one: an honour to my grey hairs; which, with every mark of old
age, creep fast upon me."

While these various honours and gifts were preparing for the hero, in
his native country, foreign nations, not less sensible of his worth, and
in some instances scarcely less benefitted by his exertions and valour,
were emulously pouring, with a laudable profusion, their richest
presents before him, and investing him with their most distinguished
dignities.

On the 8th of September, immediately after receiving information of the
battle off the Nile, the Grand Signior directed a most superb diamond
aigrette--called, by the Turks, a chelengk, or plume of triumph--taken
from one of the imperial turbans, to be sent for our victorious admiral,
with a rich pelisse of the choicest sable fur; and a purse of two
thousand sequins, in cash, to be distributed among the wounded British
seamen. A note, at the same time, was delivered to Mr. Spencer Smith,
his majesty's minister at Constantinople, of which the following is
given as a correct translation.

"It is but lately that, by a written communication, it has already
been made known, how much the Sublime Porte rejoiced at the first
advice received of the English squadron's having defeated that of
the French, off Alexandria, in Egypt. By recent accounts, however,
comprehending a specific detail of the action, it appears now more
positive, that his Britannic majesty's fleet has actually
destroyed, by that action, the best ships the French had in their
possession. This joyful event, therefore, laying this empire under
an obligation, and the service rendered by our much-esteemed
friend, Admiral Nelson, on this occasion, being of a nature to call
for public acknowledgment, his imperial majesty, the powerful,
formidable, and most magnificent Grand Signior, has destined as a
present, in his imperial name, to the said admiral, a diamond
aigrette, and a sable fur with broad sleeves; besides two thousand
sequins, to be distributed among the wounded of his crew: and, as
the English minister is constantly zealous to contribute, by his
endeavours, to the increase of friendship between the two courts,
it is hoped that he will not fail to make known this circumstance
to his court; and to solicit the permission of the most powerful
and august King of England, for the said admiral to put on, and
wear, t