THE EMPRESS AND THE SULTAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 287, 1 August 1855, Page 3

THE EMPRESS AND THE SULTAN.

A letter from Constantinople, in the Courier de Marseilles says :—" Considerable sensation continued to be produced here by the anticipated arrival of the - Emperor and Empress of the French. Every preparation is being made to give them a magnificent reception. As some of the details of the ceremonial which is to follow the arrival of their Majesties, should they think fit to visit us, are in discord with old Mussulman usages, and with the religious precepts of the Koran, such for instance as the Sultan shewing ghimself in public, giving his arm to a lady, and particularly to a Christian, his Majesty submitted the question to his Council of Ministers, and the latter after due deliberation, have regulated the ceremonial as follows— The Grand Vizir, Rescind Pacha, will go to the Dardanelles and there await the arrival of the Emperor and Empress. The Sultan will embark on board a Turkish steam-frigate and go and meet their Majesties at Gallipoli. On arriving there, their Majesties will land on the quay of the palace of Balta Lima, which, has been selected for their residence. The Sultan will give his arm to the Empress and lead her as far as the door of the apartment appropriated to the ladies, which in the Turkish language bears the name of the Hamerlik. There he will present her to the first Sultana —there are seven Sultanas who take rank according to the order of birth of the children 'they have borne to the sovereign. The first Sultana will have her face uncovered ; will be very richly dressed for the occasion ; and will be attended by all her ladies in full dress, as well as by four young ladies chosen from amongst the first Armenian families, and who can speak French and Turkish. These latter will remain at the disposal of the Empress as ladies of honour and interpreters. The Quay, as far as the staircases, will be covered with rich carpets. The Sultan will then repair with the Emperor Napoleon ■ into another apartment, where all the great bodies and dignitaries of the state will be presented. The Turkish, French, and English troops will be drawn up on either side of the passage of the Imperial cortege, and salvos of artillery "will be fired from the batteries, and from the vessels in the roadstead. [.Magnificent presents in diamonds and brilliants have been prepared for the Empress, and also a lady's saddle ornamented witli precious stones. The Empress will, it is said, remain here while the Emperor, and probably the Sultan, proceed to Sehastopol.