he said aigrette and pelisse."

These presents were conveyed, under the care of Mahomet Kelim, an
Effendi, or secretary of state, in a Turkish frigate, to Alexandria;
from whence, on finding the hero had departed for Naples, the Effendi,
and his suite, immediately followed, in the Alcmene frigate. The Turkish
secretary, and his twelve associates, on their arrival, performed their
parts with suitable solemnity and address. They put on their state robes
in the hero's anti-chamber; and presented the aigrette, seated on
cushions, after the oriental method. The pelisse was composed of the
finest scarlet cloth, lined and enriched with the most beautiful sable
fur imaginable. The aigrette, which is a sort of artificial plume, or
feather, represents a hand with thirteen fingers, covered with diamonds;
allusive to the thirteen ships taken and destroyed by the hero: and it's
size is that of a child's hand, at the age of five or six years, when
open. The centre diamond, and the four by which it is surrounded, are
estimated at a thousand pounds each, and there are said to be at least
three hundred diamonds of smaller sizes. This immensely rich and
beautiful jewel is more particularly described in the following extract
of a letter, said to have been written by the Grand Signior himself. In
this letter, it it called, a chelengk, or plume of triumph: such as has
been, on every famous and memorable success of the Ottoman arms,
conferred on victorious Mussulmen, Seraskiers--"never, before, I
believe," says the imperial writer, "on any disbeliever--as the _ne plus
ultra_ of personal honour, separate from official dignity. The present
is esteemed rich in it's kind; being a blaze of brilliants, crowned with
a vibrating plumage, and a radiant star in the middle, turning on it's
centre, by means of watch-work which winds up behind. This badge,
actually taken from one of the imperial turbans, can hardly, according
to the idea of such insignia here"--(the letter was dated, at
Constantinople, October 3, 1798)--"be considered as less than equivalent
to the first order of chivalry in Christendom: such, at least,"
concludes the imperial donor, "was my view in the indication."

By these remarks, added to the verbal communications of Mahomet Kelim,
at the time of investiture, Lord Nelson was led to consider this honour
as the Ottoman Order of Merit. It could, certainly, be nothing less; and
the civilized world has to felicitate itself on the brillia