uncleanly in person, offensive in breath, jargonic in speech, forward in manner, and given to drink. Commissionaires attach themselves to every hotel, as leeches hang to the side of their vessel, ready to fix on anything that has blood or money to yield; and these consider themselves the head of their profession. But there are wandering commissionaires who prowl about the streets, willing to make themselves useful in any way--too useful, at times, many people might think. One fellow, who pleaded his large family at home, and whom I took for an hour or two to get over the ground more quickly, disappeared every time we came to anything that required more than a minute to examine. Each disappearance had for its object the injection of a dram into his weakly stomach, which relieved me from listening to his account of the lions. But, after a little unsteadiness, he tripped and tumbled on the ground, and concluded by running into an iron post with a violence that must have done serious damage to the post. I confess to a prejudice against Belgian commissionaires, and never employ them when I can help it. They attack you in the very churches. “You won’t leave the cathedral without paying the concièrge,” was the parting remark of a young commissionaire whose services I persisted in declining; and, while hunting for the Botanic garden, I can’t proceed without interruption, but am obliged to say to a person who continually crosses my path, “I have already told you three times I do not want you. Cannot you take an answer, and leave me to myself?” The garden, when found at last, is a painful instead of a pleasurable sight, and must be far from gratifying to the citizens of Ghent. It is a warning to avoid, and not an example to follow, as all botanic gardens ought to be. The hardy perennials are the only plants in good condition; among these is a remarkable Andromeda arborea. The enormous carp, rising and sinking in their pond, are a lingering remnant of former prosperity. In the houses, dirt, dust, thrips, scale, red spider, and aphis, threaten to get the upper hand, and to establish their dynasty on a permanent footing. A fine Doum palm, in a handsome but filthy cage of glass, excites pity by its wretched want of comfort. Other unhappy captives, lank and lean, bald and mangy, beg hard for some one to have compassion on them. There are many noble specimens in a deplorable way.