the former king, with whose subjects he had had communications; and when he was told that the same king was still reigning, he exclaimed, “The French have told lies in that also "" (for they had spread the report that the King of England was dead.)

The envoy was then conducted to a gilt and painted chair placed for him, an honour never paid before to any mission. I stood on his right, Jaffer Ali Khan on his left, Mirza Sheffeea (the prime minister) next to me, HAJEE MAHOMED HOSSEIN KHAN, the AMEENEDDOULAH, and MIRZA REZA KOOLI (another of the ministers) succeeded, and the Master of the Ceremonies closed the line ; the other gentlemen stood in a row behind. The king informed the envoy that the choice which his brother, the King of England, had made of him as a minister in Persia was agreeable and acceptable to him ; he then inquired about the envoy's journey, and asked some very familiar and affable questions. The gentlemen of the mission were then separately introduced by their names and situations; the king said, Khosh Amedeed, and we made very low bows.

We returned with nearly the same ceremonies as we entered the palace, except that in the outer court the envoy was further honoured with a salute from three pieces of cannon.

A FRENCH ROYAL VISIT.

Their Imperial Highnesses the Emperor and Empress of the French arrived at Dover, on a visit to the Queen and Prince Consort, in the month of April, 1855, from France, in the Pelican, a little screw steamer. This vessel carried at the fore the English flag, while the Imperial Standard waved at the mainmast, and the tricolour was carried from the flagstaff on the poop.

On her arrival, the bands struck up “Partant pour la Syrie.” The Emperor and the Prince Consort saluted each other, the troops presented arms, and from the boats in the harbour and the multitudes on the shores, cheers of a genuine English welcome resounded. The Emperor wore the uniform of a General of Division; the Empress, who stood by his side and gracefully acknowledged the salutations from the shore, a straw bonnet and grey cloak, underneath which the colours of a tartan dress could be distinguished. The Pelican, having been brought alongside the pier, a gangway was immediately run out. As soon as it had been adjusted, his Royal Highness took his station at the top of it. Thereupon the Emperor and Empress immediately disembarked, the former shaking hands with the Prince in a most cordial manner, and the ladies curtseyed most gracefully. The Emperor then received the respectful congratulations of the Mayor and Councillors of Dover, to whom he addressed a brief and suitable reply.

As soon as the ceremonial observances connected with the landing were over, the Prince Consort and his illustrious visitors proceeded without delay to the Lord Warden Hotel, the Empress leaning on the arm of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, and the Emperor walked by their side, the suite forming a sort of procession after them. Arriving at the hotel, the august party immediately partook of luncheon, after which the Emperor and Empress received, in one of the saloons, the Mayor and Corporation of Dover who presented them with a congratulatory address.

The Mayor and Corporation having withdrawn, his Royal Highness Prince Albert at once conducted his guests to the railway station, from whence they proceeded to Windsor.

Their Imperial Highnesses and the Prince Consort arrived at the Castle at seven o'clock, alighting at the Grand Hall, where the Queen, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Leiningen, received her illus. trious guests.

The Queen taking the arm of the Emperor, and the Empress that of Prince Albert, followed by the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Leiningen, proceeded to the reception-room, where the ladies and gentlemen of the Household of the Queen and Prince were presented to their Imperial Highnesses, who, in return, presented their suites to Her Majesty and His Royal Highness the Prince Consort.

PRESENTATION OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER.

The Emperor and Empress arrived at Windsor on Tuesday, April 16th, and on the Thursday following the Queen held a Chapter of the Order of the Garter in Windsor Castle, for the purpose of presenting His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the French with the ensigns of this most noble Order. The following account of the ceremonial is well worthy of preservation, and is most applicable to the occasion.

Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Albert were conducted by the great officers of State to the Throne-room, followed by the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Leiningen. The Queen and their Royal and Serene Highnesses wore the purple velvet mantle, the crimson velvet hood, and the splendid collar of the Order. The train of Her

Majesty, the Sovereign of the Order, was borne by the Pages of Honour in Waiting; the Queen also wore a diamond diadem.

The names of the Knight Companions were called over by Garter King-at-Arms, and answered in order of seniority.

The Knights appeared in the mantle and collar of the Garter, and the officers wore their respective robes with the chains and badges.

The Knight Companions and officers entered the Throne-room and took their seats at the table, the Queen being seated in a chair of state at the head, and a second (vacant) chair of state at the right hand of her Majesty.

The Prelate of the Order stood on the right hand of Her Majesty, the Lord Chancellor on the left, while the Registrar, Garter, and Black Rod remained standing at the foot of the table.

The ceremony commenced by the Chancellor reading a new statute, by command of the Queen, dispensig with the existing statutes of the Order of the Garter, in as far as was required for the special purpose mentioned therein, and ordaining and declaring that his Imperial Majesty Napoleon III. be declared a Knight of this Order, any statute, decree, rule, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding. The