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We were disappointed in having no table d’hote dinner today but an English one only. At four we left Ostend in one of those barges or trakschuits for which this country is famous. They are drawn by 4 horses & the motion is imperceptible & therefore pleasant. The cabins are nicely fitted up & as Hogg says in his 209 days “the team boat is pleasanter far than the steam boat.” The banks of the river are so flat that there is nothing worth noting from the deck though all is quiet & green & pleasing; the canal is broader by 3 or 4 times than our strips of water & no difficulty whatever is experienced in navigating it. In the cabin below we formed acquaintance with a Mr St. Amour who is director of the steam packets belonging to the London G.S.N.Cy at Ostend & with 2 friends of his the Baron de Sois & another whose society we found very amusing. And useful too for after our arrival at Bruges, they accompanied us to the gardens of the Philharmonic Society situated just outside the town, where a grand fête champêtre was this day held. The preparations for illumination & for fireworks were considerable, but after a little time rain came on & confined us to the pavillion where however amusements were not wanting in watching the happy countenances of the Brugeians, who regardless of ceremony were enjoying their evening meals there in public. What a pity is that the English cannot dismiss those foolish ideas of form which deprive them of these simple & uncostly pleasures of eating meals & of enjoying society in public. After a time we adjourned to the large tents where dancing

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