Digitised Manuscripts and Books

have been crushed to death at the turnstiles. But we found an excellent place in one of the salleries and had a good view of the Queen , in her pink satin gown and her jewels and feathers, walking between the Prince Gesmeort in uniform and the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred in highland (e} ostume and preceded by the Duke of Wellington . There have been many international exhibitions since I85I on a far more important and elaborate scale , but none so impressive and beautiful . Sir Joseph Pax- ton's erystal building was the first of its kind , and a more aerial or graceful structure could not be imagined or equalled. Two stately old elms towered into the dome, where , between them , fountains of china threw up their sparkling waters. Close by in a glass case was the Koh-i-noor, then a huge uncut stone , and the centre of attraction . Machinery was still in the early stages of its development, and the then novel print- ing presses and numerous steam contrivances provided endless Yet much as I enjoyed the Exhibition and an occasional evening at the Opera, I delighted most in the society of my cousins; and of all the recollections of my childhood not the least happy have been associated with them . My Neapolitan Great-uncle and his wife were often at Frankfort and their dau- ghter Charlotte who was married to my Uncle one lm. he itead 7 of our London firm , occasionally came with her children to pay them her filial respects . Our English cousins who were physic- ally and mentally far in’ advance of their years , were accom- plished , good looking and high spirited, and realized in my = + eyes the very ideal of perfection . I was doubly delighted -