CHAPTER V.

The railroad--Confusion at Malines--Country between Ghent and Dendermonde--_Vilvorde_--_The Palace of Laeken_--First view of Brussels--The Grand Place in the old town--The Hôtel de Ville and Maison Communale--The new town--The churches of Brussels--_The carved oak pulpits of the Netherlands_--ST. GUDULE monuments--Statue of Count F. Merode--Geefs, the sculptor--Notre Dame de la Chapelle--_The museum_--Palais de l’Industrie--The gallery of paintings--THE LIBRARY--Its history--_Remarkable MSS._--Curiosities in the museum of antiquities--Private collections--Rue Montagne de la Cour--The theatre--Historical associations with the Hôtel de Ville--Counts Egmont and Horn--The civil commotions of Philip II--_The fountains of Brussels_--The Cracheur--_The Mannekin_, his memoirs--Fountain of Lord Aylesbury--Dubos’ restaurant--The hotels of Brussels--Secret to find the cheapest hotels in travelling. 186