Xl AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



costs. At present I can do nothing for you in 

 the way of money ; I am already eight hundred 

 millions in debt. I must not rob Peter to pay 

 Paul." 



Although Holland offers every comfort to 

 the weary traveller, and every luxury to the 

 epicure, we scarcely find an Englishman, not 

 in commerce, who is resident in any part of 

 this country; whilst in Belgium, just at the 

 other side of the ditch, a country so like unto 

 Holland that it might be taken for Holland 

 itself, English families swarm like congregated 

 swallows towards the close of September. 



Our countrymen are fond of what they call 

 seeing sights; and there is undoubtedly a 

 greater sphere for this in Belgium than there 

 is in Holland, for Holland contracted hers con- 

 siderably by gutting her churches and shutting 

 their doors six days out of seven ; whereas the 

 Belgians have preserved their religious orna- 

 ments, and they keep their churches open 

 throughout the whole week. If we may judge 

 by the crowds of Englishmen who are for ever 

 sauntering up and down these Belgian churches, 

 we must come to the conclusion that they are 

 pleased with what they see. And still it can only 



