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Namur. All varieties, from anthracite to the richest gas- coal, are found. In 1873 there were 285 coal-mines in the country, employing 107,902 persons, and producing 15,778,401 tons of coal valued at 337,637,360 francs. The iron districts are the arrondissemcnt of Charleroi, and the provinces of Namur, Liege, and Luxembourg. Besides the iron-mines in Charleroi, Hainault contains a copper- mine, commenced in 1849, and calamine and blende mines. Iron is also found in small quantities in the arrondisse- ments. of Mons and Tournay. In Namur the iron ore is rich and plentiful, and constitutes the principal mineral wealth of the province. Veins of lead and zinc are also wrought to a considerable extent. The iron-mines of Luxembourg are much inferior to those of Namur. The principal are those of Durbuy, Ruette, Grandcourt, Halanzy, and Musson. The ferruginous basins of Theux and La Reid are of the greatest importance, both as public works, and from the quantity of ore that they furnish. Lead and zinc are found here almost always in the same bed. Alumiferous schist is common in several parts of the province. In 1873 the different metallic mines yielded 13,952 tons of blende, 28,630 of calamine, 11,280 of lead, 36,651 of pyrites, and 503,563 of buddled iron ore. The number of workmen employed in these mines was 3758. Under the minister of the interior the mines are superintended by a corps of mining engineers ; each of the six mining districts has an ordinary engineer, and each of the two divisions a chief engineer. A sub-engineer is

appointed over a certain number of mines.

Marble is abundant in many parts of Belgium ; and the black marbles, as those of Dinant and Gochene, may rival the finest productions of other countries. There are also numerous quarries of freestone, granite, limestone, slate, &c. The principal quarrying provinces are Namur and Hainault. In 1873 there were 2230 quarries in the country, employing 22,435 men, and yielding the value of 38,353,171 francs.

The number of works in 1873 for the preparation of iron was 331 ; steel, 3; lead, 7 ; copper, 6; zinc, 1 ; alum 1 ; glass, 72 ; and 41,845 workmen were engaged. The value of the iron manufactures was upwards of 246,000,000 francs ; glass, 46,000,000; zinc, 38,000,000; steel, 7,700,000; copper, 6,000,000 ; lead, 4,700,000, &c.

Notwithstanding many vicissitudes, flax, the most ancient, still forms one of the most important branches of industry in the country. In 1866, 57,045 hectares of land were occupied in the cultivation of flax, and a considerable number in hemp. The declared value of flax and hemp yarn imported in 1872 was 10,427,000 francs; of flax yarn exported, 80,904,000; of hemp, 7,155,000; and of flax and hemp cloths, 37,170,000.

Cotton also forms an important branch of industry, which is at present in a more flourishing condition than at any former period. In 1872 the value imported of raw cotton was 57,241, 000 francs; cotton yarn, 5,214,000; and cotton cloths, 12,754,000; the value exported of cotton yarn, 6,358,000; cotton cloths, 19,083,000.

The manufacture of woollens forms also as important branch of industry. The wool for this purpose is principally imported from Prussia, Saxony, &c., the native produce being small in quantity and chiefly used in hosiery. In 1872 the value of the wools imported was 160,079,000 francs; yarn, 6,902,000; manufactured stuffs, 23,814,000 ; exported wool, 10,291,000; yarn, 64,523,000; manufac tured stuffs, 44,850,000.

In 1866 the numbers employed in the various flax, hemp, woollen, and cotton manufactures, were 114,547 males and 71,111 females. The chief of the other manufactures are silk, lace, ribbons, beer, spirits, vinegar, sugar, salt, bricks and tiles, porcelain, earthenware, glass, crystal, paper, leather, ropes, <tc. In 1872 the excise duties on beer anc vinegar amounted to 15,547,605 francs; spirits, 10,946,225 foreign wines, 4,765,800; and sugar, 7,516,388.

In 1850, 2165 sailing and steam vessels, of 314,797 tons entered Belgium; in I860, 3780 vessels of 667,287 tons ; ir 1870, 5658 vessels, of 1,575,293 tons; and in 1872, 613^ vessels, of 1,878,106 tons. Of the last 3082 were stean vessels, of 1,158,484 tons. In 1850 the number of ves sels that left Belgium was 2214<, tonnage 235,745 1860, 3959, tonnage 694,225; in 1870, 5406, tonnag. 1,534,513; and in 1872, 6241, tonnage 1,907,530. Ofthi last 3081 vessels, with 1,169,254 tons, were steamers. The numbers and tonnage of vessels entering from and leaving for different countries in 1872 were as follows:

INWARDS. OUTWARDS. England Vessels. Tonnage. England Sweden and ) Norway... United States.. Germany France Vessels. Tonnage. 3176 444 638 173 169 312 218 49 843,779 178,371 155,597 116,622 95,575 87,785 62,182 50,514 4178 544 121 236 209 148 44 ],214,97 124,354 94,790 79,78( 65,9K 56,64( 38,30$ Russia Sweden and ) Norway... United States. . Argentine Rep. Germany France Russia . Argentine Rep. Chili and Peru

Expressed in millions of francs the value of the imports ii 1850 was 236 ; of the exports, 263 ; of goods in transit, 206 in 1860 imports, 516; exports, 469; in transit, 408: ii 1870 imports, 520; exports, 690; in transit, 857: am in 1872 imports, 1277; exports, 1051 ; in transit, 104 Of the imports in 1872, 315 were from France, 230 fror. England, 164 from Holland, 158 from the Germai Zollverein, 80 from the United States, 77 from the Arger. tine Republic, 62 from Russia, 35 from Uruguay, 24 fror Brazil, and 23 from Sweden and Norway. Of the export 320 were to France, 237 to England, 223 to the Germa: Zollverein, 120 to Holland, 18 to Switzerland, 17 to th Hanseatic towns, 14 to the United States, 12 to Italj and 11 to Russia. Of the goods in transit 434 wer from the German Zollverein, 32] from France, 96 fror England, and 92 from Holland; 341 were to the Germa Zollverein, 245 to England, 237 to France, and 121 to Ho] land. The values of the principal articles of merchandis imported for home consumption expressed in millions c francs were wool, 160; grain of all kinds, 126; rawhides 71 ; iron ore and cast and wrought iron, 61 ; cotton, 57 resins, 48 ; minerals and metals, 47 ; coffee, 42 ; wood fo building, 41 ; grease and tallow, 37; silks, 30; horned catth 29 ; oleaginous seeds, 29 ; woollen stuffs, 23 ; fermente liquors, 21; oils, 17; machinery, 10. The values of th principal exports were coal, 85 ; flax, 80 ; wrought iror 69 ; woollen yarn, 64 ; raw hides, 53 ; woollen stuffs, 44 raw sugar, 41 ; machinery, 39 ; flax and hemp stuffs, 37 grain of all kinds, 37 ; flax and hemp yarn, 31 ; grease an tallow, 25; paper, 21; resins, 21; unwrought zinc, 21 coke, 20; cotton stuffs, 18; glass and crystalwares, 17 wool, 16; candles, 15; butter, 14; arms, 13. The value of the principal goods in transit were flax and hemp stuffs 204; wool, 147; woollen stuffs, 102; haberdashery an hardware, 39; silks, 38; cast and wrought iron, 35; cottor 33 ; grain of all kinds, 30 ; coffee, 23 ; woollen yarn, 2C flax and hemp yarn, 19; cattle, sheep, swine, 18; cottoi stuffs, 17 ; fermented liquors, 16 ; glass and crystal wares 16; machines, 13. In 1872 the exports from Belgium t the United Kingdom were ,13,211,044, and the import from the United Kingdom to Belgium 6,499,062.

There are twenty-three chambers of commerce and

manufacture established in the principal towns, the member

of which are nominated by the king from a triple list of