Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1845-08-14


slonary Herald there is an interesting &C
count of the visit of Messrs. Perkins and
Stocking to the Shah of Persia, at Teheran.
The following is the description given:
The Formally Of presentation to the King
is lar more simple than was practised in the
time of his predecessor. In treaty, at the
close of the last war with Russia, it was
conceded that Russian Ambassador might
sit in the Shah's presence. The same pri-
vIlege is now extended to the English Am
bassador. Neither, however, commonly
avalls himself of this privilege more than a.
lew moments after which he resumes a.
standing posture with the ministers in at
tendance. And instead of the long course,
.of bowling, formerly practsed in passing
through the court, and approaching His Ma
Jesty, the hand is now simply raised to the
head, with slight inclination of the body,
on enterlnng his presence.
The King was sitting at the upper cor
ner (the corner opposite to the door and
near the window, the chief seat in Per,
sian estimation) of large room, into which
we were ushered with the simple ceremony
above mentioned. We took a standing at
ltude, few feet from the door, by the side
of The Minister of Foreign Affairs, whom
we had ust visited.
The King welcomed us and inquired af-
ter Our health. He is fine looking man,
now 40 years old, and of remarkably a.
greeable, unassuming manners. | nave seen
no person of rank in Persia whose appear
ance is more entirely Invested of ostentation
than the Shah's. His dress was not supe-
ror to many of his courtiers, nor was it at
all peculiar. He appears with his crown,
bracelets Of pearls, Sc, only on State oc-
casions. And the room where we we're re-
ceived, though spacious and richly car
peted, had nothing of the dazzling fnery
which we often see in the rooms of Persian
mobiles.
The King inquired of the Minister of Fo-
reign Affairs whether we really were, in
origin, Americans, appearing to look upon
us with no ordinary interest as the first
genuine citizens Of The New World whom
he had ever seen. The Minister answered
in the affirmative, and told him that he
could converse with US directly, as we knew
the native language; on which his Majesty
proceeded TO make many inquiries respect
ing our country with entire inlormalty
The King has good knowledge of geog-
raphy and great taste for the study of it;
and the task of conversing with him was
thus rendered very agreeable, and he readi
Iy comprehended our answers to his vari-
Gus questions.
He inquired as to the extent and popula-
ton of our country; the number and size
of It's cities; the extent of our army and
navy; the number Of our foreign ambassa-
doris; the fact of our Government being re-
publican, sc. He appeared somewhat non
plussed by the fact that SO great and flour
ishing country has no king; and Oh be-
ing reminded of our system Of elecling
chief magistrates, of which he before knew
something, he remarked that it was rather
a queer idea that man, after being king
four years, should thus be caShiered. But
he was somewhat relieved on this point,
when told that the same individual might
be elected again to that high station.
The King inquired particularly about
the city Of Washington, our seat Of Govern
.ment. When we suggested that he prob
ably knew that it bore the name of our
first President, % yes,' he replied, adding,
with hearty laugh, 'he was that fine hero
who fogged the English, and took from
them your country He appeared surpri-
sed that we had al ambassador even in
China, and inquired whether he was in Can
ton or in Pekin.
He remarked that he had heard that there
was prospect of war between our coun-
try and Mexico, and inquired the cause
| This led us into a brief exposition of the
Texas question, of which he had before
heard something. expressed my gratifi-
cation at finding him so familiar with things
lin the New World, of which the mass Of
his subjects knew so little. He replied thai
he was kept informed by the gazettes; and
| | afterwards ascertained that Mr.. Burgess
an Englishman at Tabreez, translates para
graphs of interest from an English Gazette
for the Kings brother at that place, Who'
after reading them, transmits them to the
| Shah
The King inquired about the big gun,
the peace maker which had burst and Kill
ed our vjzier and some of our meerzas, and
IaDpeared interested TO know that 1t was
made of wrought iron. He asked, with IN
terest. about the mineral resources of our
country; and of being reminded of our
coal mines, he stated, with great apparent