"Amiens is a city of great antiquity, it was called Ambianum by the Romans, and is noticed by Cæsar in his Commentaries.—Amiens is the capital of Picardy, and an episcopal See; it is the Samaro-Briva of the ancients. This city is situated on the navigable river Somme, which traverses it in three branches, all which unite below the town, beneath the bridge of St. Michael.
"Amiens is a rich and flourishing city, and abounds with numerous manufactories; it is very pleasantly situated in a fertile and well cultivated country. It is the residence of the governor of Picardy.[29]
"Amiens is encompassed by a wall and other fortifications, the ramparts are planted with trees, which form an agreeable walk; the mall, called l'Autoy, is also much admired as a delightful promenade. The houses are well built, the streets are spacious, and the town is embellished with regular handsome squares and public buildings; namely, the palace of the Bailiwick, where the governor of Picardy resides, the maison de ville, or town-hall, the citadel, the square, or place des fleurs, and the great market square, all which are well deserving the attention of the traveller. There are ten churches in this city, independent of the great cathedral of Notre Dame, which is a truly sumptuous and most magnificent pile, it is built in the florid style of gothic architecture, and is accounted one of the finest cathedrals in France. The nave of the church is greatly and deservedly admired. The building contains numerous aisles, chapels, and altars, all gorgeously decorated with shrines, statues, paintings, and monuments. Many of the statues are of marble, as also the monuments; some others, for instance that of the Bishop of Amiens, (whose name unluckily I have forgotten,) who founded the cathedral, are of bronze. There are some oil paintings in the nave, the subjects taken from Holy Writ, but the execution is very indifferent.
"As we entered this venerable pile the priests and choir were chanting the high mass, while the loud, solemn, pealing of the organ's swell echoed from aisle to altar, wafted the soul beyond the narrow confines of mortality. The grand altar was brilliantly lighted up, the perfumed incense arose in clouds to the fretted ceiling, the congregation seemed sunk in deep and dumb devotion; the service was enchantingly performed, some exquisite voices assisted; and the scene was truly captivating and impressive, much to charm the eye and move the heart.
"We have been at this place (Lille)[30] now for four days, but depart on the morrow for Brussels; and indeed it is with regret that we leave this delightful city, of which I adventure to give you a brief historical detail:
"Lisle, or Lille, is a large and strongly fortified city in the north-east of France, and the capital of French Flanders; it is situated on the navigable river Deule. The origin of this town is ascribed by tradition to Julius Cæsar, who is said to have built a castle on an island in the Deule, whence it derived the name of Insula, Isla, and eventually of Lisle; the Flemish name is Ryssel; the Latin, Insula Flandrorum; it is now called Lille.
"Lille is situated in a dead flat, the soil whereof is rich and fertile, and the people industrious. The Deule, although a small river, yet is navigable, and is divided into several branches, parts of which supply the moats of the citadel, and the fosses of the town; while one branch of this river, called La Basse Deule, intersects the city. The form of Lille is that of an irregular oval; it is a large and handsome town, its appearance is imposing from its extent, its fortifications, its canals, its bridges, its squares, and public buildings. It is assuredly one of the handsomest cities of France; much architectural elegance is displayed not only in private edifices, but particularly in the public buildings, viz. la bourse, or the exchange, crowned with its cupola and minaret, the barracks, the corn market, the theatre, five principal hospitals, besides others. La maison de ville,[31] or town-hall, adjoins the grand place, or square; it formerly had been the palace of the Dukes of Burgundy; it was built in the year 1430 by Duke Philip the Good.
"Lille had been formerly the residence of the Foresters and Counts of Flanders; it was founded by Baudouin, surnamed Le Belle Barbe, Count of Flanders, so early as 1007. His son Baudouin Le Debonaire surrounded the city with walls, and built the magnificent church of Saint Peter, where he was interred; and in the middle of the nave of this cathedral may be seen the tomb of its founder, who was also called by another designation, Baudouin of Lille. Two Chapters of the order of the Golden Fleece were held in this collegiate church of Saint Peter, the first in 1431, the latter in 1436.
"There is in this church a beautiful chapel of our Lady of Treille, which was built by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in which is to be seen a beautiful mausoleum of Bronze, where is represented the Count Lewis de Male, Count of Flanders, placed between his wife Margaret and his daughter.
"The other parish churches in this city are, St. Stephen, St. Maurice, St. Saviour, St. Catherine, St. Andrew, and La Magdelaine. Lille has seven gates:—1. Porte de La Barne. 2. De Notre Dame. 3. Des Malades. 4. De Fives. 5. Saint Maurice. 6. Magdelaine. 7. Saint Andrew.