The king passes some hours of every day in the seraglio, or ladies' apartments. If the character of my little work permitted, I could here give the rein to my imagination, and create scenes, which however unreal might still please and interest many of my readers. I could paint Circassians and Georgians of surpassing beauty--clothe them in robes and jewels of unparalleled splendour--give to some the fond but unavailing regrets of past but not unforgotten early attachments--and to others the pangs of jealousy, and a torturing sense of love changed for neglect. I could devise well-planned intrigues, hair-breadth escapes, and hint at murders committed, where no eye could see, and no tongue could tell the tale of horror; but all these exciting subjects are forbidden me, by a stupid rule I have laid down, which compels me, in all that I personally relate, to limit myself to facts. From what I have heard of the seraglio of the King of Persia, many forms observed in it are the same as in the outer apartments. The king, like all good Mahomedans, rises early, as the first prayer must be said at dawn of day; he is aided in his toilet by female attendants. After he is dressed he holds a levee, at which more than three hundred ladies of different ranks are present: each, according to her rank or favour, standing nearer or farther from the throne. Two only, I am informed, have the privilege of being seated-the mother of the heir-apparent, and the daughter of Ibrahim Khan of Sheesha. There are in the seraglio female officers of every description. A Lady of Requests, a Lady of the Ceremonies, and my Lady Chief Constable. One duty of the first is to introduce the young strangers to the notice of their lord and sovereign; the second marshals all in their station, according to their dignity or consideration; and the third is armed with an authority which, if fame speaks true, is not unfrequently called into action. The influence of many of the ladies is very great. The mothers of the princes who are employed in distant provinces usually accompany their sons, and contrive, by intrigue, to preserve that power which their charms once gave them: almost all these pay the king annual visits. There are bands of singers and dancers, drolls and mimics, within the walls of the inner apartments, who contribute both to his majesty's amusement and that of his ladies. There are also females who traffic in different wares, and many of these have the privilege of going out and coming in at pleasure.