had
five rings on her fingers (except Mr Pitt's) the largest I ever saw
in my life. 'Tis for jewellers to compute the value of these things;
but, according to the common estimation of jewels, in our part of the
world, her whole dress must be worth a hundred thousand pounds
sterling. This I am sure of, that no European queen has half the
quantity; and the empress's jewels, though very fine would look very
mean near her's. She gave me a dinner of fifty dishes of meat, which
(after their fashion) were placed on the table but one at a time, and
was extremely tedious. But the magnificence of her table answered
very well to that of her dress. The knives were of gold, and the
hafts set with diamonds. But the piece of luxury which grieved my
eyes, was the table-cloth and napkins, which were all tiffany,
embroidered with silk and gold, in the finest manner, in natural
flowers. It was with the utmost regret that I made use of these
costly napkins, which were as finely wrought as the finest
handkerchiefs that ever came out of this country. You may be sure,
that they were entirely spoiled before dinner was over. The sherbet
(which is the liquor they drink at meals) was served in china bowls;
but the covers and salvers massy gold. After dinner, water was
brought in gold basons, and towels of the same kind with the napkins,
which I very unwillingly wiped my hands upon, and coffee was served
in china, with gold _soucoups_ [Footnote: Saucers.]

THE sultana seemed in a very good humour, and talked to me with the
utmost civility. I did not omit this opportunity of learning all
that I possibly could of the seraglio, which is so entirely unknown
amongst us. She assured me, that the story of the sultan's _throwing
a handkerchief_, is altogether fabulous; and the manner, upon that
occasion, no other than this: He sends the _kyslir aga_, to signify
to the lady the honour he intends her. She is immediately
complimented upon it, by the others, and led to the bath, where she
is perfumed and dressed in the most magnificent and becoming manner.
The emperor precedes his visit by a royal present, and then comes
into her apartment: neither is there any such thing as her creeping
in at the bed's foot. She said, that the first he made choice of was
always after the first in rank, and not the mother of the eldest son,
as other writers would make us believe. Sometimes the sultan diverts
himself in the company of all his ladies, who stand