THE VISIT OF THE GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS TO THE SULTAN.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2908, 11 June 1878, Page 2

THE VISIT OF THE GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS TO THE SULTAN.

The correspondent of the Daily News writes from Constantinople, under date of March 27, as follows :—

" On the occasion of the long-expected visit of the Gh-nd Duke Nicholas to the Sultan yesterday, in order to avoid the excitement which might be caused by a large number of Russian, officers riding through the sL'eetsjpf Stamboulanis?era, the Russians themselves" proposed that the Grand Duke and his followers should go by water to the Palace of Dolma Sag tcho on board the Livadia steam yacht belonging to the Empress, and that the Sultan should return the visit on board the Livad.n, or in any other way that might be considered advisable. To this the Turks finally consents i, but went beyond the Russian propositions in proposing to put the palace of Beylerbey, on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus, at the disposition of the Grand Duke in which to receive the return visit of the Sultan. The arrangement was finally agreed to two or three days ago, although it was kept very quiet. Everything here, however simple and natural, becomes such an occasion fer intrigue, that had it been known forty-eight hours in advance there are people here who would have moved heaven and earth to prevent the vis;.t. "The Grand Duke, with fift3jn or twenty, officers, went aboard the Livadia, while the rest, to the number of about sixty, embarked on board the Constantine, and were soon steaming up to the mouth of the Bosphorus. They hove-to just off the Palace of Dolma Bagtche, and a large steam launch of the Sultan's came off and took the Grand Duke and several generals ashore, the rest following partly in the boats of the Livadia and Constantine, partly in a second launch of the Sultan's. They landed at the marble steps of the palace, and were insianiy conducted into the reception room, where the SuLan entered at the same moment.

" The meeting between the Sultan and the Grand Duke was very cordial and friendly. They shook hands, inquired after each others health, and the usual polite speeches were made. Only fire or six generals were presented, however, the rest contenting themselves with looking on. It would have been rather too hard

on the Sultan to compel him to go through the ordeal of seventy or eighty people, whom he probably did not care to know, being presented to him. Coffee, sweets, and chibouks were served, and the Grand Duke had a long conversation with the Sultan, tho dragoman of the .Russian Embassy acting as interpreter, with only M. Nelidoff, Safvet Pasha, and Reouf Pasha present. The conversation lasted about three-quarters of an hour. Then the Grand Duke withdrew, and went on board the Livadia, which steamed up the Bosphorus about three miles, and hove to on the other side, off the Palace of Beylerbey. Here the Grand Duke awaitsd the visit of the SuHan, walking up and down, the marble platform in front of the Palace, chatting gaily with his officers, and possibly thinking of the time he used to walk about through the mud at Bogot, less than four months ago, hardly thinking he would be here so soon. It was a fine sunny day, and I never saw the i Bosphorus looking more beautiful with its hus&trreds of boats, ships, steamers, and caiques drifting lazily about as if there for no other purpose than to enjoy the warm, soft sunshine, and bask in the clear blue water that ripoled over the marble steps, and washc i tne base of the platform where the Grand Duke was walking.

■."In about half-an-hour the Sultan arrived in a steam launch, and was met at the steps by the Grand Duke, when they again shook hands. Another conversation of about balf-an-liour folio we i, of which nobody but those engaged heard anything. Then the Sultan withdrew. On getting into the launch he proposed that the Grand Dake should accompany him back again to the Palace of Dolma Bagtche, to which the Grand Duke consented,"and stepped into the launch accompanied only by the dragoman to act as interpreter. He went back to Dblma Bagtche, thus paying a second visit to the Sultan, which lasted about half-an-hour. "The whole affair was very friendly and cordial on both sides. The .Russians seem much pleased by the ..reception. The impression they derive from it is that the Turks do not want war with either England or Russia, or any other Power to go to war about them. All they want is peace. " The Grand Duke and part of his suite paid a* visit to Prince Reuss, and then went to the Russian Embassy. The two famous eagles over the gateway, that were tied up in oilcloth at the declaration of war, were uncovered amid the cheers of the crowd, and a large eagle on the roof, working on a hinge, that. had. been tilted back out of sight, was now tilted forward to its place, and thus bringing it to view again—an outward sign and token that the war is at an end, that the Bear and the Turkey are once more friends. Osman Pa*ha was present aid shook hands with the Grand Duke in a very friendly way. He greeted Skobeleff warmly, almost affectionately. JV either the French, German, nor Austrian military attaches were present at the reception at either palace, although invited."