Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-01-18
IN THE LAND OF THE SULTAN.
MIdshipman Gleaves' Impress
siOns Of the Palace, Recep-
lions and State Din
nersa at COnStau-
1inOpIe,

United States Navy, formerly OF THIS
city, now attached to the United States
steamer Nipsic. at ConstantinoDle,
Turkey, has written the following let
ter to his relatives here, under date OF
December II, 1850, giving the partieu-
lars of the dinner mentioned in the
American Of Thursday last
Had | a gifted pen, this letter
would appear like a leaf from the Ara
bian Nights, wherein would be de-
scribed in glowing language, rich with
metaphor, the presentation to the
great monarch Of the Ottoman empire
and the magnificent state dinner which
followed on the night afterward at the
Turkish admiralty.
The occasion of the audience was
the presentation ofGeneTal Lonstrcet's
credentials, accred;ting him the min
lister resident near the imperial court.
The party which was formed at the
legation consisted of General Long
street, Mr.. Heap, Captain Schoon-
maker and thirteen officers from the
Nipsic. About noon an aid-de-camp
from the Sultan arrived with the state
carriages and we were driven then to
Yildiz-K iask, the sultan's summer
place. We arrived there in a few
minutes. Entering the palace and
passing through the vestibule where
there were crowds Of officers, We we're
shown into a small room end received
by the n mis- er of foreign affairs.
There was nothing striking about the
furniture except a large mangot CT
Solid silver, and two solid silver can
dalabras on a center table.
At one end OF the room was a large
mirror, and there was a pretty French
clock on the mantel. Gig cettes we're
offered, and bad coffee in tiny china
CUPS, resting 10 gold-lined silver
holders, incre ed with diamonds,
. ONE of them quite large. Formerly
i was customary to pre3ent each visi-
tor with the cup he used but much 10
our regret thoe times are past.
When an officer announced that the
sultan was ready, the minister, c.cort-
ed by a pasha on each side, and the
regS of us falling in, an order rescm-
bling chat in which the animals are
S id to have entered the ark, passed
out of.the room, upon the grand stair-
case, between files Of rigid officer
all CLEANING. like Byron's A%ssyriaus,
ia purple and gold" CROSSING a large
saloon handsomely upholstered aud
ornamented with a ~glitteriDg Lhande-
lier, we bowed ourselves over the
threshold OF the audience room and
stood in silent presence of SuitVl Alb
dul Hamid H., at present the most
talked of, and from his political and
religious surroundings, the most inter-
c5ting monarch Of all Europe. Cen
eral LoDgstreet was first presented,
and made the conventional speech,
which was interpreted by the minister
Of foreign affairs, a shabby, stupid old
fellow, enveloped in gold and eur
broidery. The address was very hap
by and charmingly delivered. The
truth is. we are all in love with the
old soldier, and feel very proud oil
Americas representative. He was
the finest looking man at the palace
and the most ioishcd courtier codlo
not have borne himself better.
Alter handing the sultan the creden.
iials, Mr.. Heap was presented, and
then the officers in order, according tC
their rank. Each one having stepped
up and made his bow backed of
When the audience was over, al
backed out Of the sultan's presence
Several officers of the palace were
present during the interview and stooC
in a fixed line on his right. The an.
dience chamber was large but quiz,
plain; there we're a few Landscapes il
oil and a Persian carpet 10 brillian
%colors, but the gem Of the room was
superb rug of satin, on the edge o
which the sultan stood.
Having retired to the waitiUg-room
we were presented to 0sman Pasha, tn
hero Of Plevna, now grand marshal o
the palace, and to the minister Of Tor
eign affairs. Sherbert was served anC
cigarettes. Soon as invitation cam
down from the sultan inviting tn
ministers and officers to dine next da