to a tribe that had long been in revolt against the Persian Government, the chief of which had, on a previous occasion, some years previous to my arrival, been indebted to the good offices of the British Mission. This chief, having been lately on a marauding expedition near Kermanshah, had intercepted a courier of the Sadrazem's, riding in all haste to that city. The Kurds, who had hoped that he was a bearer of some treasure, were disappointed at finding on him nothing but two or three letters addressed to the Prince Governor; these they had seized, and dismissed the man uninjured. On examining one of the letters, they discovered (although their skill in handwriting was but small) that the words Eltchy Anglyz, English Minister,' occurred more than once; so the chief, anxious to requite the former kindness of the Mission, and thinking that the letter might have some interest for me, sent off a horseman with orders

to deliver it into my hands. Having ordered

the man some refreshment and made him a small present, I dismissed him with a note of acknowledgment to his chief, and proceeded, with my Mirza, to examine the letter. It proved to be a note in the Sadrazem's own hand, and sealed with his private seal, to the Prince-Governor, informing His Highness that on a late occasion he had been obliged by the importunities of the British Minister to send him official instructions to settle the claims due to a troublesome fellow, an English merchant, but that this had only

been done to stop the mouth of the British Minister, and that His Highness was at liberty to pay the money or not to pay it-in short, to put off his creditor with any excuse that he might find convenient.

"A few days later, with this precious note in my pocket, I went to call on the Sadr, and asked for an interview. As soon as kaliän and coffee had been presented, and we were left tête-à-tête, I said to him

"Does your Highness remember telling me soon after my arrival that I might arrival that I might always rely upon your truthfulness, and that you would permit me to pluck out from your beard one hair for every falsehood that you might tell me during my stay in Persia?'

"Yes, I remember it well,' said he; and what then?'

"Only,' I replied, 'that if I had availed myself of your permission, your Highness would not now have one hair left in your beard!'

"He laughed at this sally, but declared, with renewed asseverations, by the head of the Shah, by the life of his son, and others equally sacred in the eyes of Persians, that he had always told me the truth and had never deceived me.

"Does your Highness know this handwriting and this seal?' said I, drawing the note out of my pocket. I watched his face while he looked at it,-denial was impossible: without the slightest appearance of shame or confusion, he looked up at me with a good-humoured smile and said,

'Well, you are a clever fellow! How on earth did you get possession of this?'

"It was almost impossible to be angry with such imperturbable and good-humoured effrontery; nevertheless, it was almost equally impossible to transact business of any importance with such a man."

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CHAPTER XI.

1859-1867.

DRESDEN AND COPENHAGEN.

IN March 1859, the transfer of the Persian Mission from the Foreign Office to the Indian Department having been effected, Charles Murray placed his resignation in the hands of Lord Malmesbury, and was appointed Minister at the Court of Saxony. Shortly after he had taken up his duties there, Lord John Russell, who had become Foreign Secretary on the fall of Lord Derby's Administration, wrote as follows:

"PEMBROKE LODGE, October 26th, 1859.

"DEAR CHARLES MURRAY, Should you like to accept the appointment to Stockholm, which will be vacant next month? Your present Court is a very small one, and although there is a Charles XIII. instead of XII., still Charleses count for something in the world. However, let me know your wishes. -Yours truly,

"J. RUSSELL."

Murray, however, did not avail himself of this invitation. He continued at Dresden, though he returned to London in 1862 on the occasion of the visit to Great Britain of the Viceroy of Egypt, whom he was specially appointed to attend.

Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P.,1 to
Hon. Charles Murray.

"11 CARLTON HOUSE TERRACE, June 1862.

"MY DEAR MURRAY,—I do not feel quite sure whether it would be an act of courtesy or presumption were I to ask the Viceroy of Egypt to honour my wife and me with his company to dinner; but as, on the whole, the fault of being officious may be slighter than that of neglect, I venture to ask you, as I believe you have taken some charge in connection with his movements, whether you think I might with propriety and agreeably to his convenience forward such an invitation. If you can answer me in the affirmative, you will, I daresay, have the kindness to mention what suite of Easterns he has in attendance. Pray forgive this trouble, and believe me sincerely yours, W. E. GLADSTONE.'

Murray's decision to remain at Dresden proved to be a momentous one. The intimacy which had long existed between him and the family of Lord and Lady Castletown bore fruit which can 1 At that time Chancellor of the Exchequer.