The Sun.
London, England, 1826-01-11 00:00:00

PERSIA.

EXTRACT Of a LETTER from M. BELLANGER,
who accompanied Viscount DESBASSAYNS, the
French Ambassador, in hii JOURNEY
OvaR-
LAND ta
TEHERAN, JULY 2.—After a journey of nearly
1,600 leagues, here we are at length in the ca-
pital of Persia, where we arrived about 15 days
ago. We set out from Tauris on the 2d of June.
As we advanced, the land rose gradually till we
arrived among the mountains of Tcharaf and
Caflanguer, whose height, according to our ob-
sertations by the barometer, is about 700 toises.
But a short time before, and the snow had been
deep upon these mountains ; the higher summits
were yet covered with it, and continue so during
the entire summer. The aspect of the country
was quite differentfrom that which had hitherto
presented itself. There was here more dryness
and aridity—the eye rested agrreeably on the im-
mense green plains, covered with plants of the
most beautiful appearance, and enamelled with
la variety of flowers; it had over me the effect of
a dream, I gathered a great quantity of ever-
greens, and, plants of every tribe ; among others,
there is one which I shall mention to you, it Was
a muscari, with an immense bulb, having a
strongly defined odour of muscadine grape, but
its taste was acrid and disagreeable. M. Dis-
bassayns de Richemont has been received in the
capital of Persia with the same honours which
were rendered him at Tauris. He was con-
ducted, on his arrival, to the house of Aboul Has-
san Khan, formerly Ambassador in France and in
England, and now'Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A lodging had been here provided for him. A
few days after, we were received in solemn au-
dience by the king of kings—the master of all—
the shadow of the Eternal upon earth—in a word,
by the Shah, I never saw a more curious and
theatrical like spectacle in my life ; of which to
give you any thing like an adequate idea, I
should have recourse to tong descriptions. But
I have no time for such: besides, to use an orien-
tal expression, it would require water of gold,
and, unfortunately, I have very little of that. I
must tell you, however, that after being conduct-
ed through the city by the Gensdarmes, who
were armed with massive weapons indeed, with
which they struck such persons as did not range
themselves immediately, so as to let our caval-
cade pass, we arrived at the gates of the palace,
and entered amid an immensely crouded court.
The Shah, in order to show his power and forces,
had caused 5,000 of his troops to assemble, both
cavalry and infantry, organised in the European
fashion, and who went through, their exercises as
we approached. All the artillery pieces were
ornamented • with Persian standards, tvhilC
trophies of various kinds embellished the spec-
tacle. As M. de Richemont advanced, bearing
the king's letters, the drums beat a field march.
We bud Ewen conveyed to the palace on horses
richly caparisoned : these we left preparatory
to our being ushered into a sort of ante-cham-
ber, distant about ten minutes walk from the
appartments of the Shah, and where all the
Ministers were assembled. Here tea of roses
was offered to us, and also the Knllyoou (Persian
pipe) was presented. We were conducted to
his Majesty by the Grand Mastrr of Ceremonies,
and the. Minister of Foreign Affairs, A boul Has-
san Khan, accompanied by a great number of
other Khans, and a multitude of armed men.
Arrived at a little door, a porter Of immense
height and figure, similar to that of Lucifer,
opened it. to us, and we entered into is garden
where were two pavilions opposite each other.
At the foot of one which looked towards the au-
dience ball, was a crowd of courtiers in :grand
costume, ranged in a lit.e and immoveable as
statues, and scarcely daring to breathe, though
at the distance of two hundred feet from him,
tvhoby a single gesture could cot short the thread
of their lives. Before ascending the ball of. the.
' throne, the Grand Master of Ceremonies began
to announce, with as loud a voice as he .could
couonaed, that " Viscottut Desbassayns de Riche
moot, bearer of a letter from his Majesty the
King of France, demanded to be admitted." The
Shah answered, ": Wlk') be welcome." Then
:titer two obeisances we were admitted into the
hall. M. Viscount, deposited the letter and' pre-
sent of his King, according to etiquette, before
the Shah, whit was seated on a throne• or
chair of antique form, entirely . covered with
precious stones. The audience hall was ex-
tremely magnificent, decorated with glass or-'
'laments like crystal. Near the Shah,_ and
on his left hand were stationed the Grandees
of his Court, holding one, his diadem, another his
scimitar, a third his shield, and a fourth his
sceptre. It is' impassible to behold any thing
more beautiful. All these insignia were com-
pletely covered with precious stout's ; on the top
of the shield was an emerald of extraordinary
size. The. Shah wore bracelets, in the midst of
which glittered two of the largest diamons that
can lie conceived. On each side of the hall were
to be seen several of his sons, all dressed must
splendidly and covered over with jewellery,
Opposite the Shah and behind us, men were
placed dressed in grand costume, having on their
shoulders golden axes, evidences of their re-
doubtable functions, with their eyes fixed on the
Supreme Master of every thing, they betrayed
not the slightest motion which could show that
they belonged to this world. This silence, and
the oriental splendour which prevailed through-
out the entire spectacle, inspired such a coni.
minglemeut of terror and admiration, and
.produced so great an effect on our poor Drat.
gotnan, that he grew quite sick. The Shah
informed himself of the state of . health of
Charles the Tenth, and of our Princes, and
wilted several ,questions which testified the in-
terest which he felt for our Monads and for
I'riloce. M. de Richemont satisfied him on every
head, and was very dignified in his answers.—
Fatty Atli Shalt is a man of about sixty-six years
of age, less remarkable for his features than for a
beard tvhich has become, as you know, the sub-
;
jPq of history. It almost covers his whole figure
scarcely leaves his eyes visible, anti descends to
his girdle, This it is which procures him the
admiration orhis subjecti; who Say—there is no
greater Mpg iu the world, for he has rt long