Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-10-16
p E r S I A.
Extract ofa letter from an officer attached
to the English embassy to Persis.
!" TEHRAN, May %, 1916

r. -
by easy stages. We arrived at Sheraz on
the soth December, and on the road the
highest honors were paid TO the representa-.
tive of our gracious sovereign. Governors
of provinces came out to meet and welcome
us, dismounting from their horses, as
mark, of respect on our near approach.
eve paid two visits to the prince OF She
raz and had barely time to view the tombs
of the poets Sadoc and Hahz, which are in
good preservation. The country seats IN
the environs of Sheraz are not fine houses
with extensive pleasure ground, but small
gardens with summer houses, some ofwhich
and especially those Of the Europeans, are
very pretty. Mr.. Morier took sketches OF
the whole, which you will therefore proba-
blysee. A letter from the seat of govern
ment in India nearly put a stop to our hi
,herto successful enterprise. Sir Hartford
taking all responsibility on himself, did not
comply with the wishes of the government
for his return I'd India, but on the 18th of
January recommended his journey.
"On account of the report of gen. NAL
colin coming up the Gulph, the Pcrsians,
suspicious OF our designs, wished to detaln
US at Ispahan to see the event; for several
days we were agitated between hope and
fear; Sir II. surmounted this difficulty as
we'll as the former, and on the 9TH, we a.
gain moved, and arrived at the Iehran on
the 14.h the distance we computed 70 be
about $50 miles this for eastern travelling,
where you have no post-chaises or mail
coaches at command, is extremely fast -
The former embassies took fve months TO
go over the same ground which we per-
formed in less than two. We should have
arrived day sooner and it was SO arrang-
ed cut CT compliment to the English mis-.
sion, that gen. Gardanne, with the whole
of his train who bad been detained for that
purpose, were oihave gone out of one gate
of The city in disgrace, while we entered in
triumph at the other; but travelling in a
most boisterous and dark night, our party,
by some accident separated and lost the
road.
= On the 17sh, contrary to the Persian
customs, as their mohorrum, or mourning,
had commenced, we PAID our first visit to
his majesty Sir Hartford bearing the kings
letter On gold plsic, and Mr.. Morier the
presents, 10 the ouiside OF our house, where
/ was ready with the troop to salute; ST, III.
then mounted. On arriving at the palace,
sir H. again bore the letter, and Mr.. Mo,
rier the presents. The Persian infantry,
drilled BY the French, were drawn UP 10
receive US; they appeared to be very io,-
cerfect in their exercise. The king, On &C
count of the mourning, did not receive US
in the public hall of audience we passed
close by il, it was not SO grand as the old
palace before mentioned, built by Shah
Abbas; in the private court great many
Persian khans or noblemen were ranged a.
long the wall we made several obeisances
before we entered the apartments, and took
off our slippers at some distance from the
door; this was probably because they fear
ed might behave like the French, who
never took off their boots in any houses Of
The Persians, which offended them very
much. The king, on our entry, welcomed
us ; when sir Fl. (haying delivered the let
ter, and MIR. Morier the presents, to the
prime minister for the king) made short
speech, which Jaffer Ali Khan, our great
assistan, in the whole of the transaction, In
terpreted, sir H. then seated himself in a
chair about IS yards from the king Mr..
Morier on his right hapd standing, and
Jaffer Ali Kahn on his left; the rest Of the
gentlemen stood against a wall in the rear
of the ambassador. lis majesty was very
aRable, and hoped his brother, the king Of
England, was in good health, He asked if
the old or the young was reigning sir H..
answered the old. The king then address
ed the prime minister, Murza Shefea, and
afterwards made several inquiries respect
ing England and sir HIS health. After an
audience Of a quarter OF an hour we took