HASSAN ALI MIRZA. 
711 
I have jet seen of Futteh Ali Shah, he is extremely handsome, 
with a similar grace of manner, and the affability which so par¬ 
ticularly charms in princes. Perhaps there is no other class of 
human beings in the world, who can possess that charm ; it 
belongs so entirely to their pre-eminent station when filled by 
an amiable mind. Conscious of holding the highest rank by an 
unassailable right, there is no motive for assuming a reserved 
loftiness of air, to secure the respect which no person has it in his 
power to dispute. The dignity of a mere nobleman is generally 
a little more or less stately, accordingly as he feels it to be on the 
defensive ; but the dignity of a prince, needing no factitious lines 
of separation, is shown in the frankness of an affability too 
graciously and gracefully managed to be felt as designed conde¬ 
scension. On these principles, the manners of a usurper of any 
kind have always the general character of haughtiness, reserve, 
and rigour ; right of possession, right conduct, and the right side 
of an argument, all naturally bearing the same aspect of openness, 
gentleness, and liberality. The birth-right of Hassan Ali Mirza 
gave him this ineffable dignity, in common with his brothers; 
and a similar courtesy of disposition made it equally amiable. 
The ceremony of my presentation here, was much the same as 
that which conducted me to the presence at Tabreez and Teheran; 
the most conspicuous difference being the introduction of coffee 
and kaliouns. When compared with those two courts, the 
grandeur of this falls much in shadow; or, probably, my 
eyes had been too lately filled with the dazzling splendours 
of the Hesht-beheste at Ispahan, and the remains of classic 
magnificence at Persepolis, to discern the pretensions of the 
palace at Shiraz. The room of audience is on the customary 
plan, decorated with white marble, gilding, and fantastic orna- 
