(French, Bruxelles; Flemish, Brussel; German, Brüssel,) capital of Belgium and of the province of Brabant, is situated on the small river Senne, about 50 miles from the sea, in Lat. 50.51. N. Long. 4.20. E. It lies in the midst of a beautiful and fertile country, and is picturesquely built on the top and sides of a hill, which slope down to the Senne. The general contour of Brussels is triangular, and is well defined by the boulevards, which occupy the site of the old fortifications, and completely encircle the town. The history of Brussels, though it does not date from so remote a period as that of other Flemish cities, can still be clearly traced back to the seventh century. At that time St Gery, bishop of Cambrai, built a chapel on one of the small islands in the river, and by his eloquence and piety soon attracted a large congregation. The site being well adapted for building, a hamlet soon sprung up, which speedily became a town, which in the eleventh century was walled in and fortified. Though in commercial importance it did not, at this time equal Ghent or Bruges, its traffic in cloth was very considerable, and its workers in iron and steel were not surpassed by any in Europe. In the fourteenth century the various trades were incorporated into guilds, who regulated the taxes and other financial matters of the city, and drew up a code of municipal laws, in which the principle of trial by jury was admitted. These arrangements had scarcely been completed, when a dreadful fire visited the city and nearly burnt it to the ground. At the end of this century a general persecution of the Jews in Europe took place. In Brussels, many of them were put to death, and the value of the confiscated property amounted to upwards of half a million sterling. At the beginning of the fifteenth century, Brussels was again visited by a destructive fire, from the effects of which it speedily recovered by the patriotic exertions of its rulers, and soon became more distinguished than ever as a seat of learning, art, and science. In 1489, and again in 1587, it was visited by the plague, which, on the former of these occasions, carried off many thousands of the inhabitants. Its horrors were further enhanced by the ensuing famine, which lasted for four consecutive years. Brussels was highly favoured by Charles V., who often resided there, and who finally abdicated his royal and imperial throne there in 1555. In 1567, the infamous Duke of Alva, acting under the orders of Philip II., attempted to establish the Inquisition in Brussels, and oppressed the inhabitants otherwise so cruelly, that a rebellion ensued in the low countries, which resulted in the independence of the United Province, after much of the best blood of the land had been shed in the struggle. Amongst others who fell in the cause of freedom were the Counts Egmont and Horn. In 1598, Brussels passed into the dominion of the Austrians, and soon began once more to prosper. At the end of the seventeenth century, the French under Marshal Villeroi besieged Brussels, but were obliged to retire after doing much damage to the town; and in 1706 the city opened its gates to Marlborough. In 1746 it was again besieged by the French under Marshal Saxe, and after a siege of three weeks was obliged to surrender. In 1792 it fell into the hands of General Dumouriez, who being soon after defeated at Louvain, evacuated Brussels for a while, but again entered it in 1794. From that year till 1814, it remained in the possession of the French, as capital of the department of the Dyle. On the fall of Napoleon, Belgium and Holland were united into one kingdom under William of Nassau, and Brussels was the seat of government alternately with the Hague. In 1830, however, after a sanguinary conflict of three days, the Belgians declared their independence; and erecting their state into a separate kingdom, offered the crown to Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg, whose long and peaceful reign has greatly contributed to develop the resources of the country.

Brussels may be considered to consist of two parts, each presenting characteristics peculiar to itself. The upper part of the city is dry and healthy, and contains a very large number of handsome buildings, both public and private. The lower part is the more ancient and interesting of the two, but is damp, and in summer unhealthy, from the exhalations of the river, and the numerous canals which receive the sewages of the town. In the former are situated nearly all the public offices, the royal palace, the chamber of deputies, the residence of the foreign representatives, and the principal hotels. In the latter are the Hôtel de Ville, and some of the best remains of the old Gothic architecture, while nearly all the trade and commerce of the town are carried on there. The facilities for commerce are, indeed, very considerable. Though the Senne is not navigable itself, it supplies water to some of the numerous canals that intersect the lower portion of the city. By these canals Brussels communicates with the great Belgic cities, Mechlin, Ghent, Bruges, and Antwerp, on the north, and with Charleroi on the south. It further enjoys the advantage of railway communication with France and Germany, and the chief towns of the Belgic dominions.

The total number of streets in Brussels is about 250, containing in all nearly 15,000 houses. These are, for the most part, well paved, well lighted, and abundantly supplied with excellent water. There are ten wells in the town, besides innumerable fountains and pumps. Some of the fountains are handsomely ornamented with sculptures in stone and bronze. Of these the best are Les Fontaines des Fleuves in the Hôtel de Ville; La Fontaine de Minerve in one of the great squares, and the Mannekin-pix behind the Hôtel de Ville. The safety of this last fountain is watched over with the most jealous care by the municipality of Brussels. Though gas is abundant and cheap at Brussels, some of the more inaccessible streets are still lighted up with oil-lamps. Some of the streets are macadamized, but the majority of them are causewayed, while the trottoirs are either flagged or paved with flint-stones. In the new town some of the streets are remarkably handsome; and as there is a considerable number of shops and cafés after the manner of Paris, they form the chief promenades of the inhabitants. In the old town they are for the most part dull and sombre. There are fourteen squares in Brussels, many of which are used as market places. Of these the largest are the Place du Grand Sablon, the Place Royale, and the Grand Place before the Hôtel de Ville. In this latter square the Counts Egmont and Horn were beheaded in 1568, by orders of the Duke of Alva, who surveyed their execution from the windows of the Brood-Huys (bread-house), a remarkable specimen of Gothic architecture still extant. In the Place de la Monnaie are the mint, the exchange, and the great theatre. In the Place des Martyrs, the heroes who fell in the Revolution of 1830 are interred. In the upper town is the parc, a fashionable promenade in summer. It covers an area of about 14 acres, and is beautifully laid out with walks, adorned at moderate distances with groups of sculpture; and as the trees with which it is planted shade it from the sun, the grass is always fresh and green. In the lower town is the Allée Verte, an equally fashionable promenade, parallel with the Mechlin canal, with a triple row of linden trees on either side. Of the public buildings of Brussels, the most remarkable are the cathedral church of St Michel et Ste Gudule, and the Hôtel de Ville. The cathedral was built in 1010, and in it was held the first chapter of the order of the Golden Fleece in 1535. It contains a remarkable pulpit, and some splendid specimens of stained glass. In one of the chapels are deposited the Miraculous Wafers, which at the beginning of the fifteenth century are said to have been stolen from the altar by the Jews, at that time a numerous and wealthy class in Brussels. Not content with the sacrilege itself, they are said to have perpetrated it on a Good Friday. The stolen wafers were carried to the Jewish synagogue, and there subjected to every possible insult, till at length one Jew, more impious than his fellows, put his knife into the holy bread. Thereupon it is said that jets of blood spouted forth from the wound, and the perpetrators of the sacrilege were at the same time struck down insensible. One of their number, shocked at the incident, informed against the rest, and furnished the government with an admirable excuse for plundering and oppressing the wealthy and hated Israelites. To commemorate the detection and punishment of this sacrilege, an annual solemn procession is held at Brussels, on which occasion the identical wafers in question are exposed to the gaze of the superstitious multitudes. From the towers of the cathedral a fine view of the surrounding country may be obtained. The Hôtel de Ville was built in 1400. It is profusely ornamented, and its tower, which does not rise from the centre of the front, but from a point much nearer the left corner of the edifice, is 360 feet in height, and commands an extensive view of the surrounding country.

The other public buildings of Brussels are for the most part handsome but quite uninteresting edifices. The principal hospitals of the town are those of St Peter and St John, which are both admirably managed, and contain together about 1000 beds. The patients are waited upon by the sisters of charity. As in all the large Belgic towns, there is a convent of Béguines, which formerly numbered 1000 nuns; there are also two other nunneries. As the English residents in Brussels are very numerous, there are several Protestant churches. The Jews of the native population are bigoted Catholics, but the king is a Lutheran, and attends divine service in his private chapel. The Jews have a synagogue at Brussels, and hold their grand consistory there. The number of charities in Brussels is very great; of these the most important are the Foundling Hospital, in which there are about 2000 inmates; the Orphan Asylum, in which there are nearly 200; and the Société Philanthropique, whose object is to prevent mendicity. There are besides numerous almshouses, which annually give relief to about 35,000 persons. Some of these establishments are supported entirely by subscrip-