BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 303
During his travels he had been an attentive observer, and kept a journal to
which, on his return, he gave the title of the “Wonderful Book ;” wherein were
recorded his opinions on whatever he imagined might be curious or instructive
to his countrymen.
Thus recommended by his talents, and especially for his knowledge of Indian
affairs, seconded by the influence of an uncle, who then held the office of Minister
of Finance, Aboul Hassan was chosen for the important mission to Britain
already mentioned. After a stay of nearly seven months his Excellency quitted
England, accompanied by Sir G. Ouseley, as minister at the Court of Persia.
On the passage the vessel touched at Rio Janeiro, and his Excellency had thus,
for the first time, an opportunity of seeing the New World, On his arrival in
<Persia he was honoured with the title of Khan, and every mark of confidence
was shown him by the King. In 1813 he was employed to conclude a peace
with Russia ; and immediately proceeding to St. Petersburgh, remained there
upwards of three years.
The
embassy bn this occasion appeared to be more for the purpose of cultivating
friendly relations generally, than for the attainment of any specific object.
Besides innumerable other presents from the King, the Ambassador had with
him sixteen of the finest horses in the Persian dominions as a compliment to
the Prince Regent. These, under the charge of the King’s head groom, arrived
in London some time prior to the Ambassador, who, coming by France, remained
in Paris much longer than he intended, being greatly captivated with the gaiety
of the French capital.’
On this side the channel public curiosity was excited by the frequent and
sometimes extravagant announcements in the Parisian journals. mie beauty
of the “ Fair Circassian,” by whom he was accompanied, was so much extolled
that, “ like another Ellen,” she had almost “ fired another Troy.” ‘‘ The beautiful
Circassian,” says one of the journals, “has been so closely confined that not a
single person has been able to obtain a sight of her, though thousands crowd
daily round her hotel, in the vain hope of a glimpse.” The Gazette de Fraw
was more minute in its details :-“ Exiled to her chamber, inaccessible to all
the world, she dares not even appear at her window without being covered
with a large veil j and she is not relieved from this restraint except when her
master is out with his people. She then walks about in her apartment without
meeting any one save the females of the hotel, or the two persons charged to
watch her. If she chance to meet the females she becomes quite joyous with
spirits-she plays with them-romps with them ; but on the least noise she
disappears and shuts herself up in her cabinet. Some ladies, among them Lady
Somerset, solicited the Ambassador to permit the interesting stranger to pass
an evening at their houses j but their entreaties were all to no purpose.”
The fair prisoner thus became an object of intense interest, and her arrival
in London was looked for with impatience. At length it was announced that
At one of the balls given in honour of him, be was heard to say, in an under tonu, “This
world is the prison of the true believer, but the paradise of the infidel ! ”
The next visit of Aboul Hassan to Great Britain occurred in 1819.