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tal Palace, reared by the genii of the lamp. Among the first things which attracted my attention was a splendid portrait of Her Majesty. Not far from it there was another portrait, which might have passed for mine, but I understand that it was intended for Prince Albert. I think the artist must have seen me somewhere, as the most striking points of my physiognomy were adroitly put in to give the portrait a princely appearance. I remained in the Exhibition five hours, looking at the numerous objects of interest, and then being fatigued, I went to my lodgings.
When I lay down in bed that night my mind was in a strange whirl of excitement; I had, within the last few hours, seen more than Eastern imagination could conceive. I lay for some time restless—I could not sleep. After a while, I began to doze. Suddenly I felt myself falling from the top of St. Paul’s, but somehow I was not hurt. Again, I was in the storm, standing on the deck of the vessel which heaved with the billows. Amidst the howling of the tempest, the flash of the lightning made the “darkness visible,” and “night hideous.” In a twinkling all was calm, and I found myself
“Far away, in some region old
Where the rivers wander o'er sands of gold;
Where the burning rays of the ruby shine,
And the diamond lights up the secret mine,
And the pearl gleams forth from the coral stand.“
