The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-16 00:00:00

THE SULTAN'S YACHT

Yesterday their Royal Highnesses the Prince and
Princess of Wales paid a visit to this beautiful ves-
sel, and made a trip down the river as far as the
Mouse Light and back to Woolwich. The visit of
their Royal Highnesses was kept strictly private
as far as anything like State ceremonial was con-
earned ; but so far as popular reception, it was public
enough. It was only known the night before that
they would come to Woolwich at all, but that notice
was amply sufficient to throng the streets with
visitors of every class, who welcomed the royal pair
with all those testimonies of affectionate respect
which, though daily recurring,seem always fresh and
hearty. The Prince and Princess of Wales
arrived at Woolwich at half-past 1, and drove
at once to the Arsenal, where the Talia—
which in English means the Vanguard, was
lying off the gun-wharf pier. Here a few of
the chief officers of the Arsenal were in waiting in
full uniform to receive the party, and here around
the very prettily draped gangway which led down
into the yacht were collected the rank and fashion
of the garrison to do honour to the occasion. His
Excellency M. Musurus, with Madame Musnrus,
Khalil Effendi, First Secretary of Legation, Messrs.
Etienne and Paul Musurus, and Col. Ahmed Bey,
met their Royal Highnesses on the pier. No Royal
salutes were fired, as the visit was a private one;
and, conducted by the Turkish Ambassador, the
Princess went at once on board the Taiia, the Prince
accompanying Madame Musnrns. Lady De Grey
waa in attendance on the Princess, and Colonel
Keppel on the Prince, and the Duke of Sutherland,
with Lord Alfred Paget, had also the honour of
accompanying their Royal Highnesses. On board
the Talia were Mr. John Penn, the maker of the
engines; Mr. Samuda, the builder of the vessel;
and Mr. Holland, its decorator ; but, except these
gentlemen, the visit, as far as regards those on
board the steamer, was strietly private. Their
Royal Highnesses, after a short stay on deck, re-
tired with M. and Madame Musurus to the State
saloon till the vessel was well free of the pier, and
with the Turkish standard aft and the Prince's en-
sign at the main, began moving down the river
amid the cheers of those who had witnessed the
embarcation.

It was scarcely a day for a river trip. The clouds
were heavy and hung low, just letting the muddy
shore at halt flood be dimly visible ; on either
side there was more than enough wind for a vessel
that did not want to sai;, and lumbering up across
the stream were heavy galliots and barges, which
look picturesque enough in Vandervelde's pictures,
but nowhere else. Still the Royal party seemed to
find charms in the scenery, or at least wished to see
it, for almost directly after the vessel quitted 'Wool-
wich they came out upon deck, and the Princess,
Madame Musurus, and Lady de Grey had chairs
brought for them, and sat down aft, near the
grand saloon, while the Prince of Wales went round
and examined the vessel from stem to stern, from
engine-room to stockhole.

The Talia, though not by any means the first
yacht which has been built for Sultans in this coun-
try—for, if we mistake not, the last Sultan had
nearly half a dozen—is at least the first that has
been built for the present ruler of the Turks. Cer-
tainly, if one may judge from the perfection of
finish of that on board which the Prince and Prin-
cess took a pleasant trip on Tuesday, his Imperial
Majesty is not likely to need another for some time
to come. It is needless to go into a mere ship-
broker's account of all her excellencies—it will be
sufficient that she is built of iron on the most ex-
quisite model, and that within 260 feet by 28 feet,
which is her extreme length and breadth, every
recent improvement has been introduced into the
hull which experience could suggest. A more per-
fectly fitted, Lino', we may also add, a more beauti-
fully fitted steamer never left this country. Though
her tonnage is only 900, and thoughagrend State
great space
is, of course, occupied by her engines and
saloons aft, yet the accommodation forward has
been so admirably managed as to give cabins and
good messrooms to all the large staff of officers
which are sure to be put on board of her in the
East. Like almost all the Bosphorus boats,
whether Sultan's or ferry steamers, the Talia is
painted white, with rich gilt mouldings marking
her external lines. Like other Bosphorus boats,
too, which have to steer among, and now and then
avoid, the caiques that in summer are always flit-
tinga mamidships
sfi,ies over its waters, its wheel is placed
on the bridge, so that the officer