Brussels contains many fine collections of paintings, which I have not time to enumerate; but I was much pleased with some pictures of M.  Danoots, to whom I had a letter.  They are not very numerous, but are undoubted originals of S. Rosa, Teniers, Rembrandt, Myiens, and of J. Bassano, who is remarkable for having attained a greater age (82) than most of the great painters, he has accordingly left behind him a greater number of pictures than almost any other master.  He is said to have expressed great regret on his death-bed, that he should be obliged to quit the world at the moment when he had begun to make some little progress in his art.  A shorter life than Bassano’s, is, however, sufficient to establish the reputation of an artist. Raphael died in his 37th year, but public opinion has placed him at the head of his art for general proficiency.

There are several excellent hotels in Brussels which command a view of the park.  I was at one of these, the Hotel de Bellevue, and found the hour of the table d’hote had been changed to accommodate the English, to four o’clock, at least two hours later than the usual time; but as the company consisted always entirely of English it was but reasonable they should fix the hour.  The dinner here more resembled an English one than any I had hitherto seen on the Continent, and reminded me of the public tables at Cheltenham.

Brussels was some months since a very cheap residence, but I have been assured, that the prices of most articles have more than doubled since our troops first arrived here.  Living at an hotel here is nearly as expensive as in London; but no doubt there is a considerable saving in the expences of a family who are recommended to honest trades-people.  There are still a number of good houses to be let, notwithstanding the great influx of English, many of whom have engaged houses for four or five years, on terms which seem very reasonable to those accustomed to the London prices.

The country round Brussels presents several excursions which would probably have better answered my expectations had the weather been more favourable.  The Abbey of Jurourin, was a country seat of the princes of the Austrian family, and was formerly famous for its menagerie.  The forest of Sogne is of great extent; and its numerous avenues, which now had a sombre appearance, are, no doubt, in summer, much frequented by the inhabitants of Brussels.  This forest was the property of the Emperor of Germany, and is said to have produced an annual revenue of one million of florins.

The prison, or house of correction, at Vilvorde, is worthy of attention, from the excellent manner in which it is conducted.  Those who wish for the introduction of some improvements into our workhouses, might surely derive many useful hints from the manner in which similar establishments are conducted abroad; and although I have never thought much on the subject, yet I did not fail to remark the cleanliness, regularity, and industry, which prevailed here and in another place of the same kind near Berne.