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An Eccentric Traveller.

--We have heard of an Englishman who went abroad, with the design of taking an extensive tour on the continent, but who was diverted from his purpose by finding himself so comfortable on board a certain canal boat in Belgium, that he went no further, preferring to be a daily passenger in the boat, which went and returned between certain limits on alternate days. There is more than one version of this story, which we believe to be founded on fact. It seems to be agreed that the gentleman started on his intended tour in 1815, the year of the battle of Waterloo; that he landed at Ostend with the design of pushing on to Brussels, and that the canal boat which arrested his progress was one that plied between Bruges and Ghent, starting one day at Ghent and the other at Bruges.

According to one account which we have heard, the individual in question went abroad not merely to see foreign lands, but in the hope of meeting with illustrious personages and distinguished characters, which will account for his making for Brussels in 1815. --Finding, however, that on-board the boat be not only fell in with many persons worth meeting, but had the opportunity of sitting down with them to the table d'hots, he thought he could do no better, and went backwards and forwards, never getting further than Ghent.

The Daily Dispatch: June 25, 1861. Richmond Dispatch. 4 pages. by Cowardin & Hammersley. Richmond. June 25, 1861. microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mi : Proquest. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.

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