The upper part of Brussels is magnificent, and has a splendid park laid out with shaded walks, and surrounded by the palaces, private houses, and public offices; but in the lower part, the streets are narrow and crowded, though the market-place is very beautiful.  There are twenty superb fountains in the city, ornamented with sculpture.  The Belgians delight in music, and they hold musical festivals every year.  In the Horticultural Gardens at Ghent, during summer, there are several concerts performed in the open air; and even among the labouring people, the songs and pieces of music sung together by groups of peasants and working people are often delightful to hear; for in Belgium, as in Holland, Prussia, and over a great part of Germany, even the poorest children are freely taught to sing in harmony at school.  There are several railways in Belgium, which is a very great convenience to travellers.  The climate is good; and, in winter, snow does not fall deeply.

Bavaria is in Germany also, and is celebrated for its manufactures of iron, glass, paper, hardware, clocks, linen, woollen, and fire-arms.  The people are industrious and careful, excepting in smoking tobacco, of which they are very wasteful.  Industry is encouraged; and several schools have been established for teaching young men agriculture and gardening, with the usual branches of education.

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We must not forget to see what has come from America.  Our Great Exhibition has been almost as much talked of there, as it has been at home, and an immense number of contributions has been sent from that country.  Machinery, sculptures, stuffs, carriages, minerals, boots and shoes, iron-work, and wines, have been dispatched over to the Exhibition.

America was formerly inhabited by numerous tribes of Red Indians,—­a wild, warlike race,—­of whom but few now remain, and those not at all civilized; but the greater number of the white people of America are the same in their dress, manners, and language, as ourselves.

A large portion of America is called the United States, which is a Republic; that is, it is governed by the people themselves, without a king, queen, and a royal family; they appoint a President every four years.  Long ago, the United States belonged to the English, but the natives gradually grew more powerful than they had been, and threw off all foreign control.

America produces every kind of grain and fruit, as well as spices, dye-woods, and balsams.  The people export quantities of natural productions to Europe, but their manufacturers are not as yet able to compete with those of what are called the old countries.  The principal manufactures are of cotton, woollen, iron, and leather; which they exchange with the Red Indians for prepared bark, skins, and birds’ feathers.  Mines abound, particularly for gold and silver; and there is abundance of precious stones.  The farmers are a very industrious and intelligent class, and display much taste and neatness in their management.