Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-09-27
A VISIT TO THE SULTAN.
BY LIEUT.. LYNCH, U. 8. n.

Y
on the Bosphorus) and again throwing oil
our over-shoes, entered lofty and spa
cious hall, matted throughout, with two
broad flights of stairs ascending from the
far extreme to an elevated platform or
landing, whence, uniting in one, they is
sued upon the floor above.
On the right and left Of the hall were.
doors opening into various apartments, and
there were number of officers and at
PENDANTS on either side, and stationed at
intervals along the stairway, all presery
ing silence the most profound.
The Secretary, who had gone before,
now approached, and beckoned us to fol-
low. But here an unexpected difficulty |
was presented. The Chamberlain in
waiting. objected TO my sword, and re-
CURED that should lay i:aside. | replied
that the audience was given TO me as an
officer Of the United States; and that the
sword was part of my uniform, and that
l could not dispense with it. My refusal
was met with assurance that the etiquette
Of the court peremptorily required it.
| asked if the custom had been invariably
complied with, and inquired of the drago-
man whether Mr. Carr, our Minister, had,
in conformity with it, ever attended an
audience without his sword; but ev en- as
spoke, my mind, without regardto prece-
dent, had come to the alternative, no sword
no audience. .,....... ... s..
Whether the Secretary had, during the
discussion, referred the matter to higher
quarter, could not tell, for my attention
had been so engrossed for some minutes,
that l had not noticed him. He now
came forward, however, and decided that
should retain the sword. AT this tru-
ly rejoiced, for it would have been un-
pleasant to retire after having gone so far.
1t is due to Mr. Brown, the dragoman, 10
say that he sustained me.
The discussion at an end, we assembled
the stairway, which was covered with
good and comfortable, but not costly car
pet, and passed into room more hand
somely furnished and more lofty, but in
every other respect Of the same dimen-
sions as the one Immediately below it. A
rich carpet was on the floor, magnificent
chandelier, all crystal and gold, was sus-
pended from the ceiling, and costly divans
and tables, with ether articles of furniture,
were interspersed about the room; but
had not time to note them, for on the left
hung gorgeous crimson velvet curtain,
embroidered and fringed with gold, and
towards it the Secretary led the way.
His countenance and his manner exhibited
more awe than | had ever seen depicted
in the human coantenance. He seemed
10 hold his breath, and his step was so soft
and stealthy that once or twice stopped,
under the impression that had left him
behind, but found him ever beside me.
There were three OF us in close proximi-
ty,anl the stairway lined with officers and
attendants, but such was the death like
stiffness that / could distinctly hear my
own football, which unaccustomed TO pal
ace regulations, fell with untutored repub-
lican tirlnness upon the royal floor. If it
had been wild beast slumbering in his
lair that we were about TO visit, there
could not have been silence more deeply
hushed.
Fretted at such abject servility, l quick
ened my pace towards the curtain, when
Sheffie Rey, rather gliding than stepping
before me cautiously and slowly raised a
corner for me to pass. Wondering at his
subdued and terror-stricken attitude, |
stepped across the threshold, and felt,
without perceiving it, that was in the
presence of the Sultan. ..ss.. .s..
The heavy folds of the window curtain
so obscured the light, that it seemed as if
the day were drawing to a close, instead
of being at its high meridian.
As with the expanding pupil the eye
took in surrounding objects. the apart
ment, its furniture and its royal tenant,
presented different scene from what, if
left to itself, the Imagination would have
! drawn.
The room, less spacious, but as lofty as
the adjoining one, was furnished in the
modern European style, and like a familiar
thing, stove stood nearly in the centre.
On sofa by a window, through which
he might have looked upon us as we cross
ed the court, with crimson tarhouch, its
gold button and blue silk tassel on his
head, black silk kerchiei around his neck,
alfred in blue military irock and pant
aloons, and polished French Boots upon
his feet, sat the monarch, without any OF
the attributes Of sovereignty about him.
/ a man, young in years. but evidently
of delicate and impaired constitution, bis
wearied and spiritless air was unrelieved
by any indication of intellectual energy
lie eyed me fxedly as advanced, and on
him nv attention was no less rivetted.-
As he smiled | stopped, expecting that he
was about to speak but motioned gently
with his hand for me TO approach yet near
er. Through the Interpreter, he then
made me welcome, for which l expressed
my acknow edgments.
The interview was not protracted one
: In The course of it, as requested by MI
Carr, presented him, in the name Of the
President of the United States, with some
biographies and prints, illustrative of the
character and habits of our North Ainerl'
can Indians, the work of American artists
He looked at some of them, which were
J. placed before him by an attendant, ant
said that he considered them as evidence
of the advancement Of the United States II
civilization, and would treasure them as ;
souvenir of the good feeling OF its Govern
ment towards him. At the word civiIiza
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