A letter of introduction from Sir W. Ball procured us much kindness and attention from our ambassador, Mr Adair, with whom we dined, and in the evening visited the Swedish Minister, Mr Pallen, who is considered the first Antiquarian in the Levant. We witnessed the departure of about 30,000 men on their way towards the Danube to meet the Russians: they were variously dressed and armed, and appeared to be without discipline. The Grand Vizier marched with them.

July 26th.—We attended Mr Adair to an interview with the representative of the Grand Vizier. It was curious to observe the luxuries of a Grand Turk: as he reclined on his couch, no less than four clean napkins exquisitely worked in gold lace were separately thrown over his knees in the space of a minute—for, if he did but touch one, another was immediately presented. He took a small quantity of coffee—when a slave on one knee offered a vase of burning aloe root, the fumes of which his Grace gently wafted towards his silvery beard. Our ambassador exchanged papers with him, and was allowed to sit in his presence.