368 
CONCLUSION. 
When we arrived at Malta we were not permitted to land on ac¬ 
count of the quarantine; a very mortifying prohibition to the Per¬ 
sians, who had no greater wish than to set foot once again on shore. 
I could make the Envoy indeed comprehend the nature of quarantine 
laws; but his people were not so tractable, and frequently sug¬ 
gested their fears to him, that he might not be allowed to land 
even in England. He spoke seriously to me:—“ It is well that I 
44 have already seen your countrymen, and know many of their 
44 regulations; for, if any other Persian had been in my place he 
44 would have required instantly to return back to his own coun- 
44 try.” They were much delighted with the exterior of Malta; 
and particularly with the quantity of shipping in the port. On 
the left of the harbour, there is a very fine building begun by 
Buonaparte, intended as a hospital. They seemed mightily as¬ 
tonished that so superb a building should be the habitation of 
the sick. 
Those, indeed, who have been accustomed to live under an arbi¬ 
trary government, and to see acts of despotism committed every 
day, look with contempt, rather than with admiration, upon the 
establishments of a free and liberal government; and ridicule objects 
by which the promoter apparently and directly gains nothing. 
We talked of female dress. I asked the Envoy what effect the visit 
of an European woman dressed in her own way would produce in 
Persia. He replied, that “ if the King were to see her, He would 
44 probably order all his Harem, to adopt the costume, and that every 
44 other man would follow his example, and enforce a fashion, which 
44 is not only so much more beautiful, but so much less expensive than 
44 their own. Their women are clothed in brocade and gold cloth, 
44 which is soon spoilt; or at least which is always cast off, whenever 
44 they hear that a new cargo arrives from Russia.” 
I asked him if he had seen any handsome women in Constantinople: 
he replied, that he had seen none so beautiful as those of Persia. 
