NETHERLANDS, TILE, or LOW COUNTRIES, so called from their p,:sition with regard to s-vel al great livers, and the general aspect of their surface, consist of seventeen provinces, which, together with the Gran:I Du -Ity of Luxemburg, now form a kingdoin on the westein coast of Europe. For nearly the last two cen turies, the name Netherlands has been somewhat vague ly applied. Occasionally it has been restricted to the tcn southein provinces, w hich it is usual at present to disinguish hy the title Belgic; the seven northern pro vinct.s having at the same tint( been known by the appel lation of Dutch Reptiblle, or United Provinces. Uncley the article HOLLAND Will be found an account of what ever is most remarkable in the present condition of the Dutch provinces : it now reinains to give a similar ac count of those denominated Belgic,—with a slight sketch of the history of both divisions.
Belgium, extending from 49° 30' to 51° 40' of north latitude, and from 2° 30' to 6° 58' of east longitude, is bounded on the south and west by France ; on the north by I lolland and the German Ocean ; on the east by the Prussian duchy of the Lower R From Ostend on the north-wes,, to the extreme point of Luxemburg on the south-cast, is about 180 British miles, the greatest length of Belgium ; and a line drawn at right angles to this, through South Brabant and Hainaut, would mea sure 120 miles, which may be regarded as the medium breadth; the superficial cxtent being estimated at 13.400 square miles, and the inhabitants at 5,226,000 souls,— on an average, 240 to the square mile.
The general appearance presented by this tract of country is sufficiently, unvaried. Except some diminu tive hills in the counties of Namur and Luxemburg, nothing occurs to break the level uniformity of its Stir face : no lake of any extent, no river or any majesty, no scene of nature, to arrest the traveller of taste. Some forests in Flanders, indeed,—that of Soignies in Bra bant, and the venerable one of Ardennes, still extending almost from Valenciennes to Treves on the south-east, give an air or picturesqueness to some of those dis tricts ; yet Belgium, in comparison with other regions of Europe; has little to diversify its aspect, and less to adoi n it. it is not, however, destitute of a certain grace, which, if not strictly beautiful, is still calculated to yield pleasure to the observer. Ascending the church.tower of any of its towns—the only position from which an ex tensive vicw can he commandecl,the eye ranges over a vast space of fertile and highly cultivated land, inter ,ete.d with numerous canals, and studded with towns
tid vilhges in every direction, the smoke and the spires of which give a character of diligence and life to the prospect ; while the multitudes of antique monastic buildings, generally embosomed among woods, or here and there a feudal castle, with its high peaked roofs, its quaint architecture and obsolete defences, reflect back upon the mind a touching shadow of the romantic ages. Nor is the scene without interest, borrowed from times of a more recent (late. For the last three hundred years, Belgium has been the great arena of the political con tests of Europe: from the age of \\Tinian) of Orange to that or Buonaparte, the destinies of the world have been fought for and decided here ; and no country, contains as many spots rendered famous by the memory of sieges, and treaties, and victories.
A transient visitor longs for the sublime in natural ,cenetv ; the useful is more valuable to a resident : and if Belgium ranks low in the estimation of the former, it should rank proportionably high in the estimation of the latter. No part of the Continent is better adapted for the purposes of life, or yields a more ready and abundant reward to the labotirs of the husbandman. Fur six centuries it has vied with Lombardy, for a shorter period with England, in meriting to be entitled the gal den of Europe ; a distinction which it owes no less to the fertility and conveniences of its soil, than to the experi ence and activity of those who till it. A rich sandy loam, with but a few inferior patches or clay,—dressed with neatness, and copiously immured, without the use of fat lows, gives a constant return of twelve or ten to one in the best districts, and of seven or six to one even in the worst. The artificial products of its agriculture differ not inaterially from those of our own country : its corn, fruit, hemp, flax, have long been known; its wool, though not equal to that of England, is of good quality, having been it»proved by, the mixture of a breed imported by the Dutch from India ; and its horses and cattie are greatly esteeined for their strength and size. In regard to native vegetables, the Sallie similarity is to he obsel ved ; the relative quantity alone being sometimes dill'urent lrom what is found with us, very rarely the kind. Tile hop plant once formed an excep,ion : it was introduced by Hemy VIII , from Belgium, where it grows sponta neously. In Llixemburg, also, a little wine is produr.ed ; though otherwise drat province is the must barren of the whole.