Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-10-26
A Visit to the Sultan.
BY LIEUT.. LYNCH. .. S. N.

We were led to the entrance of the south
ern wing (of the place of Cherighan on the
Bosphorusl and again throwing off our over
Shoes entered lofty and spacious hall. matt
ed throughout with two broad flight of stairs
ascending from the farther extreme to an eleva-
ted platform or leading, whence, uniting in
one, they issued 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 atten-
dants on either side, and stationed at intervals
along the stairway all preservinga silence the
most profound.
The secretary, who had gone before, now
approached, and beckoned us to follow. But
here an unexpected difficulty was presented
The chamberlain in waiting objected to my
sword, and required that l should lay it aside
l replied that the audience was given to me as
an officer of the United States; and that
the sword was part of uniform, and that could
not dispense with it. My refusal was met
with the assurance that the etiquette of the
court peremptorily requiredit. asked if the
custom had been invariably complied with,
and inquired of the dragoman whether MFR.
Carr, our Minister, had, in conformity with il,
ever attended an audience without his sword ;
but even as spoke,my mind without regard to
precedent, had come to the alternative, no
sword no audience.
Whether the secretary had, during the dis
cussion referred the matter to higher quar-
ter, 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 truly rejoiced, for it would have been
unpleasant to retire after having gone so far.
1t is due to Mr. Brown, the dragoman, to say
that he sustained me.
The discussion at an end, We assembled the
stairway which was covered with a good and
comfortable, but not costly carpet and passed
into a room more handsomely furnished and
more lofty, but in every other respect of the
same dimensions as the one Immediately be-
low it. A rich carpet was on the floor, a
magnificent chandelier, all crystal and gold,
was suspended from the ceiling, and costly
divans and tables, with other articles of furni-
ture were interspersed about the room; but |
had not time to note them, for on the left
hung a Gorgeous crimson velvet curtain, embroi-
dered 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 countenance.
He seemed to hold his. s,.breath,a and his step was
so soft and stealthy that once or twice I stopp-
ed under the impression that had left him far
behind, but found him ever beside me, There
we're three of US in close proximity, and the
stairway was lined with officers and attendants
but such was the death-like stiffness that l
could distinctly hear my own football, which
unaccostomed to place regulations, fell with
untored republican frmness upon the royal
floor If had been wild beast slumbering
in his lair. that we were about to visit, there
could not have been silence more deeply
hushed.