As the procession leaves the Seraglio at sunrise, we rose with the first streak of dawn, descended to Tophaneh, and crossed to Seraglio Point, where the cavass of the Embassy was in waiting for us.  He conducted us through the guards, into the garden of the Seraglio, and up the hill to the Palace.  The Capudan Pasha, or Lord High Admiral, had just arrived in a splendid caique, and pranced up the hill before us on a magnificent stallion, whose trappings blazed with jewels and gold lace.  The rich uniforms of the different officers of the army and marine glittered far and near under the dense shadows of the cypress trees, and down the dark alleys where the morning twilight had not penetrated.  We were ushered into the great outer court-yard of the Seraglio, leading to the Sublime Porte.  A double row of marines, in scarlet jackets and white trowsers, extended from one gate to the other, and a very excellent brass band played “Suoni la tromba” with much spirit.  The groups of Pashas and other officers of high rank, with their attendants, gave the scene a brilliant character of festivity.  The costumes, except those of the secretaries and servants, were after the European model, but covered with a lavish profusion of gold lace.  The horses were all of the choicest Eastern breeds, and the broad housings of their saddles of blue, green, purple, and crimson cloth, were enriched with gold lace, rubies, emeralds and turquoises.

The cavass took us into a chamber near the gate, and commanding a view of the whole court.  There we found Mr. Brown and his lady, with several officers from the U.S. steamer San Jacinto.  At this moment the sun, appearing above the hill of Bulgaria, behind Scutari, threw his earliest rays upon the gilded pinnacles of the Seraglio.  The commotion in the long court-yard below increased.  The marines were formed into exact line, the horses of the officers clattered on the rough pavement as they dashed about to expedite the arrangements, the crowd pressed closer to the line of the procession, and in five minutes the grand pageant was set in motion.  As the first Pasha made his appearance under the dark archway of the interior gate, the band struck up the Marseillaise (which is a favorite air among the Turks), and the soldiers presented arms.  The court-yard was near two hundred yards long, and the line of Pashas, each surrounded with the officers of his staff, made a most dazzling show.  The lowest in rank came first.  I cannot recollect the precise order, nor the names of all of them, which, in fact, are of little consequence, while power and place are such uncertain matters in Turkey.