns, Louvain, Brussels, and Antwerp. All the part of the wall opposite the window is furnished with beautiful tapestries one representing the inauguration of Charles VI., another the abdication of Charles V., and the third the inauguration of Philip the Good. These tapestries were executed by L. Legniers, after the designs of Janssens. On each side of the throne are two mirrors, under each of which is a table, made of a composition to imitate marble, and on this composition the topographical maps of Brabant are cut with the greatest accuracy. The great table which was placed in the middle of the room was twelve feet wide and forty long, and covered with velvet, which was ornamented with a deep fringe of gold, and hung down on the floor. Brussels contains many handsome churches, and some of great antiquity. The old church of St. Gudule, near the great Sablon square, is approached by a magnificent flight of steps, and attracts the attention of travellers by the curious carvings |