The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-29 00:00:00

THE MOORISH _EMBASSY.

We have already briefly -noticed the arrival and
departure of an accredittlfl Ambassador, accom-
panied by a numerous gilite, from the Court of
Morocco to the Court of S.t. James's.

As this illustrious personage has now left our
shores, we thick it due to such a visitation—which
has not happened since the days of Charles ll.—to
give our readers some 'description of this Embassy.
Without further pmface we proceed with our de-
scription. -
On the 14th of June two missions from the Court
of Morocco simultaneously embarked at Tangier,
the one proceeding to. England, the other to France.
On the 20th of the same month the Embassy for
England arrived at Portsmouth in the screw frigate
Melpomene, Capt.. Ewart. The Embassy was ac-
companied from Tangier by Mr. James de Visme
Drummond Hay, C. 8., late Vice-Consul at Tetuan,
but now paid Attaché to his brother, Mr. John
Drummond Hay, C. 8., our energetic Minister Re-
sident at Tangier. It is well known that the C.D.
has been deservedly conferred upon these brothers
for the diplomatic services of one and the gallant
services of the other. The Moors were overjoyed
in being placed during the voyage under the pro-
tection of one whom they knew to be their friend,
and who, they were well assured, would protect
them in a strange land. Nothing particular trans-
pired during the voyage but the difficulty of teach-
ing these good people the use of a knife and fotk.
In their first attempt they held on violently by the
knife, while they divided the meat with their fork.
Having accomplished this, they employed a large
tablespoon to perform the final duty of conveying
the morsels into the mouth.
But we must record the names and titles of the
different members of the Embassy.
The Ambassador rejoices in the name of Seed Mo-
hamed Siamee, being about 30 years of age, with a
pallid complexion and of a rather melancholy cast
of countenance. He is a man of wealth and influence
in the Court of Morocco, and Treasurer of the Em-
pire, apparently slothful in mind and body.
Then comes the Plenipotentiary, Abderrahman
Agie, about 60 years of age, Councillor to the Sul-
tan. As the Ambassador is the head man, so is the
Plenipotentiary the man with a head, being of the
two by far the more intelligent, and taking the lead
in all matters connected with the Embassy.
Their Excellencies envelope themselves in fine
white and purple drapery, surmounted by a white
haik of large dimensions, which forms a hood
closely tied round the head and neck; while on
their feet they wear plain yellow slippers, well
down at the heel.

The next in rank is a fine, tall old man, nearly
80, one of the first Generals in the Moorish army.
His dress is peculiar—a high-peaked red fez cap,
surrounded by a huge white turban of many folds,
with a streak of yellow in it to denote the rank
of General, strongly contrasting with his fine
swarthy features, which are edged with a scanty
supply of white whiskers • a white haik is thrown
gracefully over the left shoulder. He is armed with
a short dagger, in an elaborately embossed silver
sheath, and a long sabre in a red scabbard. He
belongs to the Bokhari, or Imperial Guard.
The Bokhari Guard are the descendants of pri-
soners taken in war from the interior of Africa by
Sultan Mulai Ismael about 200 years ago, and were
formed by him into troops, and married to Moorish
white women ; they are called slaves of the Sultan,
though they receive pay as soldiers. Four of these
soldiers accompany the General, and are very good
samples of the Black Guard—taken in the sense of
two separate words, and not in one word of two
syllables.
A very intelligent fat little man, with a quick,
penetrating eye, is the next personage in the suite.
He is priest and secretary to the Embassy; his
dress is similar to that of the Ambassador and
Plenipotentiary. There are also two Attaches. The
distinguishing dress of these young gentlemen is a
turban and alcoat of many colours ; one of them is
a relative to the Ambassador.

Three slaves attend the Embassy, one of them as
cook, with slit ears, caused by his earrings being
wanted in a hurry. Their thickened lips and de-
pressed noses betoken them to be denizens of an
African clime. Great is their attachment to their
masters, from whom, throughout Morocco, they re-
ceive the kindest treatment.

There is but one more person to be mentioned,
and he may often have been seen, during the stay
at the Embassy, chattering with the domestics at
Claridge's street-door, in Brook-street, and smoking
his cigarette with much complaisance. His dress is
a fez cap, blue jacket with yellow facings, blue
loose breeches, while his legs and feet are incarce-
rated in Manchester cotton stockings and London
laced boots. This intelligent young man has been
for many years a servant iu the family of Mr. Hay,
at Tangier, where he has learnt a little English
and imbibed many European ideas, such as having
no objection to a glass of wine or beer, accompanied
by a pipe or cigar. We may here mention that
Moors, as a general rule, indulge neither in the one
nor the other.

Upon the arrival of the Embassy at Portsmouth
they at once proceeded by train to London, and
were received at the Waterloo terminus by Captain
Lynch, C. 8., an officer of the Indian navy, distin-
guished for his services in Persia and the East,
having been employed by the British Government
in many a dangerous diplomatic mission that re-
quired much discretion and endurance. This officer
was selected by her Majesty's Government to at-
tend upon the Moorish Embassy during its stay in
this country. Every arrangement had been made
by Captain Lynch for the reception of the Embassy
at Claridge's Hotel, whither they were accordingly
I taken. _ .

Mr. Claridge has throughout their shy at his
hotel been most indefatigable in his exertions to
minister to their comfort and requirements, a kit-
chen and slaughterhouse being set apart for their
use ; for, strict Mahomedans, they will not touch
meat of any kind that has not been killed after their
own fashion.
Very soon after their arrival they were honoured
with an audience by her Majesty, to whom they
were presented by Lord John Russell, and in the
evening attended her Majesty's State Ball. They
were present at the Volunteer Review in Hyde
Park, and were touched by the considerate kindness
of her Majesty in causing them to be rescued from
a crowded stand and placed beside the royal car-
riage.
They have been overwhelmed by visits and invi-
tations from many of the leading members of the
fashionable world, and have attended some few of
the parties of the season. At the Lord Mayor's
Ministerial dinner it was curious to witness their
aptitude for imitation in passing the loving cup. It
should here be stated that they presented the Lord
Mayor with £2OO towards the charities of the city.
We also understand that the Moorish Ambassador
to the French Court has given £4OO for the suffer-
ing Christian community in Syria.
They were taken to the opera and theatres, the
Crystal Palace, at which an incident occurred signi-
ficant of their veneration for anything of a sacred
character; they observed that the tiles with which
the Alhambra Court is paved bore the inscription
in Arabic, " There is no strength bst in God," and
would not therefore walk on them. Their presence
in the Alhambra Court was picturesque in the ex-
treme, and they looked as if they were part and
parcel of that faithful model of the ancient Moorish
building in Grenada. They have visited Woolwich,
the Queen's stables, the Kensington Museum, the
Zoological Gardens, the Houses of Parliament, the
Tower, the Thames Tunnel, the Docks, the Bank,
and the private gardens of Buckingham Palace.
They shun publicity and covet privacy, and are not
easily incited to the fatigue of sight-seeing ; they
appear to lack the spirit of curiosity. That which
seemed to be a real pleasure to them was the drive
to Mr. Claridge's private farm at Hendon, where a
tent was pitched for their accommodation, in which
dinner and tea after the Moorish fashion were pro-
vided. The black soldiers were highly amused in
kicking about a football, and sometimes after a vio-
lent kick their slippers would accompany the ball.
They shot with bows and arrows at a target (which,
by the by, they never hit) until all the arrows were
broken. Their idea of playing at cricket was that of
throwing the bats at the heads of one another. It
was pleasant to witness the active enjoyment of
these black soldiers, while the Ambassador himself
fell fast asleep on a haycock, and on waking ex-
claimed, " If you want to know what I like, it is
this." They more than once repeated their visit to
Hondon.
It is to be hoped that the Embassy havereturned

to Morocco well satisfied with.their hospitable re-
ception in this country.
John Bull is like a rich man ever suspecting a visit
from his poor relations,to have for its object the nego-
tiation of a loan. Some,of our readers may entertain
this idea of the visit of the Moorish Embassy, both
to this country and to France—a supposition•very
natural At the present moment, when we know that
the evacuation of Tetuan by the Spaniards depends
on the payment of a large sum of money to them
by the Moorish Government.
We have no hesitation, however, in affirming,
upon the highest authority, that such is not the ob-
ject of either mission, and that the services of Roths-
child will certainly not be required on the present
occasion. We firmly believe that these missions
have no ulteLior object beyond announcing the ele-
vation of the present Sultan to the throne of his
ancestors, and seeking the countenance and protec-
tion of the two great European powers, England
and France.

1. It has been stated. ,that guy peopesal of attatia
lug artisan companies to e.uiis.in6, corps.is in contra- • 7.
diction of the object I have in view—viz., the canon
of classes.
2. It is said that the adoption of a siva rt optional
be viewed with jealousy and disfavour b'y those who .4r,
dress would be like, playing at soldiers ,by
would
could not afford it:
Now; as regard's tog first oh. 'ctior ,e'r2l
mit that the forination of artisun corn ,vin! - uld
establish class distinctions to a certain extent ; but
it must be remembered that this was only suggested
as an alternative, in case -the expenses of existing
corps should debar the artisans from joining ; and I
proposed the formation of artisan companies attached
to existing corps as a preferable course to the forma-
tion of special and separate, artisan corps. These ar-
tisan companies, being under the same commanding
officer as the other companies, and forming part of
one regiment, would necessarily be under the in-
fluence of that esprit de corps which pervades every
regiment, and this would go far to neutralise any
class feelings; prejudices, or jealousies, such as would
infallibly arise under a system of separate artisan
corps. Besides, these artisan companies wouldhave
the benefit of the butts, staff, head-quarters, drill
place, &c., of the corps to which they were attached,
and these are expenses which, when added to the cost
of uniforms, will be found to press heavily on the
Artisan Corps Benevolent Fund.
Secondly, as regards the objections raised to the
suggestion of a smart optional uniform. It is easy to
talk of man-millinery, and to say that the adoption
of a smart optional uniform would be like playing at
soldiers; but many a gallant soldier has been at-
tracted to the army by a showy uniform. Love of
dress is inherent in human nature ; it is a considera-
.stn
ei°rgewanhti,chanidw not
itis laLstioneli
element. ?"
e"l449hich must not be
omitted in the formation of a Volunteer carps. As-
suming, then, that it is only by adopting a cheap,
plain, serviceable uniform that a union of classes can
be effected, why should a Volunteer who can afford'
it, or who is likely to require it, be debarred from
getting a smarter dress ? Because, it is said, it will
create jealousies. To this objection I have only to
reply that this system has been adopted in the Lon-
don Scottish, andhas given rise to no jealousies, re-
monstrances, or discontent; and I would in conclu-
sion refer all who raise this objection to the admi-
rable letter of an artisan, Mr. Pettie, which ap-
peared in Ole Times of Tuesday last.—l remain,
your obedient servant, ELcuo.
Gosford, Aug. 27.

THE HARVEST IN SCOTLIND.

At Hawick the continued showery weather and
the absence of sunshine have considerably retarded
the ripening of the grain, still most of the fields are
now assuming a yellow tinge. Barley is, of course,
furthest advanced, and a few sunny days would
make it ready for the sickle on the lower grounds.
The crops are good, and although already injured
in some degree by the unfavourable -veather, were
it to improve now there would be little to complain
of here in comparison with earlier districts. The
grain is partially laid by the heavy rains, hut not
so much so as might have been expected. We had
wet-dropping days in the middle of last week; but
it was fine on Saturday and on Sunday. On Sun-
day evening there was a keen autumn frost, and a
clearer sky presented than we have seen for some
weeks. On Monday morning, however, the clouds
returned and rain fell. A good thal of meadow hay
has been seriously injured, and some totally spoiled.
The turnip and potato crops look remarkably well,
though disease is beginning to show in the latter.
Since Thursdays the mornings at Perth have been
somewhat frosty, and on Monday morning espe-
cially the "rime" was quite white upon the grass.
With the exception of Friday, however, very little
rain has fallen after the frost during the day: On
Monday there was bright sunshine with a slight
north-westerly breeze. In early districts a good,
deal of barley has been cut down, and in the Carsn
of Gowrie, the lower part of Strathearn, and round
Perth, the reaping of wheat will be general in a few
days if the weather continue fair and warm, Oats
have not as yet suffered by frosty nights, but if rain
follow they will not fill well, and consequently will
be a deficient crop. Beans and peas promise an ave-
rage yield; and potatoes upon the whole are im-
proving, and if we have genial weather during the
ensuing month will be not much below an average.
The symptoms of blight throughout the lowland of
Perthshire generally are not extensive, and owing
to the crop not being so far advanced this season
as in former years at the end of August, grr.lat
hopes are entertained that the taint will bu 'par-
tial. The potatoes sent to market, though. of
small size, are of excellent quality and almost free
of disease. The Kelso Mail says :—" Sines our last
considerable progress has been made w it'a the har-
vest in forward situations. On the farms of Clifton-
hill, Edenmouth, Ednam, and Roxburgh BarnS,
cutting has commenced, and in some instances has
made great progress. We are glad to observe a'
change for the better in the weather. To-day
(Saturday) has been fine with clear sunshine and
drying winds—which will have a very great influ-
ence in bringing forward the growing crops. With
a continuance of good weather the harvest in this
district will be gathered in in very good style,
though somewhat later than last year,"

THE RECENT OUTRAGR AT CAM O.

(From the Homeward Mail.)

We shall not, we are sure, be suspected of realis-
ing in our own persons the truthof Rochefoucauld's
maxim, that there is always something to delight
us in the misfortunes of our best friends, if we say
that we have read with no common satisfaction, in
an Indian paper, a statement to the effect that the
perpetrators of the outrage committed a few months
ago in the grand mosque of Cairo, by certain out-
ward-bound passengers to India, have been disco-
vered, and that the two senior officers concerned in
this most disgraceful achievement have been dis-
missed the service. We do not know the names of
the officers thus condemned—what their standing
in the army—what the branch of it to which they
belonged. But if they were, as we presume, men
of mature age, and not mere boys, just emancipated
from school, we cannot think that the punishment
which has descended upon them is too severe. But it
is not as an act of punishment, but as a warning to
others, that we regard this righteous sentence with
satisfaction. If there ever were a time at which
an outrage upon the Mohammedan population of
any country, committed by Christian officers, is
likely to recoil injuriously upon our own people, it
is in a crisis like the present, when the minds of
the folloWers of the Prophet, in all parts of the
world, are in a state of feverish excitement ; and the
massacres of India, of Jeddah, and of Syria, may,
any day, be acted over again in Egypt if we
are regardless of the feelings of the people. But
we hope that the good effect of the salutary exam-
ple may extend even farther than this—that it may
be felt, indeed, to the farthest extremity of India.
We believe that one of the worst evils which is
likely to arise from the greater influx into India of
Europeans unconnected by personal antecedents
with the East, is the disregard of such new men
for the religious feelings and social prejudices of
the people of the country. It may be ignorance—
it may be levity—mere carelessness—no matter
what, that suffers a man to outrage the feelings of
a people whose religious creed and social usages
differ from his own ; but the result is as
.injurioushe
as if he had designedly, maliciously, committed
cant
wrong. And we cannot think that government
tel
too severely visit such offences, whether coaternit
against the people of a foreign country
inha-
bitants of our own territories. ildessbethtahne
summary dismissal from the service
instance,
we of such an offence. In the present
coethshinioin
and abroad, have acted with th rai
we believe that the British governmentaetwhorotr;
Theconsular authorities
promptitude and vigour.
office,the
only
IlSnytdaritaee,..
in Egypt, the Foreign-
for India, and the Supreme. Government
government, when
have each and all done their ofpaytsthe work with
a becoming sense of the magnitude. of the offence
in India
manadintshneoimwpoforrtanhceer ofm atjhesetylsccaosoi.oynern.
official tidings of the result. of the inquiry
shall have been
.r.eceived, to. communicate to the
Egyptian authorities that punishment has overtakes
the offenders, and that all similar acts committed by
its officers will be visited with like retribution.

V s
THE GREAT EASTERN STEamsHlP.—terday-
theto in-
(Tuesday) the Great Eastern. was thrown Pon
directors on
spection of the public. The directors have °hist no time in
thus making her profitable. A meeting the directors
Baker, and
the spot—viz., Captain Carnegie, R.N.,
Mr. Bold, was held on board the 13shi on
nn
behalf of the
after-
noon, at which Mr. F. Clarke attended
South 'Wales Railway Company, 'Monday
i to open.
her at once to public inspecti°l%,terday also took advan... who visited the Channel fleet 'lliciThousands of persons
nLard the " big ship." On
tage of the opportunity to gleLing
Monday the operation 9 and preparing her for
show occupied all the
°front the Royal ,squadron in the
of hands. .I.n the course of
Monday several officers Eastern,
Haven visited the Great
commander, Captain
her anchorage
the Haven.
taken out of her before and were receive, by her
yin Hall. The vessel stiT,l lies at
the dockyard on the Milfezd side of
below
will, we understand, 'have to be
Her she is placed on the gri? thou.