Account of a Mission from Turkey to the British Court. 497 
appointed, at ten o’clock, according to the European time, that is to say 
two hours before noon, we should arrive at the palace, -partake there, with 
the great men commissioned for that purpose, of refreshments which would 
be prepared for us, and then continue our course; that we should adorn 
the horses sent as presents, and let them be led before us; that, proceed- 
ing with dignity and solemnity from the palace at Chelsea, we should at one 
o’clock arrive at the king’s palace, where another mihmdnddr, a lord, would 
come to meet us, and conduct us to the rooms prepared for our reception, 
whence, after a short Tepast, we should proceed with a dignified step to 
deliver the imperial letters. All this was fixed and arranged by verbal 
communications. The following day a letter arrived from the field-marshal, 
acquainting us that he had been appointed by the king to make the arrange- 
ments, and to prepare the refreshments, for our honourable reception; that 
this commission was to him the source of honour and happiness; that at the 
appointed hour he should arrive at the above-mentioned palace; and that, 
with God’s assistance, he would use every effort in his power to receive us in 
an honourable manner ; and concluded his letter with wishes for the lasting 
greatness of the Sublime Porte. 
The first chamberlain of the king informed us that it would be advisable 
to send the presents ; that is, the poghcheh,* or shawl stuffs, and such like 
things, the jewelled aigrettes, pistols, and packets of coffee to the king’s 
palace, a day before the audience. In compliance with this intimation, 
the above-mentioned presents were sent on Wednesday afternoon, with the 
lists containing their names and descriptions: they were put into carriages, 
and conveyed by our first interpreter to the first chamberlain, Early next 
morning (Thursday), the horses, brought as presents, were sent, accom- 
panied by our men, to the palace at Chelsea, to be adorned and ready by 
the time of our arrival. 
At the proper time, the humble writer of this memoir, accompanied by 
his secretary and interpreter, entered the carriages ; and as soon as we came 
near the palace, the cavalry, which was drawn up in two lines, unfurled their 
colours, when the sounds of the music pierced the seven heavens, As we 
approached the gate of the palace, the infantry paid us similar honours. 
We passed through the streets they formed for us; and on arriving at the 
nee ; : : 
4°») means a bundle of shawls or stuffs wrapped up in a handkerchief, 
’ ¥ 
