Belgium, Volume I by James Emerson Tennent

Manufacture of machinery in Ghent -- Great works of the / Phœnix -- Exertions of the King of Holland to promote this branch / of art -- His success -- Policy of England in permitting the export / of tools -- Effect of their prohibiting the export of machines / upon the continental artists -- Present state of the manufactures / in Belgium -- _The Phœnix_, its extent, arrangements and / productions -- _The canal of Sas de Gand_ -- _The Beguinage_ -- Tristam / Shandy -- The churches of Ghent -- Religious animosity of the / Roman Catholics -- _The cathedral of St. Bavon_ -- Chef-d'œuvre / of Van Eyck -- Candelabra of Charles I -- Carved pulpit -- _Church / of St. Michael_ -- Vandyck's crucifixion -- The The brotherhood / of St. Ivoy -- Church of St. Sauveur -- Singular picture in the / church of St. Peter -- Dinner at M. Grenier's -- Shooting with the / bow -- Roads in Belgium -- Domestic habits of the Flemings -- The / Flemish language -- _Count d'Hane_ -- Mansion of the Countess d'Hane / de Steenhausen -- Gallery of M. Schamps -- _The University_ of / Ghent -- State of primary education in Belgium.

HAVING heard so much in England of the gigantic scale of the establishments for the construction of machinery in Belgium, we paid a visit this morning to the great _Phœnix Iron works_ at Ghent, the largest in the kingdom; (indeed, I may presume, the largest in Europe), except those of Seraing near Liege. The surprising progress which the Belgians have, within the last few years, made in this department, is naturally a subject of the deepest interest in this country. Twenty years ago, the manufacturers of the Netherlands were altogether dependant upon France and England, for everything except the most ordinary pieces of machinery, which were used in the simplest processes -- but the refusal of Great Britain, to permit its exportation upon any terms, naturally left them no alternative, but either to abandon their manufactures, or to apply their own ingenuity to the construction of machinery for themselves. To the encouragement of the latter attempt, the King of Holland, for the fifteen years that Belgium was under his protection, applied himself with an energy and zeal, that is positively without parallel; patronage, personal exertions, and pecuniary assistance, were devoted to the promotion of this important object, with an assiduity and perseverance almost incredible; his efforts were crowned with perfect success, and even his enemies, are forced to admit that the singular developement which has taken place in the resources of Belgium, in this important department, are all to be ascribed to the untiring energy and exertions of the King of Holland.