Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-11
OUR FIRST MINISTER TO PERSIA.
Mr.. Benjamin's Journey in State to Te-
heran-An Audience with the Shah.

Mr.. Benjamin's Journey in State to Te-
heran-An Audience with the Shah.
Washington Special to Ne1o York Sun.
In a dispatch of June 10 last to the
Department of State, Mr.. 5. q. W. Ben
jamin, recently appointed Minister RESI-
dent and Consul General of the United
States to Persia. gives an extended ac-
count of his journey to Teheran and the
ceremony attending his official presenta-
ton to the Shah, Mr.. Benjamin being the
first diplomatic representative OF this gov
eminent accredited to Persia. Mr.. Ben
jamin was sixty-fve days reaching
Teheran from New York, by way of Bor-
deauX, Marseilles, COnstantinople, and
Poti, by water, and from the latter place
by rail to Baker, on the Caspian sea. Al
Baker he received from the Persian Con-
sui telegram from the Shah inviting him
to proceed at once to Teheran. A two
days journey in a small boat brought Mr..
Benjamin to Enseli, where the Shah's
steam yacht, which is the only vessel per-
mitted to fly the Persian flag on the Cas-
plan Sea, crossed over the bar and took
Mr.. Benjamin ashore. They were met on
landing by Mehemet Taghy hahn, the
mehmandar or officer delegated TO receive
Ambassadors and conduct them 10 the cap
ital. They were escorted with consldera-
BILE pomp to a summer residence of His
Majesty, situated in garden overlooking
the surf-beaten shore of the Cas-
plan Sea. After breakfast they were taken
on the steam Yacht across shallow lake
or arm of the sea to the mouth OF mar
row stream. There they entered boats
and were lowed up the winding
river to the Village of Piri Bazaar, when
forms the port of. Resht There they were
met by the Governor General
Of I,n Of a
number of notables. Mr.. Ben
jamin was requested to mount line
horse, and some fifty gentlemen accom-
panied HIM to Resht, SIX miles distant.
When half way there they were met by
six Governors of neighboring provinces
with their attendants, all mounted, who
joined the escort. At the entrance to the
town ne was met by delegation OF two
hundred citizens, who, after Salutlng
him, formed procession, and conducting
him to the residence of the Governor Cen
eral, where he was received by "a company
of soldiers and awarded comfortable
apartments. Here, also, many officials
and prominent citizens called and PAID
their respects to Mr.. Benjamin.
From Reshta journey Of two hundred
and twenty miles on horseback was I'M
dertaken in company with the mehman-
dar.
At Aga Bahia Mr.. Benjamin was met by
the Calantar or Mayor of Casbin, with at
tendants, who received him with the usual
Persian ceremony, and assured him that
the Governor of Casbin, who is brother
of the Shah, was DESTROYS of welcoming
HIM with distinction. This attention Mr..
BENJAMIN was forced to decline, OWING to
his fatigued condition having ridden about
one hundred and thirty miles, aud his de-
sire to reach Teheran before the Shah's
departure for the summer. At CaSDln,
the broad avenue leading to the hotel, the
hotel and the neighboring buildings were
gaIy decorated with streamers for the oc-
casiOn. From Casbin the party proceeded
to Teheran in carriages over nne car
riage road recently completed. A brilliant
pageant had been prepared outside OF the
walls of Teheran at one of the royal pa
valiOns. At the stairway of the pavilion
Mr.. Benjamin was met by the Nasr ell
Mulk, or General-in-Chief of the armies Of
Persia and a glittering crowd OF officers
blazing with blue, scarlet, silver and gold.
He was escorted to an audience hall by the
General-in-C Chief, where an exchange Of
cOurtesies was offered and accepted.
Next Mr.. Benjamin was taken to the
court below, and mounted upon line
horse to continue his travels. This was
the signal for every one to mount, and the
cortege of nearly 1000 royal guards was
put in motion. They were deliberately cos
TUNED.
AS the procession moved across the
plain toward the beautiful turreted gate of
the city, which is decorated with parti-
cOlOred glazed tiles, the COssacks dashed
hither and thither between the lines, firing
muskets in the air and exhibiting the
most brilliant feats of Craftsmanship.
The streets were lined with spectators,
and at intervals were stationed the police
or squads of military. Passing through
the grand square of the Department of
War, the cOrtege turned into the new or
European quarter of the city. On APP
preaching his quarters, Mr.. Benjamin was
told by an aid that three hundred soldiers
were marshalled at the entrance TO re-
ceiVe him. Mr.. Benjamin dismOunted,
returned their salute, and, accompanied
by the General-in-Chief and his staff, was
escorted to the reception room, where
further courtesies were shown and re-
freshments enjoyed. Mr.. Benjamin next
made an informal call on the Minister for
Foreign Affairs at his residence, accord
ing to the custom of the country.
On June 10 Mr.. Benjamin received a
call from the Grand Chamberlin, who is
the son-in-law of the Shah, and who in
formed Mr.. Benjamin that His Majesty
wanted to receive him at o'clock p. m.
on the 18th. Mr.. Benjamin was taken to
the palace in a landau furnished by His
Majesty and drawn by six horses,
each mounted by a liveried pOstilliOn.
Twenty royal feraushes, on foot runners,
clad in scarlet and wearing plumed
tiaras, preceded the carriage, with a
score of horsemen. Accompanied by the
mehmandar and the second master of sere-
monies, Mr.. Benjamin arrived at the gar
dens of the palace. All were ushered into
a spacious and handsome hall, where the
first master of ceremonies and other gen.
tlemen and dignitaries, gOrgeOusly ar
rayed, were in waiting. Here Mr.. Benja-
min was invited to seat of honor and
treated to ''tea and the kaliOnu, or water
pipe" Soon afterward Mr.. Benjamin was
told that His Majesty was i'll readiness to
receive him, and thereupOn he was con-
Quoted by the first master Of ceremonies
to the palace itself. At this moment
salute fired in honor of the United
States Numbered over the city. "On en-
tering," says Mr.. Benjamin, ''we as
cended a magnificent staircase. The
walls were decorated in part with paint
ings of European masters. From the
staircase we entered an audience hall of
vast proportion. His Majesty stood at
the upper end. Leaving my outer shoes
at the door, as prescribed by the treaty of
KOurmantchia, | made low bow and
walked up to where the King was
standing" Mr.. Benjamin then addressed
the King in French and presented his let
ter of credence. His Majesty replied that
it gave him great satisfaction to see an
American legation at Teheran, and con-
sdered that both governments could be
further benefited by increasing the inter-
course and diplomatic relations of the two
peoples. After this ceremony His Males
ty expressed strong hopes that the United
States, having established a legation in
Persia, should maintain one permanently
at Teheran.
At the conclusion of the audience with
His Majesty, Mr.. Benjamen made for
NAL call upon the Secretary of Foreign
Affairs and paid his respects; also to bis
Royal Highness, the Naib Sultan, who is
the Minister of War and one of the sons
of the King, and thanked him for the mil
itary escort.
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