“It is but lately that, by a written communication, it has already been made known, how much the Sublime Porte rejoiced at the first advice received of the English squadron’s having defeated that of the French, off Alexandria, in Egypt.  By recent accounts, however, comprehending a specific detail of the action, it appears now more positive, that his Britannic majesty’s fleet has actually destroyed, by that action, the best ships the French had in their possession.  This joyful event, therefore, laying this empire under an obligation, and the service rendered by our much-esteemed friend, Admiral Nelson, on this occasion, being of a nature to call for public acknowledgment, his imperial majesty, the powerful, formidable, and most magnificent Grand Signior, has destined as a present, in his imperial name, to the said admiral, a diamond aigrette, and a sable fur with broad sleeves; besides two thousand sequins, to be distributed among the wounded of his crew:  and, as the English minister is constantly zealous to contribute, by his endeavours, to the increase of friendship between the two courts, it is hoped that he will not fail to make known this circumstance to his court; and to solicit the permission of the most powerful and august King of England, for the said admiral to put on, and wear, the said aigrette and pelisse.”

These presents were conveyed, under the care of Mahomet Kelim, an Effendi, or secretary of state, in a Turkish frigate, to Alexandria; from whence, on finding the hero had departed for Naples, the Effendi, and his suite, immediately followed, in the Alcmene frigate.  The Turkish secretary, and his twelve associates, on their arrival, performed their parts with suitable solemnity and address.  They put on their state robes in the hero’s anti-chamber; and presented the aigrette, seated on cushions, after the oriental method.  The pelisse was composed of the finest scarlet cloth, lined and enriched with the most beautiful sable fur imaginable.  The aigrette, which is a sort of artificial plume, or feather, represents a hand with thirteen fingers, covered with diamonds; allusive to the thirteen ships taken and destroyed by the hero:  and it’s size is that of a child’s hand, at the age of five or six years, when open.  The centre diamond, and the four by which it is surrounded, are estimated at a thousand pounds each, and there are said to be at least three hundred diamonds of smaller sizes.  This immensely rich and beautiful jewel is more particularly described in the following extract of a letter, said to have been written by the Grand Signior himself.  In this letter, it it called, a chelengk, or plume of triumph:  such as has been, on every famous and memorable success of the Ottoman arms, conferred on victorious Mussulmen, Seraskiers—­“never, before, I believe,” says the imperial writer, “on any disbeliever—­as the ne plus ultra of personal honour, separate from official dignity.  The present is esteemed rich in it’s