Chapter II

Bruges a cheap residence--Tables-d’Hôte, their influence
upon society--Canal from Bruges to Ghent--Absence of country
mansions--Gardens--Appearance of GHENT--M. Grenier and M. de Smet
de Naeyer--The _Conseil de Prud’hommes_, its functions--Copyright
of designs in Belgium--THE LINEN TRADE OF BELGIUM--Its
importance--Great value of Belgian flax--Its cultivation--Revenue
derived from it--Inferiority of British flax--Anxiety of the
government for the trade in linen--Hand-spinners--Spinning by
machinery--_Société de la Lys_--Flower gardens--The Casino--Export
of flowers--General aspect of the city--_Its early history_--Vast
wealth expended in buildings in the Belgium cities accounted
for--Trading corporations--Turbulence of the people of Bruges
and Ghent--_Jacques van Artevelde_--His death--Philip van
Artevelde--Charles V.--His _bon mots_ regarding Ghent--Latin
distich, characteristic of the Flemish cities--Siege of Ghent,
Madame Mondragon--House of the Arteveldes--Hôtel de Ville--The
belfry and Roland--The _Marché de Vendredi_--The great cannon of
Ghent. 44