BRUSSELS (Flem. BRUSSEL ; Fr. BRUX ELLES), capital of the province of Brabant, Belgium, and also of the country, is situated on the small river Senne, about 50 miles south east of the German Ocean; lat. 50° 51' N.; long. 22' E. Brussels is built partly on the acclivity of a hill, partly on a plain, in a coun try agreeably diversified by sloping heights. Like many other Continental towns whose political situation has changed, its old fortifica tions have been transformed into boulevards. These surround the older portion of the city, extending for nearly five miles; they are planted with elms and linden trees in four rows and form a wide and agreeable promenade, commanding an extensive view of the sur rounding country. The numerous gates, most of which bear the names of the principal high roads or railways which traverse the kingdom, are nearly all modern, but the Porte de Hal, built in 1379, is a remnant of the ancient forti fications, a large military tower of remarkable construction, which in later days was long used as a prison. The city now extends far beyond the boulevards. The Senne enters it by two branches, a great part of one of these being now covered over. The stream is not navigable, but Brussels possesses water communication by means of canals with Charleroi, Mechlin, Ant werp and the ocean. In many quarters within the boulevards Brussels still presents a con gery of twisted streets, but improvements since the beginning of the century, and a system of electric street railroads connecting with the suburbs, have done much to modernize and beautify the city. That part of the upper or new town inside the boulevards, which con tains the royal palace, is the principal excep tion. The suburbs, outside the boulevards, es pecially in the upper town, have greatly in creased. The principal are the Quartier Leo pold and the Quartier Louise, which are regularly and elegantly built. The principal buildings of the new town are the King's palace, the palace of the chambers, the palace of justice (a magnificent new building of colossal proportions in the classical style), the palace of the fine arts, the public library and museum, etc. The upper town is ornamented with a
fine park of 17 acres, with fountains and statues, around which most of the principal buildings are situated. The lower town is rich in ancient architecture. The HOtel de Ville (built 1401-55), one of the finest municipal buildings in Belgium, is an imposing Gothic structure with a spire 364 feet high. The square in front of it is perhaps the most in teresting of all the public places of Brussels. The cathedral of Saint Gudule is the finest of many fine churches, richly adorned with sculp tures and paintings. It was founded in 1010, and its reconstruction, commenced in 1226, was carried on till the 17th century. The churches of Notre-Dame-de-la-Chapelle and Notre Dame-des-Victoires are also edifices of beauty. The monuments of Brussels, and the specimens of paintings and sculpture with which its public buildings are adorned, are too numerous to mention.
The manufactures and trade of Brussels are greatly promoted both by its canal communica tions and by the networkof Belgian railways. Printing, type-founding and all the other de partments of bookmaking give employment to a large section of the population. Lace was an ancient manufacture, and is still of importance; the printing cotton and woolen fabrics, mus lins, etc., and many minor manufactures are carried on. Brussels carpets are chiefly made at Tournai, but some are manufactured in the city. There are breweries, distilleries, sugar refineries, foundries of iron and brass, steam engine factories, etc. The trade carried on by the canals and railways is that of a capital city and manufacturing town, for the supply of internal wants and the distribution of its own products. The languages spoken in Brussels are French and Flemish, or Dutch, the former principally spoken in the new town, the latter chiefly in the old. English is also spoken a good deal, owing to the number of English residents and visitors.