I have exceeded the bounds of moderation in this letter already, and must therefore postpone my introduction till my next.

LETTER XI.

Imperial Review of eighty thousand Cavalry—­The Palace—­Introduction to the Emperor—­Visit the Seraglio—­Beauty of the Sultana—­Her Indisposition—­Her Influence over the Emperor—­His Person described.

Fez, ——­ 1806.

Late in the evening of the day of my arrival, I was visited at my house by an officer, who informed me that his royal master would review his troops the following morning, and that, if I chose to be present, I must repair to the palace precisely at four o’clock.

I was there exactly at the time, and in a few minutes the Emperor appeared, mounted on a beautiful white horse, attended by an officer of state, holding over him a large damask umbrella, most elegantly embroidered, and followed by all his great officers, body-guards, and a numerous band of music.  He was greeted with huzzas in the Moorish style by the populace, and received at all the gates and avenues of the town with a general discharge of artillery and small arms, the people falling upon their knees in the dust as he passed.  The streets were covered with mats, and the road, as far as the plain where the troops were drawn out, was strewed with all kinds of flowers.

The army was formed into a regular street of three deep on each side, each corps distinguished by a standard; it extended to a great length, through the immense plain of Fez, and presented a grand military spectacle.  There were not less than eighty thousand cavalry.  This review was finished in six hours, and His Imperial Majesty was so much pleased with the steady, orderly, and soldierlike appearance of his troops, that he commanded a horse to be given to each of the officers, and an additional suit of clothes and six ducats more than is customary to the men.  No other exercise was performed on this occasion, than charging, firing off their pieces, and priming and loading at full gallop, by alternate divisions.  Thus an incessant fire was kept up during the day.

The ground being perfectly level and good, no accident occurred.  The dress of the Moorish army differs very little from that of the people.  The officers are distinguished by their turbans, from the privates, who wear red caps.  They are considered most excellent horsemen, and appeared to be supplied with very fine young horses, and well appointed.  I can say but little of the infantry and artillery of His Imperial Majesty, not having had an opportunity of seeing them assemble in any sort of exercise.  The cavalry are unquestionably most capital marksmen, and very capable of annoying and harassing and checking the progress of an invading army.  The men are stout, strong, and robust, accustomed to a continual state of warfare, and, from their simple and moderate manner of living, fully adequate to sustain the fatigues and privations of the most arduous campaign.