ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE NETHERLANDS.
DEAR SPECTATOR, Brussels, Tuesday Evening, September 14.
SINCE I wrote last,* Brussels has been without an event. The barricades and little fortifications have gone on, but rather with a view of employing the people than under the idea of resisting an attack. The Regency, or corporation as we should call it, have made over their authority to a Committee of Surety, balloted for by the different sections ; the town being divided into eight. This Committee consisted of eight members ; but three have declined to act (these three are the Duc d'AREMBERG, the Prince de LIGNE, and FREDERICK DE SECUS) : the remainder are men of great in- fluence, wealth, and popularity. They are in fact at this moment the government of this part of the country ; for all communication with the principal government has ceased for some time. The theatre has opened ; and a proclamation made known, that since tran- quillity was restored, the curfew or retreat-bell should not be rung till eleven—it was previously rung at ten. The English, who are such an important part of the inhabitants of this beautiful city, have been invited to return, or such as were not gone, to stay. The tranquillity, however, has only been on the surface ; it has been rather suspense than quiet ; and every day as the time approached nearer to the opening of the States, the real hour of decision for the fate of this country, the people have evidently became more and more anxious.
This morning, the faces of mankind looked exceedingly black. It was understood that news had been received which was not communicated ; and that was thought to augur ill. The English, who seem to be the greatest alarmists in the world, have been upon the tenterhooks the whole of the day—hanging about the Hotel de Ville, and walking up and down the town, asking questions of- those who knew as little as them- selves. If the King's Speech, which has been expected every minute this afternoon (arid which I hear is just anived), should prove unfavourable to the wishes of the Belgians, I am convinced that in three days there would not be an English family in the town : they are frightened to death about being besieged. In the more open and architectural parts of the town, on the boulevards, and just out of the gates, signs of their flight are everywhere visible, in the shape of placards inscribed with " MAIsoN A LOUER ;" which positively occur on one house three times, and in some quarters in a still greater proportion. The state of trade cannot possibly endure long, without ruining the tradesmen and others. They sell nothing: no person enters a shop, unless it be the baker's and the butcher's,—ex- cept, indeed, one great shop, that is the Bank ; there, unfor- tunately, there are too many customers; it is filled from morning till night with persons requiring their money or change for their notes. An applicant must wait three or four hours ; • This refers to tke letter alrcady alluded to, which ought to have been inserted last week. and then he is only paid a third or in some instances a half. This manner of procedure has been authorized by the Provisional Government, and is not to be considered a failure. Bills are protested every day in every quarter of the city : the huissier is in fact the only person who attends to his business. The householders are on guard one day in three ; and as nobody receives, nobody can pay. There is to be a benefit on Thursday for the poor workmen out of employ ; and a collection is to be made at the doors in the eight sections, by gentlemen named in a placarded list, to supply the wants of the burgher guard. I send you on the other side some data which may be useful in guiding your judgment, as to whether the separation of the States will tend to the benefit of this country.
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