TarkT11.—The girding on of the sword, which is the Turkish
sub- stitute for coronation, came off on July 4th, at the Mosque of Eyoub: The Sultan swept in his caique to the landing-place between two long lines of men-of-wars' boats, and was received by a crowd sup- posed to have numbered half a million, who welcomed him with a buzz of Oriental loyalty. At the landing-place the Sultan mounted, and amidst a splendid procession, rode slowly to the mosque, where, in a temple reared by Mahommed H. to commemorate one of the last of the Prophet's friends, the investiture was completed by gird- ing the Sultan with the sabre of Othman the Founder.
A second scrutiny (says an eye-witness) of Sultan Abdul Aziz's countenance, showed that he is not so handsome as the enthusiasm of his numberless admirers would have it. A pair of dark and stead- fast eyes are surmounted by a forehead of fair height and capacity. The nose is slightly aquiline, and the mouth and chin are expressive of considerable determination. The mouth, however, is larger and the lips are thicker than might be. Two deep vertical lines at the point where the nose and forehead join give more of thought to the head than it would otherwise possess. At present his Majebty wears no hair on his face except a flue black moustache; though, according to custom, his beard will doubtless be permitted to grOW now that he has ascended the throne. He is not inu.ch above the middle height, and is strongly built. As he sat on his horse, though there was nothing sinister in the expression of his face, he left the impression of a man with whom it Would be dangerous tes, trifle. He wore a dark blue coat, slightly ornasnented about the teller; and from the front of his fez, which was decorated with- brilliants, the beautiful and stately aigrette rose to a considerable height above his head. Altogether, he looked by no means an ordinary man, nor one unequal to govern a great empire.
The Sultan passed the European embassies without looking at them, and has informed M. de IJavalette that he will tolerate no interference between himself and his ministers, whereat M. de Lava-. lette protests against the English tendencies of the Sultan. The new monarch personally inspects all the departments round Con- stantinople.
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