left, the extreme rich and
the extreme poor, for the intermediate classes are gradually retiring to
the continent, emigrating to Canada and America, or sinking down into
the second class.

This is a most dangerous state of society, and, if carried to the
extreme, has always proved ruinous to the state. Although the immense
extent of the Roman empire may be asserted as the ultimate cause of its
downfall, still that downfall was most certainly accelerated by the
rottenness at the core, the system of patrons and clients having thrown
all the wealth into the hands of a few. Are we not rapidly advancing to
this state in England? The landholders are almost at the mercy of the
fundholders, who, in fifty years' time, will probably have possession of
the land as well as of the money. And should there be no check put to
this disintegration of society, then must come what the radicals are now
so anxious to obtain, the equitable adjustment--and in that case it is a
problem how far that may not be really _equitable_; for society may, by
degrees, arrive to a state so anomalous as to warrant that the few
should be sacrificed for the benefit of the community at large.

CHAPTER TEN.

Brussels, May 22.
Among the _lions_ of Brussels, a dog was pointed out to me, as he lay on
the pavement in front of the House of Assembly. It was a miserable
looking cur; but he had a tale extra attached to him, which had
magnified him into a lion. It was said that he belonged to a Dutch
soldier, who was killed in the revolution, at the spot where the dog
then lay, and that ever since (a period of four years) the animal had
taken up his quarters there, and invariably lain upon that spot.
Whether my informant lied, and the dog did not, I cannot pretend to say;
but if the story be true, it was a most remarkable specimen of fidelity
and ugliness. And he was a sensible dog, moreover; instead of dying of
grief and hunger, as some foolish dogs have done, he has always
dedicated an hour every evening to cater for his support, and then
returns to pass the night on the spot. I went up to him, and when
within two yards he thought proper to show his teeth, and snarl most
dog-matically; I may therefore, in addition to his other qualities,
state that he is an ill-natured dog. How far the report was correct, I
cannot vouch; but I watched him three or four days, and always found him
at his post; and af