CONSCIENCE, IIENonicic, the most fertile and original writer of fiction in Belgium, was horn Dec. 3, 1819, at Antwerp, where his father was inspector of the dock-yards, until he became a dealer in waste-paper, old books, etc. C. educated himself by the aid of his father's miscellaneous store of books until his 15th year, when he entered a school, where he was engaged to assist the master in teaching. On the breaking out of the revolution in 1830, C. joined the ranks under gen. Niellon, and served till 1834, when lie left the service, being disgusted with the stricter discipline that was being intro duced. having failed in all his attempts to obtain employment, lie tried his hand at writing, and composed in Flemish the novel, In het Wondedaer 1560 (Ghent, 1837), which, notwitlLtanding its unprecedented success, left him in debt with his printer. His father refused to do anything for him until he took up some regular employment; and he was thus driven from home in an almost penniless state. At this time, the painter Wappers interested himself for him, and procured him some slight assistance from the king. C. now wrote his Phantasia, a collection of fantastic tales, and his celebrated historical novel, Dc Leeuze van V lancleren (Antw . 1838); but being soon dissatisfied with the small pay and irksome work of the post he had obtained in a government office, he threw up all his avocations, and for a year worked as a gardener. Wappers again befriended him,
by inducing the king to give him the place of registrar at the royal academy of painting at Antwerp. In 1845, he obtained the honorary title of agrege of the university of Ghent, and was appointed to instruct the royal children in Flemish. C. has written numerous tales and novels, most of which have been translated into French and German, and some in to English—as, for instance, his Sketches of Flemish Life, of which several English trans lations have been made; pemon of Gold; Lion of Flanders, etc. C. has written two historical novels, Gesehiedenis van Graf Hugo van Craenhore (1845), and Jakob van Artevelde (1849), which are esteemed among his hest; but his forte lies rather in the delineation of simple village life. His illustrated History of Belgium (1845) is interesting as a national work, but of little value as an authority. In 1870, he published Bare en Lieveken; in 1871, De Kerels van V landeren (1871); in 1874, De Ifeusvdes Marten and Eene Verwarde Zaak; in 1875, Sehandetrees; in 1876, Gereehtigheid van Hertog _Karel. C. has contributed largely to the revival of Flemish literature.