The Sun.
London, England, 1818-08-20 00:00:00

THE COUNTRY.

As useful knowledge, conveyed through the
medium of Provincial Journals, is of more im-
portance than political opinion;, we extract the
following letter from a Journal %yell known for
the loyalty of its principles and the correctness of
its information :

, To the EDITOR of the MAIDSTONE JOURNAL.
SlR,—Having heard from many Hop Planters
individually, that it is their intention to begin
picking in the early part of the ensuing week, 1
adopt this public mode of cautioning them from
destroying the quality of their commodity, as well
as injuring the future prosperity of the stock, by
prematurely gathering the Hops before they are
ripe. I have been through the greatest portion
of the Hop Plantation, and ain fully persuaded
that there is scarcely a single ground which will
be fit to Pick these ten days or a fortnight.
The Hops this year, from long continuation of
dry weather, cannot perfect themselves so speedily
as in seasons when the earth is fully charged
with moisture, and although the Bar burst at
once into Hop, yet minute observers will discover
that the Hops come in two or three crops ; the
presumption that they will, like the wheat of this
year, go rapidly from one state into the other,
and become early flyers, is not grounded upon
any comparative view of the nature of the two
productions.
The Hop Plant partakes of, and is similar in
its nature to the Grape Vine, being naturally
fond of heat, and retaining its vigour and growth
until a very late period of the autumn, and some-
times until the latter end of November; in short,
Sir, it would be too prolix for a communication
of this nature to enter fully into the general na-
ture and progress of the Hop Plant; my present
object is to induce Gentlemen who:e own ex-
perience ought to be the best criterion, not to al-
low themselves, as last year, to be hurried into a
measure from the force of example, particularly
as in this season there is no reasonable doubt to
he entertained, but that the Hop Plantation will
carry itself through to a late period, possessing
as it does more vigour and health than for many
years past, with the exception of a few grounds
where the sorts are early ; these grounds will in-
dicate an appearance of having come to maturity,
but the real fact is, they are diseased, and shew a
premature ripeness. I am, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Maidstone, Aug. 17, 1515. J. S.

" On the evening before the departure of his Majesty, they
are severally enveloped and secured in white cloth sheets, or
wrappers, having open work only before the eyes, so that
not a particle of their person is visible. In this state they
are seated on horses, and convoyed to the next halting-place,
surrounded by female attendants and eunuchs, the whole
cortege being also encircled by guards. As they move only
by night, the delicate complexions of the ladies arc not
affected even by the glare of day-light, and their eyes ate not
shucked by the sight of any vulgar object, either of man or
beast, except Israel of the horse on which they ride,
which may perhaps be perceptible through the open work of
their covering in front. The servant of the household who
gave us this description, added several particulars respecting
their domestic conversation. He pointed out the spot near
the door of the sleeping rooms, in which there is a eunuch
on duty, sitting day and night during their residence, and
also apartments for several more of these trustworthy
wretches near and surrounding the Pavillion, and the octa-
gonal sitting-room attached to it. He observed, with an air
of exultation and unaffected solemnity, ' His Majesty is a
great King of Kings ; he has horses and wives without num-
ber, and a noble long beard,' placing his hand to his waist,
as if to describe its length, and raising and moving his head
from right to left. He then said, I will take you to his
picture, which is beautiful to behold.' Desiring us to fol-
low bin), he unlocked some iron•cased and barred doors, and
we descended several arched passages, lighted only by holes
from above, into a room for the Monarch's more domestic so-
ciety, in which he sits i❑ familiar converse with his sons and
confidants. Here were several paintings. On the wall of the
face of the room, fronting the light, was seen his Majesty in
the act of spearing a wild ass. The white charger on which he
is mounted appears painked or dyed red, up to the middle
of his body, the tincture terminating in a sort of ornamental
border, according to the usual mode of distinguishing the
King's horses, as exhibited in several paintings. The handle
of the spear is covered with gold, and some of the attendants
with muskets are seen galloping after him. lii niches on
each side-wall, to the right and left of this picture, are seen
portraits of the King's elder sons, four on each side, placed
in the order of their respective seniority, and all richly
dressed. The first to the left was Abbas Mirza, next to him
was Mellowed Ally Mirza, and in the same order appeared
the other six. There was one remarkable, and apparently
rather ominous circumstance in these pictures. The Princes
on either side are represented with thetr daggers so placed,
as to have the handles, and not the points, towards
the King. Four of them, therefore, had the dagger
on the contrary side to which it is usually worn. On
inquiry how this deviation from the usual mode of wear-
ing that weapon bad originated, I was informed that it was
intentionally introduced. and that this departure from custom
was an act of deference to the sacred person of his Majesty,
against whom, even in a picture, the weapon of no subject,
much less that of a son, should be suffered to point even by
accident. The Artist who executed this work was doubtless
so much of a courtier as to he aware that a strict aiherence
to costume in this particular might have cost him his head.—
He would avoid being suspected of an intention even to hint
that the Princes were likely to forestall their inheritance, and
to rebel against their Sire; an act, the possibility of which,
considering the power and influence of them, may have been
obnoxious to the Royal jealousy. So wary is the etiquette
and homage of this Court, that death must not even be spoken
of in his Majesty's presence."
Colonel JOHNSON was introduced to ABBA.S
MIISZA, of whom Mr. Motta.a, has given a most
pleasing portraiture. In Iris progress through Ar-
menia he crossed the Araxes, and was soon grati-
fied by the views of Mount Ararat, raising it's head
like a cone-shaped cloud fat• above every emi-
nence in the wide expanse around. In contem-
plating this sublime object, the traveller's mind
dwelt involuntarily on the mysterious tradition
held devoutly true by the people of this region,
that tire Ark of Noah still rests in the snow on
the inaccessible regions of Mount Ararat. Having
passed the boundary of the I'er•sian empire, Col.
Jon N sot continued his route to Teflis, the capital
of Georgia, where he was received with unbound-
ed kindness by the Russian Commandant, Gen.
KUTUSOP. He appears to have been cruelly dis-
appointed in his expectation of Georgian beauty,
and ❑ot a little disgusted with the perverted taste
exhibited in the style of female decoration. Re-
suming his travels, he passed the Caucasus with
comparative ease and comfort, and advanced to.
wards the country of the Cossacks, where his
narrative becomes peculiarly interesting, from
his introduction to the admired veteran PLATOFF,
who r•etainedl all his former attachment for the
English nation, and professed unbounded enthu-
siasm for the English character.
" The Hetman seemed to take pleasure in copying the
English even in their custom of dining late in the evening,
and in the mode in which the repast was served up. At the
ends of the table there were soups, fish, and meat; and in
tire middle were made-dishes, sweetmeats covered with sallads;
every thing was served in plate. The Count himself did
the honours of his Owns table; first undergoing the fatigue of
helping every one to soup, sometimes even in the silver
plates, which were too hot to hold without pain. After the
soups, the different dishes of meat, &c. were brought round
to each guest, ready cut up, after the Russian usage. After
partaking of various things before us, the hospitable veteran
remarked to rue that I had a portrait of his Royal Highness
the Prince Regent on my wine-glass, and that to his health I
could not refuse to think a little of the wine of the Don;