|
To His Excellency, the Admiral and Minister
of the Navy and the Colonies
Paris
Constantinople, 19th October, 1869
Dear Minister,
Since the dispatch which I had the honour of sending Your Excellency
on 14th of this month, informing you of the arrival of the Aigle
in Constantinople and of the reception for the Empress which was
full of enthusiasm, Her Majesty has visited the main monuments
of the town and the most noteworthy sites on the Bosphorus.
On 15th, she went on an excursion to the Beikos Valley with the
Sultan, where there was a review for which 25,000 men were united
from all the regiments.
Following this review, His Highness Abdul-Aziz gave a dinner and
in the evening, when the yacht carrying Their Majesties and their
retinues returned to Constantinople, the two banks of the Bosphorus
were beautifully lit along their whole length.
At midday on 26th October, the Empress went to Mass at the Armenian
church of Pera. An immense crowd had gathered along her path and
gave a most kind and warm welcome, as in fact they have done everywhere
she has been.
After Mass, the Empress went to the French Embassy where she received
the nobles of the French colony.
In the evening of the same day, she went to a dinner at the Dolma
Bagtche Palace held by the Sultan, to which all members of the
diplomatic corps were invited.
The Ottoman government used Oriental luxury in every circumstance
and, to prove the importance attached to the Empress’s visit,
used all the most heartfelt entreaties to make Her Majesty delay
her departure to Egypt by a day.
So it was that the Aigle only left for Alexandria at about 10
o’clock this morning.
The Forbin appeared at the same time and escorted the yacht a
certain distance out of Constantinople. Following Your Excellency’s
wishes, the corvette will now go directly to Alexandria.
Despite the fatigue the Empress must feel after such full days,
she continues to enjoy excellent health. Moreover, she appears
to get great pleasure from her voyage in the Orient and never
misses a chance to include the general staff of her yacht in the
festivities held in her honour.
As far as I myself am concerned, as soon as Her Majesty arrived
in Constantinople, she told me that I should carry out the same
duties under her as General Douay.
I therefore had to leave the ship temporarily to go to the Beylerbey
Palace. I will also have the honour of accompanying Her Majesty
during her voyage in Upper Egypt.
I remain, Sir, your most devoted servant,
|
