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CHAPTER XX. 
The King of Persia’s Ambassador returned to Teheran a short time 
after the English Embassy, and was himself the bearer of the prelimi¬ 
nary treaty, which he had concluded with the Russians. The treaty 
was drawn up after the usual form, with as little of oriental imagery 
and embellishment as the idiom of the Persian language would admit. 
In the preamble, where the ranks of the respective Plenipotentiaries are 
specified. General de Rtischeff on the part of Russia, in addition to his 
character of Commander in Chief in Georgia, was designated as knight 
of many orders, all of which, notwithstanding the difficulty of making 
such details perfectly intelligible in the Persian language, were inserted 
at full length. The Persian Plenipotentiary, however, having no orders 
of knighthood, his titles in consequence appeared less than those of 
the Russian (although every advantage had been taken of those usually 
so liberally bestowed in Persia), and he at first was at a loss how to 
make himself equal in personal distinctions to the other negotiator; 
but recollecting that previous to his departure, his Sovereign had 
honoured him by a present of one of his own swords, and of a dagger 
set with precious stones, to wear which, is a peculiar distinction in 
Persia ; and besides had clothed him with one of his own shawl robes, 
a distinction of still greater value, he therefore designated himself in 
the preamble of the treaty as “ endowed with the special gifts of the 
“ Monarch, lord of the dagger set in jewels, of the sword adorned with 
“ Jems, and of the shawl coat already worn^ * 
This may appear ridiculous to us, but it will be remembered that the 
bestowing of dresses as a mark of honour among eastern nations, is 
one of the most ancient customs recorded both in sacred and profane 
history. We may learn how great was the distinction of giving a coat 
already worn, by what is recorded of Jonathan’s love for David: 
Q Q 2 
