influence of sleep, and was in an instant transported to a far more
delightful palace than that of the elector; where I expatiated in
perfumed apartments with yellow light, and conversed with none but
Albano and Claude Lorrain, till the beams of the morning sun entered
my chamber, and forced my visiting companions to fly murmuring to the
shades. I cannot say but I was sorry to leave Mannheim, though my
acquaintance with it was entirely confined to inanimate objects. The
cheerful air and free range of the galleries would be sufficient, for
several days, for my amusement; as you know I could people them with
phantoms. Not many leagues out of town, lie the famous gardens of
Schweidsing. The weather being extremely warm, we were glad to avail
ourselves of their shades. There are a great many fountains inclosed
by thickets of shrubs, and cool alleys which lead to arbours of
trellis-work, festooned with nasturtiums and convolvuluses. Several
catalpas and sumachs in full flower gave considerable richness to the
scenery; and whilst we walked amongst them, a fresh breeze gently
waved their summits. The tall poplars and acacias, quivering with
the air, cast innumerable shadows on the intervening plats of
greensward, and, as they moved their branches, discovered other walks
beyond, and distant jets of water rising above their foliage, and
sparkling in the sun. After passing a multitude of shady avenues,
terminated by temples or groups of statues, we followed our guide
through a kind of arched bower to a little opening in the wood,
neatly paved with different coloured pebbles. On one side, appeared
niches and alcoves, ornamented with spars and polished marbles; on
the other, an aviary; in front, a superb pavilion, with baths,
porticos, and cabinets, fitted up in the most elegant and luxurious
style. The song of exotic birds; the freshness of the surrounding
verdure heightened by falling streams; and that dubious poetic light
admitted through thick foliage, so agreeable after the glare of a