a7id of Cultivation generally, in Belgium. 343 



In point of instruction, the Flemish peasant's family can neither 

 read nor write ; nor do the village priests seem anxious that they 

 should know any thing except what regards their religion. In 

 villages where the burgomaster (mayor) is an enlightened indi- 

 vidual, schools are beginning to make their appearance ; because 

 in such places the priests cannot have their own way ; but, in 

 places where the burgomasters are common farmers, and where, 

 in some places, they can scarcely sign their own names, nothing 

 can be done without the consent of the priests, who are generally 

 opposed to schools. 



The peasant here, with a few acres of land of his own, and a 

 cow and pig, may certainly be said, for the time, to be inde- 

 pendent; but, as he has generally a large family, his few acres of 

 land, in the event of death, is brought to the hammer, the inde- 

 pendence of the family ceases, and they become again day 

 labourers. 



The nonpayment of tithes appears, at first sight, to be a great 

 relief to the land ; but I am inclined to suppose that the land tax 

 with which the land is charged neutralises the advantage ; the 

 difference being merely, that the clergy receive their stipend direct 

 from the government, instead of from the parishioner, whose 

 land and furniture are taxed by government to pay it. Thus, 

 though the odium of paying tithe is saved, in reality there is no 

 saving in money, and the clergyman himself receives his stipend 

 always regularly. The obligation of priests to reside amongst their 

 parishioners, and the neatness of the parsonages, in this country, 

 are well worth imitation in the villages in England ; and I am 

 sure, from the liberal education which our clergy receive, that 

 their parishioners would be benefited by it : whereas, here, the 

 inhabitants of the Flemish villages labour under great disad- 

 vantages ; 43ecause their clergymen, being born of poor parents, 

 like themselves, have only an opportunity of I'eceiving a religious 

 education, and are, therefore, by no means adapted to instruct 

 youth, except in such things as immediately concern their religion. 

 True it is, that there are many pious and conscientious men 

 amongst them, but their education prevents them being enlight- 

 ened men of the world : and we all know that religion alone, 

 without any other qualification, will not do for the present 

 generation. 



In a country where the taste for gardening is so great amongst 

 all classes of people, it is astonishing to find so few national 

 publications upon the cultivation of plants. Those that are 

 begun are seldom of long duration ; and the Horticulteur Beige, 

 a work very well adapted to this country, was, a short time since, 

 very near being given up, from nothing but the idleness and want 

 of spirit manifested by its different conductors. Both the con- 

 ductors of a botanical publication, and the readers also, appear 



z i 



