Gazette Of The United States

BRABANT AND FLANDERS.

It is very difficult to procure any authentic intelligence of the affairs of Brabant at present. No person there dare write with any freedom, for fear of their letters falling into the hands of those who watch to detect spies, and who are ready to construe every kind of intelligence, as given from some improper motive.

A plan was lately concerted at Courtray, and that neighbourhood, supposed to have been planned under Austrian influence, the purpose of which was, with a force of 15,000 men, to release General Vandermerch from the Citadel of Antwerp, and to conduct him to Flanders, to be tried by the provincial council.

The attempt, however, failed, owing, as it is believed, to some of the chief people concerned, having at the time they pretended to join in this plot, been absolutely in the pay of the Patriots.

The states of Brabant, in the mean time, have removed M. Vandermerch, from the Citadel of Antwerp to a convent in Louvain, where they think he will be more out of the reach of those who wish to rescue him.

The discovery of this plot occasioned suspicion to fall on many people at Brussels; a general search therefore, took place, when in different houses they discovered depots of arms and ammunition, for the use of the force intended for the rescue of Vandermerch.

In consequence of this, about 150 people have been seized and thrown into prison—and it is even asserted that two or three of them were hanged up by the mob.