THE STORY OF MY STRUGGLES _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ ARMINIUS VAMBÉRY: His Life and Adventures. Imperial 16mo, cloth, 6s. Boys' Edition, crown 8vo, cloth gilt, gilt edges, 5s. THE STORY OF HUNGARY. Fully Illustrated. Large crown 8vo, cloth, 5s. (THE STORY OF THE NATIONS SERIES.) LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN. [Illustration: VAMBÉRY AFTER HIS RETURN FROM CENTRAL ASIA. _Photographed in Teheran, 1863._ _Frontispiece to Vol._ II.] THE STORY OF MY STRUGGLES THE MEMOIRS OF ARMINIUS VAMBÉRY PROFESSOR OF ORIENTAL LANGUAGES IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BUDAPEST VOLUME II [Illustration: Logo] LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN PATERNOSTER SQUARE . 1904 (_All rights reserved._) Contents CHAPTER VII. PAGE FROM LONDON TO BUDAPEST 237 CHAPTER VIII. MY POLITICAL CAREER AND POSITION IN ENGLAND 283 CHAPTER IX. THE TRIUMPH OF MY LABOURS 317 CHAPTER X. AT THE ENGLISH COURT 329 CHAPTER XI. MY INTERCOURSE WITH SULTAN ABDUL HAMID 343 CHAPTER XII. MY INTERCOURSE WITH NASREDDIN SHAH AND HIS SUCCESSOR 391 CHAPTER XIII. THE STRUGGLE'S END, AND YET NO END 411 APPENDICES 459 Illustrations PROFESSOR VAMBÉRY AFTER HIS RETURN FROM CENTRAL ASIA _Frontispiece_ PROFESSOR VAMBÉRY AND HIS TARTAR, 1864 _Facing page_ 393 From London to Budapest CHAPTER VII FROM LONDON TO BUDAPEST I have often been asked how it was that, after the bitter disappointment I had experienced in my native land on my return from Asia, and after the brilliant reception accorded to me in England, I yet preferred to settle down permanently in Hungary. People have been surprised that I should choose a quiet literary career, whereas my many years of intimate intercourse with various Eastern nations might have been turned to so much better account, and a practical, active career would have been so much more in keeping with my character. All these questions were asked of me at the time in London, but filled as I then became with a sense of oppression and a great longing for home I could not give a satisfactory answer to these queries. Now that the cloud has lifted, and my vision is clear, now that sober reflection has taken the place of former rapture and exultation, the causes which influenced my decision are perfectly clear. I see now that I could not have acted differently; that the step I took was partly the result of my personal inclination and views of life, and partly influenced by the circumstances of my birth and bringing up, and the notions then generally prevailing in Hungary; nor have I cause or ground to regret my decision.