HIS VISIT TO ENGLAND. 107 CHAPTER VIII. Story of Nebby Daood continued. Nebby in England. His Visits to Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and London. - His first Impressions of the British Metropolis, and his Manner of getting into the House of Parliament.-His Visit to Westminster Abbey.- His Reception at the Mansion of a Distinguished American in London. - His Opinion of the two Houses of Parliament. derings to Switzerland. - His Visit to France, and WanHis Journey across the Alps into Italy. His Visit to Genoa, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, and the long-buried Cities of the Plains.- His Reflections among the Ruins of Pastum. His Visit to Sicily; and Voyage to Greece. 66 AFTER the first few days out of New York, my health much improved, and I gained strength daily, until the voyage was accomplished, when I threw my crutch overboard, and went on shore as light-hearted as any man on board ship. "After looking about the city of Liverpool, I set out on a tour through the north of England, visiting all the large towns en route; and went up into the highlands of Scotland; lingered on the borders of the lakes and rivers of old Scotia; looked down into the winding glens and beautiful scenery from her highest mountains; knelt before the grassless grave of Scott; visited the birthplace of Robert Burns; wandered 108 STORY OF NEBBY DAOOD. among the scenes of his early career, and wept over his tomb. I then crossed to Ireland; passed down through that country, visiting all the most interesting localities and surveying the finest scenery; came over to Wales, and at length reached London, in perfect health, by a circuitous route through the south part of the country. "London presented an entirely new picture to my view-contrasted with which, all other cities seemed to sink into comparative insignificance. "I wandered about London day after day, without being able to understand it at all. I visited the Tower, Saint Paul's, and Westminster Abbey, which last place was the most interesting spot that I saw in that strange, overgrown, world of a city. "At Westminster Abbey, I found myself among the monuments and tombs of all those estimable men whose works I had read with so much pleasure and profit, and so much admired, before I left home. There, I passed some of the happiest moments of my existence; nor could I restrain the tears that trickled down my cheeks, and fell in among the tombs of those master spirits. This pleasure, thought I at the time, is among the fruits that I have already reaped from the Town Library Association.' "While in London, I was anxious to visit the house of Parliament, which was then in session ; and, on making application for admission at the door, I was turned out of the lobby by a lubberly fellow, who told me not to be seen lurking about the premises again; if I did, he would hand me over to the HE VISITS A DISTINGUISHED COUNTRYMAN. 109 police! I was thunderstruck at this, and learned, for the first time, that a card of admission was necessary; and that, too, from a member of Parliament. I knew nobody in either house, of course, nor indeed did I know any one in London. I was as lonely there as one could well be. Still, I thought I must get into the house of Parliament somehow or other. “At last, I thought I would call upon a distinguished citizen of the United States, resident in London at the time, in hopes, through his kindness toward an unfriended fellow-countryman, to obtain admission to the house. But my reception, at the elegant mansion of this distinguished American citizen, was sufficiently cold and formal to indicate that he did not expect me to do myself the honour of calling again; and that he did not care to have much to do with such a republican-looking chap as I appeared in his eyes to be. My reception had been so cheer'less, that I did not think it worth while to endeavour to enlist him in my scheme of getting into Parliament; and when I came out through the hall, his servants, in livery and powdered hair, put their fingers to their noses, and looked very sagaciously in each other's faces. Said I to myself, I will get into the house of Parliament somehow or other; and I will be under no obligation to this popinjay, slipshod American nobleman either. "I succeeded in finding out the residences of several of the members of both houses, and went from one to the other, to ascertain if I could not procure admission to see some of them, and obtain, through 110 STORY OF NEBBY DAOOD. their influence, admission into the house of Parliament. Generally, where I called, the servants would say that my Lord Q.' or 'Duke O.'' were not at home;' and then shut the door in my face, without waiting to hear a word further. "I was nevertheless determined in my purpose, and followed up these visits of ceremony among the English noblemen, day after day, until at last I came to the splendid mansion of the Duke of B. I rung at the door, and a good-natured servant opened it and demanded what I wanted. I thought when I first saw him, that he was my man, and that if I did not succeed with him, I might as well give up all idea of getting into the house at all. I told him I wanted to see his grace the Duke of B. The servant surveyed my clothes, and looked me rather minutely in the face. He replied that his grace was then very much engaged, and would not be able to see me. But,' said he,' what do you want of the Duke?' "Why,' said I, the truth is, I am a stranger in London from the United States of America. I know no one here, but I have a great curiosity to visit the house of Parliament, which I cannot do without a member's ticket of admission; at least so I have been informed; and I have taken the liberty of calling here to ascertain whether his grace the Duke of B—would not have the kindness to grant me that privilege.'Really,' said the obliging servant, I am not quite certain of that, but if you will be kind enough to call here about this time to-morrow, I will take occasion to mention your case to his grace the first moment HIS EFFORTS TO VISIT PARLIAMENT. 111 that I find him at leisure, and will then give you an answer.' I thanked the good fellow, and returned to my lodgings. Good, thought I, as I wandered along through the streets; I have at last got my foot upon the threshold of the house of Parliament, and my hand hold of the latch; I think I shall now get inside of the walls. The next day, at the appointed hour, I again presented myself at the door of the Duke's residence, and was met by the same servant, who smiled, and said that he was happy in being able to say that he had succeeded with his grace, without the least difficulty;' and handed me tickets of admission to both houses of Parliament. This was a great gratification to me, but the tickets scarcely pleased me so much, as did the manner in which they were delivered. For, this servant seemed to be really more gratified to think that he had obtained them, than I was myself. His kindness touched my feelings. It was almost the only instance that any one had exhibited the least interest for me since my arrival in London. He seemed to comprehend me and my motive, in making the request through him of the obliging Duke, and entered into it with all the warmth and interest of a friend. I took his hand on parting, and thanked him over and over again; and we were both so much affected that we were scarcely able to articulate a word. 66 6 Well,' said I, as I hurried along toward the House of Lords, this world is not all made of rocks, stones, thorns, and thistles; there are some souls of men in it, even where we do not look for |