happiness, and drew also the immeasurable lines of his consistency, by sending down the rays of his almighty power, appeared in great splendour. Now our direct intention and will is, and we have in the centre of our well-inclined heart determined that he who stays under the shade of this eternal state, and who with persevering exertion ascends the steps of zeal in this our state, shall be promoted to further honours, and be dignified by the grant of an act of our gracious benevolence. From the motion of our sovereign grace, we do convey to him our farther honourable distinction, that the most high titled, high sounding, the most illustrious from his station, the most wise, the constant, the all penetrating, the brave, the confident, arrived at our just court by particular desire, the high praised, the high standing, the wise, the particularly wise selection of illustrious Christendom, who, like a circle in the service of both high states, holds the head of obedience on the earth of submission-we will to distinguish him with greater honour, and confer upon him the order of the Lion and Sun,' with diamonds, which insignia distinguish faithful servants in Persia, in order that he may diligently apply himself to the service of both states, and manifest still greater zeal in cementing their friendly agreement.

"It is hereby ordered that the high praised, esteemed, and happy journalists of my blessed chancery do register and acknowledge the grant of this order. Written in the month Hegira." Undersigned by seven or eight ministers.

The only titles in Persia are Khans and Meerzas. The former is not hereditary; the latter, if following the name, means Prince, as "Abbas Meerza;" if preceding the name, as "Meerza Abbas," it means a writer or secretary. The surname is not used in Persia.

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CHAPTER VII.

THE "BAGY SEFFRE."

THIS " Garden of Delight," is situated about one"fursek," or an hour from Tabreez; it was the once favourite residence of Abbas Meerza, and is certainly the most respectable thing of the kind I have seen in Persia. The sort of mineral ground which we go over to reach this country palace, is denuded of any thing like vegetation; it was vomited up as it were in hasty confusion during a tremendous earthquake in 1559, when half of the city of Tabreez was engulfed. The earth yawned; mosques, bazaars, and people were hurried into one grave; and the ruined monuments

remain a memorial of the catastrophe. That of Sultan Kazan mosque is the finest ruin.

Half-buried columns, and mounds of rubbish, extend nearly three miles around the modern city. Only a fragment remains of the mosque Mesj-Ali, which stands at the corner of the ark or citadel, bearing a few coloured tiles, and Koran inscriptions, to witness to its former splendour. This, which is now the boundary, was once the centre of the great city, and further remains of streets and houses are to be traced in many directions.

But the most remarkable remains are immense blocks of black granite, some of them having rams' heads and sphynxs, and other hieroglyphics carved on them; others, quite flat, bear long inscriptions. These blocks lay about in the utmost confusion, and half buried in the ground, as they were left by the earthquake; for nothing seems to have been done to level the surface in the immediate neighbourhood of Tabreez since this awful calamity. I have been assured that these blocks of granite bear date long previous to the Mahomedan era; sure I am that their inscriptions would puzzle even an Oldbuck himself.

There is no country perhaps where earthquakes are more frequent than in Persia. In the hot seasons the shocks may be said to be almost daily, and I have been told by Ferengees, long residing there, that they have often stood at the window ready to jump out when the house may be tumbling about them. Hence their buildings are partly subterranean, and all of mud, the least likely to crack.

On the day of my arrival, and while smoking my first pipe of repose, I noticed the china basins knocking against each other. "Oh! it is only an earthquake; nothing when you are used to it,”was the reply to my enquiry as to the cause.

The way over this denuded ground was varied by gardens and villages, richly watered, and the largest streams having generally poplar plantations, the green foliage of which is a great relief to the amid the sunburnt walls and monotonous mud eye regions. At length arriving at a very respectable pile of building, this was announced to me as the Bagy Seffre."

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Various terraces at the entrance contained baths and other subterranean buildings, which were intricate and decaying. I traversed many of them,

and bounding up the steps, it was very refreshing to look over the walls, if only to take a peep into the "garden of delight," redolent as it appeared to be of fruits and flowers of every sort. But peeping over the walls will not do for me; so I moved on to the principal entrance, and thundering at the gateway, sought for admission into this seeming Eden of delights. "Sabre Koon,"—" Stop," said my attendant, "although the prince is absent, yet I believe his harem are there; if so, you cannot be admitted." Fortunately, they had all taken flight the previous day, so I ran up the terrace, snuffing in the flowery sweets, which in great abundance were "wasting their fragrance on the desert air." Here was

“Laburnum rich in streaming gold, syringa ivory pure,
The scented and the scentless rose,"

and I know not what besides. The trellised vinery hung over the paths, rich in offerings of white and purple fruit, the abundance of which almost impeded my way.

There is a formality in the style of the Persian gardens rather inconsistent with our English taste, and any thing but true to nature; formal walks,