BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. . 301
the Ambassador, at this period, is from the pen of Lord Radstock, in a letter
addressed to a lady of high rank :-
“Aboul Hassan is in person above the common stature ; and this is in no small degree
increased by a high cap covered with a shawl, and heels a full inch and a half high. He is about
thirty-five years of age. His features are perfectly regular ; his eyes have a peculiar softness in
them, though sometimes animated to the highest degree ; his nose aquiline ; his teeth the most
regular and beautiful imaginable ; and his profile as fine as the pencil could trace. His countenance
is open and full of candour ; and, when in its natural state, is no less mild and dignified.
When conversing and highly pleased, it has a sweetness that nothing can exceed ; and when
animated by argument, it bespeaks a soul replete with energy, and a depth of understanding
rarely to be met with. His manners are truly captivating, graceful, and as engaging as can be
conceived, whilst, at the same time, they are such as ever to command respect, and remind ewii
his very intimates that he is the representative of a great monarch. I have visited the Ambassador
every day since his arrival, excepting one, when in the evening he told Mr. James
Morier that ‘his heart was sick, as he had not seen his friend Lord Radstock during the whole
day.’ * * A few days ago he gave us a grand dinner, at which were present Lord
Winchilsea, Lord Teignmouth, General Grenville, Sir Gore Ouseley, Mr. Vaughan, and four or
five others. Sir Gore Ouseley sat at the head of the table and the Mirza on his left, it being the
side near the fire, Nothing could surpass the grace and ease with which he did the honours of
the entertainment. * * * * He drank but one glass of wine at dinner, and none after,
although he acknowledged he liked wine ; and we kept our seats little short of three hours.
This act of his forbearance and abstinency, from religious motives, might have served as a lesson
to his Christian guests ; but here candour bids me own, they seemed by no means inclined to
follow so excellent an example, though certainly nothing like excess was committed. * * *
When the conversation was serious, the Mirza’s attention, questions, and replies, alike bespoke
a refined and superior Understanding ; and when jocose, he displayed his perfect knowledge of
repartee, and was all life and merriment, * * I accompanied his Excellency the other
night to the opera for the second time. The Ambassador was received at the King’s door, and
with the same ceremony as if he had been of the blood royal. This marked attention pleased
him much ; and he expressed his gratitude with seeming warmth. He appeared to be but little
struck with the beauty or grandeur of the Theatre ; and, to my surprise, held the dancing very
iheap. He laughed heartily at the folly of bringing forward Peter the Great and his Empress as
dancing to divert the throng. ‘What !’ exclaimed he, ‘is it possible that a mighty monarch
and his queen should expose themselves thus 2 how absurd ! how out of nature ! how perfectly
ridiculous ! ’ Soon after, he jokingly said, ‘ When I get back to my own country, and the King
shall ask me, What did the English do to divert you 0 I will answer, Sire, they brought before
me your Majesty’s great enemies, the Emperor and Empress of Russia, and made them dance for
my amusement ! ’ This he repeated with the highest glee, aa if conscious of saying a witty thing.
At the end of the comic opera, at which he often laughed heartily, I asked him
which he liked hest, the serious or the comic opera? Without a moment’s hesitation he replied,
‘ The serious, when I am inclined to cry ; and the comic, when I am inclined to laugh.’
“ I forgot to mention a laughable observation made the other night during the grand ballet.
He asked Sir G. Ouseley what the Empress was going to do with the great chest and the casket
which her slaves were carrying ? Sir G. Ouseley replied, that she waa going to endeavour to bribe
the Pasha to sign a truce and withdraw his troops. ‘ Is that it !’ cries the Mirza, ‘then I’ll
answer for her success ; for those fellows, the Turks, would even sell their father could they
gain a piastre by it.’ He appears to despise and detest the Turks. He told the Tnrkirrh
Ambassador the other morning, when I was present, that he would carry him to the Opera,
where he should first see the Grand Vizer dance and then sell his counw. The stupid Turk
bowed, and seemed thankful, receiving the speech as a compliment. The mind of the.
Ambassador seems to be ever on the stretch, and illled with interesting and important objects
only. His mission is consequently the primary one ; his next is the attainment of useful knowledge.
His questions and answera are endless, when food for an inquisitive mind presents it.vel$ ;
but they am ever to the purpose, scarcely anything frivolous eseapea him, though at times,
particularly at table, no one seems to enjoy pleasantq more, even to playfulness. The
objects which hitherto seem to have made the strongest impressions on the .hfirza’s mind, are
* * * *