A GLIMPSE OF FAIRY-LAND.
THE Emperor of Russia is the only existing representative of the Emperor of the Fairy Tale or Arabian Nights' Entertainment. For fair speeches and rich gifts on every side, there has been nathing heard of like him since the little girl out of whose mouth came lilies and roses whenever she opened it, and out of whose hair was combed pearls and diamonds. He scattered his drafts for 1,0001. or 500/. about him with as much nonchalance as a stage Craesus could distribute bits of white paper. Lords of the Household have received his Majesty's portrait set in diamonds; Equerries, his "cipher," similarly adorned ; maitres d'hôtel have diamond rings ; and even menial domestics have gold boxes, rings, and watches. In reading of this shower of good luck, one is carried back in imagina- tion to the days of Dana ; .Sin bad's Valley of Diamonds rises to the view—a fat cook setting a delicate roast before the Autocrat, which is withdrawn with a jewel sticking to it. But the provoking part of the story is the imperturbable phlegm with which John Bull endures this vision of Fairy-land opening for a moment in the midst of his commonplace world. The Chelsea Bazaar, Mr., WARD'S motion about the Irish Church, the Sugar-duties, a hune dred other topics of the day, each in turn driving out the other, have already obliterated the sensation caused by the lavish gene- rosity of the Monarch who appears to "hold the gorgeous East in fee." We are too busy a people to mind portents long: it is very doubtful, whether, were some of those green knolls once said to be the haunts of " the good people," to open at our feet and reveal the elves gambolling in caverns rich as that in which Aladdin found his lamp, the marvel would excite more than an ex- clamation of momentary surprise. The Imperial visit has come and gone like the lightning, " which doth cease to be ere one can say it lightens." If the Emperor—instead of, as is probable; merely gratifying a momentary whim—calculated upon exciting sensation in England by his meteor-like transit, he has reckoned without histest.
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