GHENT. 51 



Bast, an amateur in Ghent. Two flower-pieces in oil 

 colours, by Desprets of Brussels, attracted our horticultu- 

 ral eyes : very judiciously, the flowers were those of most 

 common occurrence, so that every one could judge of the 

 similitude. A bouquet detailed with botanical precision 

 in water-colours, by Sauvage of Tournay, reminded us of 

 the style of our excellent townsman P. Syme. 



Certain subjects are prescribed to the eleves of the Aca- 

 demy, and honorary medals awarded to those who excel 

 in treating them. The competition paintings were placed 

 near each other : one subject was Nymphs visiting the Tem- 

 ple of Diana, which had produced three competitors : ano- 

 ther subject was a wounded soldier received by his family 

 after the battle of Waterloo; this had excited no fewer 

 than six competitors. All of them must doubtless be 

 very young artists, for even to our uninitiated eyes it was 

 evident that there was still much room for improvement. 



The decorous behaviour of the numerous spectators, 

 many of whom were of the lowest orders of society, de- 

 serves our highest commendation. It is mortifying to re- 

 flect, that the same freedom of access to a gallery of paint- 

 ings and sculpture, could not, with safety to the works of 

 art, be conceded to such a promiscuous assemblage in our 

 own country. — When will this reproach be wiped away ? 



Agricultural and Botanical Society. 



Aug. 16. — Next morning we waited on M. Verbeecq, 

 Secretary to the Agricultural and Botanical Society here. 

 To him we had a letter of introduction from the Right 

 Honourable Sir John Sinclair, Bart. ; and with pleasure 

 we take this opportunity of mentioning, that the unceasing 

 labours of our distinguished countryman, in promoting 

 the knowledge of agricultural improvements, seem to be 



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