I- believe, with mutual reluctance, which on his pant only yielded' to
a^sense ofiduty,~t,
. Early in, the morning aftertour arrival; intimation was ^brought to
me, that the Regentjproposed, in theiconrse of the morning,' te admit
us to an audience. Several messages passed between us^ before ’ the
appointed time, for the purpose of arranging every thing-'completely
in due form. At length, about noon, Mr. Saunders and myself^accompanied
by Poorungheer, as interpreter, proceeded to a part oficffle
palace, with which, though it was at a considerable distance jftoaeOpr
rooms, there was a communication, without descending into the street.
We were then ushered into the presence chamber; a large and lofty
hall, of an oblong shape, surrounded with a colonnade, and enlightened-
by an openings over the centre. This central part of' the room, contained
an area, about twice as wide as the distance at which tKelpillars
stood from the side walls. Light, air, and the grateful warmth of the
sun, were occasionally admitted into the hall, by shifting the skreen,
or rather moveable roof, which was placed immediately over the opening.
The pillars that composed the colonnade were painted with vermilion,
and richly ornamented with gold, as were also the edges: of the
scolloped arches, and the mouldings over them; various symbolical
devices were also represented in the gilding above the arches. The
walls were painted blue, skirted by two broad fillets of red, and an
intermediate one of yellow. The floor was of a mottled composition,
apparently of brown and white flint, intermixed with some strong
compost, which admitted a high polish. No window, or door, opened
into this hall, except that by which we entered, at one end ; at the
btheji, immed,i^l.5^9'pjpnsite^stood^tbBjttl®wpe<,o£ ’
placed in a^K^ss,^eviat^d ,a:hpn!(! tfiv'e* feetEabove sh^flbdfi^i^fjTcniHtid
with fushSoHSoof.yellowi satiii^ asriqdcuJoibifec’cl^U11 Bpfflgirr^s^wiiieach
side,, of variousACoioureds' ^Sl^s^ia^d brocades. the
throne were thm»tapars, oh the* rob | hfiiji ihcvbu*
m t-hcii temples, and vascspfillcd •vwih’-.M.»iii4jl»ic*'iw)0(ls,'t\ulin,hiv cpTi-1
spiking slowly^wfi'h their smolce powerful 1 yijleSfumed'tthe ha’Ili nErom*
this, scat,, weiwcie. inlormbd.tlic '1 esk<.>%I\Mjriia vvy sfc'pcusfo-rnpohtnttdi^j
tribute justice, and confer his solemn benediction upon the people.
■ Advancing to fhqjupper end oi, tlio- hall, we found the Regent, and
iSpoppon ChocJmboQ, cat h of them) habited m tlio i chgj»p4 ;dK£>^iffu[{
seated under the colonnade, upon thc-.lclt hand side pi, the throne, on
cloy atcj],,Scats raised witli satm cushions., WJh)ii’ct,siih^scails. hocwi/jling.
to^h^gsjphhshed- custom of the CQUint|yv wer<Hpi;ejscnte(i hy aLyvdPtich
thfejft.rppjaiyftd without quilling-their; .seats,». IjffiFicja^dchjJcied' fhdeOh'f,
\einor Genual's dispatches into the Rcgrait’.sfrlMindsft» leM <« ^ti iht$ oh
peat! and coral, whilst the*rest obilie piesuitssw«^cfplacctfe.I)Lf^efhimq
Two,raised seats,qfi,tgusbioa(? had,-befen>preparedbt^MdSwhicbthe!
Regent waving his hand, with a very, significant lpokpdiicolcd
be seated. I then thought it piopu to addiess him; tVe'a’ily,£o:,(dae'*loIb
. Tbte Jew things I luve the honoui-of offering<to .your acceptance,
the Governor; General, Mr. Hastings,,has sept-io you.a® tokens of hi®
friendship, andnesteem, and with an-earnest soficitudeA|W.preserve .arid-
cultivate the amicable inteicomse, .that had. so happilv (ommeiicud
between you. This ^grgspondepce, in*, Mfe^rljesfr stages1, rh.ad«. beep: