"Belgium contains nine provinces, the largest of which, in area, is Luxembourg, though it is one of the smallest in population. The largest in population is East Flanders."
"Flanders!" exclaimed Terrill; "I was hoping you would say something about Flanders, for I had an idea it was Belgium."
"It is a part of it. Flanders has belonged to France, Spain, Austria, and Holland, at times; but it was divided into two provinces by the King of Holland, and became a part of the United Kingdom of Belgium when it was established in 1830. It figures largely in history, and 'our army in Flanders' is a proverb.
"The soil of Belgium is generally sandy and poor; but, by skill and industry, the people obtain large crops from it. In a country so densely peopled there could not be many large farms, and the majority of the farmers cultivate what would not be more than a garden in America; but the system of agriculture is not surpassed by that of any country in the world. Flax-raising is the principal occupation of the farmers; but grasses and roots receive particular attention. Horses, cattle, and sheep are raised in great numbers.
"The manufactures of Belgium are very celebrated. The laces of Brussels and Mechlin (Malines) have the highest reputation. Linen goods, carpets, woollens, cottons, hosiery, are largely produced. The foreign and domestic commerce of Belgium, largely carried on through the port of Antwerp, is extensive.
"Belgium is a flat country, as we have said. There are no mountains, though in the provinces of Liége and Brabant the American traveller will find a variety of scenery similar to that in the eastern part of Massachusetts and Connecticut. This portion of Belgium is a beautiful garden.
"The government, according to the charter of 1831, is a constitutional, representative, and hereditary monarchy; that is, it has a constitution, a parliament, and the oldest son of the king is his successor. The king's person is declared to be sacred, and his ministers, instead of himself, are held responsible for the government acts. The legislative branch consists of a senate and a chamber of representatives; but the king must sign their acts before they can become laws.
"The members of both houses of the legislature are chosen by the people, and are called deputies. Only citizens who pay a certain amount of direct taxes can vote. The deputies who live out of the town in which the session is held are paid sixty-two dollars a month. They are elected for four years, half every two years. The political privileges of the people are only less than those of our own country.
"The present king is Leopold I.[A] He is seventy-four years old, and for the last fifty years has been a man of mark in Europe. He was for some time in the service of the Emperor of Russia, and went to England with the allied sovereigns, in 1814, where he became acquainted with, and afterwards married, the Princess Charlotte, daughter of George IV.; but she died within two years. In 1830 Leopold was elected King of Greece; but he finally refused the crown, because the conditions he made were not complied with. In 1831 he was elected King of the Belgians, and was crowned the same year. The next year he married Louise, the daughter of Louis Philippe, King of France. Leopold, Duke of Brabant, will succeed him. He has several other sons and daughters, among them Marie Charlotte, wife of Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, who has been elected Emperor of Mexico. Leopold is one of the richest men in Europe.
[A] Leopold I. died Dec. 10, 1865, and was succeeded by his son, Leopold II.