The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-06 00:00:00

DANCING DERVISHES.

Tuesday, Feb. 29.—Visited the same convent which
we had seen the Sultan enter, to witness an exhibition of
dancing dervishes. Casting off our overshoes, and passing
through the door beside which sentries were stationed, we
took our places within a railing, which ran around the
circular floor of the mosque. There was a similar gallery
above. Some thirty dirty looking dervishes, in faded
brown and green cloaks, with white felt conical hats
upon their heads, were prostrate around the circle, while
the Imaum, the same who had preceded the Sultan,
chanted a prayer before the mibrab on the eastern side.
There was music from the gallery, plaintive, yet bar-
barous, mingled with the occasional tap of the drum.
After repeated prostrations, at a signal the Imaum led
the way, in a slow march, round the apartment. As each
one passed the mihrab, he bowed three times gracefully,
without stopping, or turning his back towards the holy
After marching round three times, making the
same reverence, they halted with their faces inwards,
and the Imaum resumed his seat upon his rug before the
mihrab. The others, all barefooted, crossing their feet
one after the other, in slow succt,ssion, began to twirl
around, keeping admirable time to the music; and when
all in motion, looked like so many teetotums spinning.
The word spinning conveys a better idea than turning;
for they seemed to move about without the slightest
effort, and their flawing garments, flying out in extended
circles below, gave the movement a most graceful
appearance. As the music became louder anal
faster, they spun round with increasing rapidity,
until the eye became dizzy with looking upon
them. At a tap of the drum they stopped
simultaneously, with no perspiration upon their fore-
head, and neither frenzy nor fatigue expressed in the
eye. They were of all ages, from the old Imaum, with
the benevolent features, to a boy of sixteen, whose melan-
choly face excited interest. Indeed they all had an air
of sadness and profound resignation—nothing ferocious,
nothing sinister, nothing fanatical. Renewing the
march, and repeating the prostrations, the exercises
continued about an hour and concluded as they began.
The audience either stood erect, or sat upon the floor, and
preserved deep silence. The whole affair did not strike
us in the ridiculous light we had anticipated. Indeed,
some of the customs of Christianity are equally absurd.
The religious sentiment is the same all over the world,
and must find expression. Humanity rejoices when
such expression, harmless in itself, as in the present in-
stance, neither assails the opinions nor the rights of
others. Such is the neces)ity of religion for the sup-
port of all human institutions, that any form orworship,
however false and corrupt, is preferable to the atrocious
enormities which f .11ow in the train of absolute impiety.
—Lynch's Expedition to the Dead Sea.

COURT CIRCULAR.
OSBORNE, JULY 5.

Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by the
junior branches of the Royal Family, walked this morn-
ing in the park and grounds of Osborne.
There was no addition to the Royal dinner party yes-
terday.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge, accompanied by her Royal Highness the He-
reditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelita, and
attended by Lady Augusta Cadogan and Mr. Edmond
Mildmay, honoured the Marquis and Marchioness of
Westminster with their company at dinner yesterday,
at Grosvenor House.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester vi-
sited their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
of Cambridge yesterday, at Cambridge House.
A deputation including the Duke of Argyll, Lord
Glenelg, Mr. Poulett Scropo, and the Hon. Mr. Bou.
eerie, M.P., had an interview with Lord John Russell
and Earl Grey yesterday, at the official residence of the
First Lord of the Treasury, in Downing street.
The Portuguese Minister transacted business yester-
day at the Foreign-office.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd, her Majesty's Surveyor
General at Mauritius, had an interview with Earl Grey
yesterday, at the Colonial-office.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a
general meeting yesterday, at their office in Whitehall-
place.
The Commissioners for the Reduction of the National
Debt had a quarterly meeting yesterday at the Treasury.
There were present the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
Governor of the Bank of England, and the Deputy-Go-
verner. Mr. Higham, Secretary
i and Comptroller-Ge-
neral to the Commissioners, was n attendance.

The Marquis of Breadalbane bad an interview yester-
day with Lord John Russell,
The Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne had a
dinner party yesterday at Lansdowne House.
The Duke and Duchess of Buceleuch had a dinner
party yesterday at Montagu House, Whitehall.
Tne Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes-
terday. There were present the Master of the Rolls,
Lord Brougham, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Corn-
wall, and the Judge of the Admiralty Court. Sir Edward
Ryan sat as a Privy Councillor. An appeal, " The Mar-
chioness of Bute v. Mason." from New South Wales, was
further spok, n to. An appeal from Bengal, " Doorga
Persad Roy Chowdry v. Terra Persad Roy Chowdry,"
part heard, was resumed and concluded. An appeal from
Bengal, " The Bank of England v. Macleod," was com-
menced.

STATIONERS' AND PAPER MANUFACTURERS' PRO-
VIDENT SOCIETY.—The annual dinner of the Stationers
and Paper Manufacturers' Society took place at the
London Tavern on Tuesday last. The chair was taken
by Mr. William Joynson, who was supported by Mr.
Dickinson (the president), Mr. C. Cowan, M.P., Mr.
Teape, Mr. S; G. Gardiner, Mr. Hollingworth, Mr.
Hodgkinson, Mr. Gaussen, Mr. Tyler, Mr. Venables,
and nearly 100 other influential members of the trade.
Atter the usual loyal toasts, Mr. Charles Gardiner, the
honorary secretary, read a report of the proceedings of
the society during the past year, from which it appeared
that the balance in hand last year was 7,9181. Be. 10d.,
and that there had been since received 8671. 12s. 10d.,
making 8,7861. ls. 83., and upon deduction of the ex-
penses of the society during the year, of 114/. 03. 6d., a
total balance of 8,6721. Is. 2d. was left in favour of the
society, of which there was invested with the National Debt
Commissioners, at interest, 8,544/. 2e. The report, after
calling the attention of the members to the near com-
pletion of the permanent fund of 10,0001., expressed the
hope of the committee that the fresh contributions to be
announced that evening would complete that sum. The
eommittee, after expressing the sincerest regret at the
less of their late estimable secretary, Mr. J. E. Cooper,
congratulated the members on the appointment of Mr.
Charles Gardiner, who had accepted the office. The
reading of the report was received with much applause.
The toast of " Prosperity to the Society " then follwed,
after which the " health of the President " was given
and drank with much cordiality. The business of re-
cording subscriptions then began, and contributions to
the amount of upwards of 1,4001. were announced by the
secretary, including the munificent donation of 300
guineas from the chairman; the President 100 guineas;
r . AIII nraa, 0 Messrs.
Bu
wrics, alnds 1
;Messrs.
Gardiner, 1015v/iliiyl2 Gaussen, 105/.
Is,
Cooper, and
C 52/. 103.; Mes,:,rs. Hollingworth, 10$.; Mr.
Teape, 52/. 103.; Mr. Longman, 52/. 108.; Mes3re.
Spicer Brothere, 52/. 103.