SILVA DUCTS, or the DUKE'S WOOD, called also Herlogenborch, which has the same meaning, is the capital of Dutch Brabant, and is situated at the confluence of the Dommel and the Aa, in a low, sandy, but cultivated tract, almost surrounded by a morass. This city was built in 1181, by Godfrey III., duke of Brabant, who had been accustomed to resort to that quarter for the pleasures of the chase. The town is of a triangular form, and above three miles in circumference. It has four gates, one towards Breda, called Vucherpoorte ; another to wards Grave and Nimeguen, called Hintemmpoorte ; a third towards Bommel and Utrecht, called Orter• poorte ; and a fourth towards Heusden, called St John's gate. It is defended by a castle, callediPapen Briel ; by the fo-t of Crevecceur, near the Meuse ; the large fort of Isabella ; and a small fort towards Brabant, called St Antoine. The town is regularly fortified, and its walls are flanked by seven bastions. The approaches to it by land are on causeways, and by water at three gates, called the Grand Hekel, the Petit Hekel, and the Boom. The cathedral, built
in 1366, is one of the finest edifices in the Low Countries. Its wooden tower, which was so lofty as to be seen all the way from Antwerp, was support ed by four stone pillars, but was destroyed by light ning in 1584. There were formerly other four church es, but three of them are now used as warehouses. When this town belonged to the Catholics, it tamed 16 monasteries. The monastery of the Jesuits is now the governor's palace. There is likewise in this city a college, and a town hall which is an exact miniature of that of Amsterdam. There are here 51 stone bridges, and 8 made of wood. The adjacent country can be easily laid under water, and sometimes in winter the town can be approached only in boats. The principal manufactures of Bois-le-Duc are linen cloths, needles, knives, and several articles of iron manufacture. Population 9600. East Long. 4° 59', North Lat. 51° 40'. (Q)