In my host's house is a singular picture gallery,--a Persian one, which contains some very curious things. The portraits of the present Shah, and of his son Abbas, are the most interesting. The yellow dress of the former, covered with precious stones of every kind, and his enormous black beard, form a very characteristic picture of this Son of the Sky and of the Sun. _His_ son, however excels him in beauty of feature; but he is almost too simply dressed, and the pointed sheepskin cap is not becoming. The late Persian ambassador to England completes the trio. He was a very handsome man, and fell into European manners and customs with such ease, that the English speak of him as a perfect Lovelace. On his return home he proved himself nowise 'discret,' but compromised several English ladies of rank in a shameful manner. Some large dressed dolls gave a faithful idea of the fair sex in Persia, with long hair painted red or blue, arched and painted eyebrows, large languishing eyes of fire, pretty gauze pantaloons, and gold rings round the ankles. Lady O---- told us many amusing details of the Harem, which I reserve till we meet, that I may not exhaust all my resources. Many things in Persia seem to be very agreeable, many the very reverse; among them the scorpions and insects. These things we are free from in our temperate climates. Let us all therefore be contented in them; a wish which I cordially form for you and me. Your L----. LETTER XXI. _London, Dec. 16, 1827._ DEAR JULIA, After writing some verses in the W---- album, in which Arabian steeds, Timour's magnificence, Cecil, Elizabeth, and the fair beauties of Teheran, met in agreeable confusion, I took leave of my kind hosts, and returned to London. The same evening L---- took me to a singular exhibition.