SPECIALIZAREA: COMUNICARE INTERCULTURALĂ ȘI TRADUCERE PROFESIONALĂ [304781]

UNIVERSITATEA HYPERION BUCURESTI

SPECIALIZAREA: COMUNICARE INTERCULTURALĂ ȘI TRADUCERE PROFESIONALĂ

LUCRARE DE DISERTAȚIE

,,The Role of Etiquette in British Culture’’

Coordonator,

Student,

2020

Introduction

A culture consists of a [anonimizat], [anonimizat], [anonimizat] a more or less marked way." ([anonimizat]) Teaching English should not be a [anonimizat] a broader educational context: learn to communicate with those who belong to this other culture and recognize the founding principles of identity. This complex relationship between the pupil's native culture and English culture must therefore be established as a specific object of work. For the young elementary school student: [anonimizat]: unconsciously, he assesses the gap between the two ways of life. The different themes addressed ( child-centred topics ), [anonimizat]'s involvement. “Studying a [anonimizat] a [anonimizat], only asks to open their ears and their gaze. [anonimizat]. ” (Claude Hagege) [anonimizat], (the differences should not become faults) [anonimizat], Etiquette: Theoretical Perspectives

The culture of Northern Ireland is a mixture between that of Ireland and that of Great Britain. [anonimizat], [anonimizat] a strong tradition. Séamus Heaney won the Nobel Prize for literature. [anonimizat] O'Brien. [anonimizat]. Scotland also played a significant influence on the writers "Scots" of Ulster. Later, the literature of Ulster "Scots" diversified. [anonimizat]. Northern Ireland is also known for its musicians. [anonimizat]'s Hall of Fame . Snow Patrol has sold more than 7 million records worldwide. Dana won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland. Other famous singers and bands come from Northern Ireland: [anonimizat] . [anonimizat] a great people of sailors; [anonimizat], has enabled them to constitute the largest European empire ever created. First world power in the 19[anonimizat]; [anonimizat], commerce, and on the Internet. The British still have a high idea of ​​[anonimizat] ([anonimizat]).

[anonimizat]- eighteenth century – is marked by its cultural profusion, with the founding of the British Museum in 1753, and the contributions of men as illustrious as Dr. Samuel Johnson, William Hogarth, Samuel Richardson and Georg Friedrich Haendel, among many others. The culture of the United Kingdom, a country of Western Europe, first designates the observable cultural practices of its inhabitants. The United Kingdom has a cultural heritage of remarkable richness and great variety which brings together the cultures of its constituent nations: the culture of England, the culture of Scotland, the culture of Wales and the culture of Northern Ireland. Poetry, literature, theater, painting, music, cinema, the quality of masterpieces accumulated over the centuries is recognized around the world. Artistic expression today covers an even wider range of disciplines – from political satire to contemporary art – that capture the creativity, freedom of mind and cultural diversity of the British people. England has a very strong sporting heritage, and during the 19th century the country codified many sports which are now played all over the world. In the field of pop and rock music, many English artists and groups are regularly cited as the most influential and prolific musicians of all time in terms of sales (cf. British rock). A prominent figure in Western culture, William Shakespeare continues to influence artists today. It is translated into a large number of languages ​​and its plays are regularly performed all over the world. We measure Shakespeare's influence on Anglo-Saxon culture by observing the numerous references made to him, whether through quotes, titles of works or the countless adaptations of his works. English is also often nicknamed the language of Shakespeare as this author marked the language of his country by inventing many terms and expressions. Certain citations, moreover, have passed as they are in everyday language1,2.

The culture of Scotland forms a synthesis of the various cultures, Celts, Pictes and English mainly, having bathed the country. The natural reliefs, geographically delimiting the Highlands, mountainous and isolated, in the North, and the Lowlands, more open to cultural and commercial exchanges with England, played an important role in the establishment of the Scottish cultural panorama.

Wales is, in the words of the official hymn, "a land of bards and singers". An " eisteddfod " 3 is a Welsh festival of literature, music and theater where competitions followed by prize-giving take place in various disciplines around the Welsh language, and mainly poetry. The constituent nations of the United Kingdom are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Queen reigns, but the executive power is in the hands of the Prime Minister, whom she appoints based on the results of the legislative elections. The Prime Minister and his government are accountable to parliament. It is made up of two chambers: an upper chamber (the House of Lords, 713 appointed members) and a lower chamber (the House of Commons, 646 elected members). Since 1999, the policy of devolution of powers has given the Scottish parliament and the Northern Irish and Welsh assemblies certain local responsibilities (economic, cultural, administrative, etc.). As of October 2009, the United Kingdom's Supreme Court will be the highest court in the kingdom (a function previously performed by the House of Lords).

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, Elizabeth II (born in 1926); Queen of the United Kingdom since 1952. We do not make more British, respectable and respected. The "Queen of England" is a universal symbol, of which British anti-monarchists would be wrong to deprive the republics. Sir John Berry Hobbs, "Jack" Hobbs (1882-1963), was the first ennobled professional cricketer. Drummer, one of the top five players of the 20th century, he made his career at the Surrey County Cricket Club. He was therefore one of the princes of this sport to which nobody understands anything, except those who had the good taste to submit to the gentlemen of the Empire… John Lennon (1940-1980) declared, to deplore it, that the Beatles were "more famous than Jesus Christ". Whether he was right or wrong, his popularity was equal to his talent: immense. He remains, with Paul McCartney (born in 1942) one of the most influential pop composers and a libertarian icon. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is to England what Cervantes is to Spain, Voltaire to France or Goethe to Germany: a lighthouse, where you always come back to check that you are indeed what we pretend to be. One cannot be English and despise Shakespeare. Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (1758-1805). Admiral Nelson was one of the executioners of the French navy (Aboukir, Trafalgar …) and one of the heroes of England. Her victories ensured British domination on the seas, thus ensuring the ways of the Empire… Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was the novelist as we know ( cups of tea and devious assassinations). Voyageurs du Monde is proud to own the boat on which the adaptation of Death on the Nile was filmed (see under the heading “ Steamship Sudan” on our site). Traditional English cuisine (pies, roasts, meat in sauce, cheeses …) is not found in town. And that's a shame ! It is eaten as a family (" bed and breakfast" can allow you to taste it). Otherwise: frozen ready meals, pizzas and the many horrors of industrialized fast food. Pubs still often offer small, simple traditional dishes (soups, sausages, mashed potatoes , mince, etc.). The fish and chips are too often slumpy and oily, but, cooked and served properly, it is delicious. Note also that Indian (or Pakistani) restaurants are part of the British gastronomic landscape, like Vietnamese restaurants in France. Great international cuisine has its addresses in London and in major cities. The full english breakfast deserves a mention. It is a real meal (porridge, eggs, bacon, sausages, cooked white beans, toast, tea or coffee, fruit juice), which allows you to spend a good part of the day without going back to the table. We dine early: before 7:00 p.m. in small towns (before 10:00 p.m. in large ones).

Drink

Tea, of course. There are many varieties, but the British willingly stick to strict classicism: black tea (with or without milk, with or without sugar). In fact non-alcoholic drinks, we consume sodas, like everywhere … In pubs, beer is king. The lager is blond and light, served fresh; it is not the most consumed. We prefer ales , red or blonde, more British, or stouts, dark and creamy. Technically, it is the mode of fermentation that differentiates ales and stouts on one side and lagers on the other. In general, ales and stouts have more "matter" than lagers . In any case, we will serve you that in a glass or a pint of 57 cl (ask " half pint ", if you want a "small", but that is not the rule). And everything is much better under pressure (on tap ). For the youngest, the shandy (variegated) is an alternative to soda. Cider is also very common and is drunk dry (raw), medium (semi-dry) or sweet (sweet). Sherry (sherry) and port (port) have long become English classics. In terms of whiskey, ecumenism reigns: Scottish, Irish and even American or Japanese … Finally, wine bars have multiplied in large cities.

British Etiquette across History

The English are renowned for their civic-mindedness : they appreciate respect for the rules of politeness and social codes in general. It is frowned upon to double in a queue at the cinema, to misbehave by car while not respecting the priorities or the reserved parking spaces.

The English also pay special attention to symbols. For example, with flowers:

The " Tudor " rose has been the emblem of England since the 15th century.

Poppies are honored on November 11 , the day of Remembrance Day.

England is known for its daily mainstream press, with newspapers like the Sun and the Daily Mirror, in more than 4 million copies. They are called tabloids , which can be translated as "celebrity press" or "scandal press". These newspapers deal with current affairs and the private life of public persons, with many photos, few texts and catchy titles – often untranslatable! – It must be said that unlike France, the right to private life is a less present concept.

In contrast, there is the highly reputable BBC (British Broadcasting ) which has been broadcasting on the radio since 1932 through its international service (BBC world services). She is known for the quality of her programs. On the television side, there are two public channels (BBC1 AND BBC2, more cultural) and two private ones: ITV and channel 4. Practice listening to the news (if you receive it by satellite) before leaving for your stay.

This typically British tradition is the meeting place par excellence. People come alone or with colleagues, friends or family to spend a happy moment of relaxation and discussion in an extraordinary fusion of classes.

In recent years, posh- pubs (literally: chic pubs) have multiplied as well as gastropubs where people also come to eat well! Faced with the flood of chain pubs, we are witnessing the emergence of micro-pubs and microbreweries , thematic pubs and breweries (for wines, beer, whiskey or cider only, as in a lounge, only in barrels, etc.) , small and friendly, generally without counter and practicing democratic prices. The country had around 320 in 2018.

Pubs and customs

Besides the fact that people often drink their beer on the sidewalk whatever the weather, the British practice a lot of pub crawling . When they go out with several, the 1st pays a round in a 1st pub, the second pays the next in a different pub and so on.

Rule number 1: you get your consumption at the counter and you pay immediately. When the throat is dry again, we go back. Do not stay seated, under penalty of waiting for your pint overnight! Dining etiquette plays a vital role in the creation of an impressive environment . Avoiding a faux pas is an absolute necessity .

Laying the table

Prima facie , laying a table properly in France and in the UK is not entirely different . The basic principles remain the same : the table should be immaculately and even artistically laid, napkins should never be in paper , china has to be unblemished ( chipped china is rude whatever the kind of party), candles are de rigueur in the evening but for lunch it would be too much and almost ridiculous . Yet there are also some slight differences . First in the way of placing cutlery .- Placing cutlery

Concerning forks , in France prongs should always be facing down. For two good reasons : first of all it is said that blue-blooded people used to be afraid of prongs ever since the French Revolution . Who can blame them ? It reminded them of the menacing forks of the "sans culottes" … Do you want your guests to be afraid of bloodthirsty revolutionaries ? This rule is also due to the location of their coat of arms , which in France were traditionally engraved on the back of the fork . In the UK, however , coats of arms were engraved on the other side . That's why in order to show them to their guests prongs had to be facing up. These codes are still in practice today , so pay attention.

– Bread plates

In France bread is sacred . And yet French people put it down directly on the table. In the UK it would be considered as very bad manners . The table is usually laid with a bread plate. If in some cases, there is no side plate, then the bread is placed on the main plate never on the tablecloth . These small plates are also used as a cheese plate at the end of dinner . Don't be surprised .

Here are two small patterns to be understood .

Having a conversation with French and with English people is quite different . If a French person asks a British person for his opinion about a politician , the situation will be very awkward since in the UK politics is still slightly taboo . Philosophy is regarded as boring and stormy debates are to be avoided at all cost . And yet this is what the French love. In the same way , don't contradict the other guests just for fun. It is not fun at all in the UK where conciliation is preferred to debates .

Don't refer to money or wealth when you speak to a French person , it will be considered as extremely vulgar . Pay careful attention to these details and avoid being bad company .

Black tie

Dress code

– Evening parties

French are much less audacious than British regarding fashion : When British people go out, they are not afraid to show off. Gorgeous dresses for ladies and dinner jackets for men are usually the norm for an evening party unless otherwise specified , which most of the time the dress code is . For black- tie party the attracts is very formal and classy : evening dresses for ladies and black- tie for men. For a white party tie you have to dress up more. Swallow-tailed tuxedo is de rigueur. Don't worry if you don't have one you can still rent one at Moss Bross !

French people are more discreet , most of the time parties are more casual and the dress code is not so often mentioned .

So try and dress accordingly …

– At the office

British people pay more attention to clothes at work . Whereas in France a man can go to work with odd jacket and trousers , this would be unacceptable in the UK. Attire has to be formal at all times expect on Friday which is more casual . Be careful this doesn't mean that you can wear a simple T-shirt, but you can remove your tie …

The written word

– Christmas cards

As a French person , if you have British friends or even acquaintances , I'm sure you've already been impressed by the fact that , every year , they send you a Christmas card , whereas writing one to your grandmother is already a chore for you . In fact , this is a major tradition in the UK. Christmas cards have to be sent in December to everyone you care about. Not to do so would be considered very rude. In France people don't write that much and one can even wait until January to send "greeting cards ". Calling your friends and family for Christmas or New Year Eve is more common .

– Invitation letters

British people love writing . Even if they organize a party they will , most of the times, send you a written invitation whereas French are more likely to call. If you want to receive at your place in the UK you could use some forms of address as "Mrs and Mr X at home" plus the date, time and type of entertainment .

– Thank you letters

To thank people, writing a letter is the usual behavior . In good colleges students are even taught to write good thank you letters … Don't forget this if you have been invited . This is considered as an elementary "savoir vivre" rule .

Invitation letter

The speaking word

In France, the speaking word is particularly codified and subtle . "Vouvoyer", forms of address , hierarchy … In the UK the situation seems to be easier : everybody is you "and calling someone using his first name is not a problem at all, even your boss. Don't dare do the same in France, "Monsieur X" or "Monsieur le directeur" will be perfect … Giving someone a nickname is also more usual in the UK. Calling someone who is French and you have just met " my love", " my dear "or" sweetheart " would make you sound weird or even ill-intentioned .

Punctuality

Punctuality is not considered in the same way around the world. In France punctuality can be approximate , you could even hear about the "quarter of an hour of politeness" ( being 15 minutes late to be polite ). The idea is to let the hosts finish preparing the party without rushing them . In the UK on the contrary punctuality is a golden rule . Some invitations even mention "8.00 for 8.30". It means that the party or the dinner will begin precisely at 8.30 and that you are supposed to be there from 8.00.

Dealing with the unexpected

English people are not the kind who like dealing with the unexpected . Whereas in France you can bring someone unexpected at the last minutes just to make a call, it would be considered as extremely rude in the UK. In the same way , staying after lunch would seem awkward even with family whereas in France you may be invited to stay for dinner , eating some pasta or the leftovers . In the same way , you definitely can't pop by your friends , neighbors or even family without having called first to find out if it is convenient .

Vocabulary

As a French person in the UK you should be cautious about the words you use in order to be polite . Some words that derive from the French will not be of good taste. For instance don't use " toilets " or "towels". These are correct, but the preferred forms are " loo " and " napkins " which sound more polite .

Office manners

The office is a center for socializing . W all the same in France as in the UK.

Hierarchy

French people generally hate their boss. He is regarded as the enemy and so are all superiors . Tensions always exists between the hierarchical levels . The employer- employee relation is very different in Great Britain . In fact , in the UK the sense of authority is less burdensome and executives seem to be more approachable . Chiefs are often called by their first name and the "Monsieur le Président" would make them laugh .

Colleagues

In the same way , relationships with colleagues are easier . In the UK it is usual to have drinks with colleagues and superiors after work , and even encouraged . So some firms organize after work parties, presuming that people who know each other work together better . On the contrary in France " metro -boulot-dodo" still seems to be the rule . Take your time before trying to become close with your French colleagues .

Access to minors is strictly regulated . Finally, the members of the House of Commons voted in February 2006 a text that prohibits smoking in public places and that, since 2007, shooting your cigarette in a pub, restaurant, private club or even at the office is liable a fine of £ 50.

Good manners and customs

– It is often believed that the British nickname the French froggies because they eat frog legs. Not at all. This nickname dates from Clovis who sported 3 toads as royal coats of arms.

– You never shake the hand of a Briton , except when you see him for the 1st time. As for the kiss, don't even think about it! On the other hand, a stranger can call you darling , honey or even love without problem! And with friends or family, it is the hug that is required, a frank hug.

– Surprising as it may seem, the British have consumed more wine than beer since the mid-1990s! Great Britain even produces it, from Kent to North Wales, including sparkling wines.

– The electrical outlets always have 3 plugs (adapter is called an adapter ) and are above all fitted with switches. Remember to press " on " before you complain to the reception or the owner ! Regarding the showers in some B & B and hotels, do not be surprised if you have to press an electric button inside the cabin for the water to flow. Instructions not provided !

– Union Jack is strength : the British flag is made up of the juxtaposition of symbols evoking 3 countries, England with its 2 white medians decorated with a red cross, Scotland with its white diagonals on a blue background and finally Northern Ireland (a white standard and its red diagonals).

– If the British drive on the left , it goes back to the Middle Ages. The riders preferred to stand on the left side of the road, because in the event of an attack it was easier to draw with the right hand when facing the opponent. Napoleon will impose right-hand drive throughout conquered Europe, just to annoy his British enemies.

– Don't laugh with the teatime ceremony . Tea is served in a mug or in porcelain (English) cups. We pour the milk after the tea (it seems that it is the opposite in Ireland !). You never dip your toast in your tea and you use jam with a knife and not a spoon.

– Cheese is generally taken at the end of a meal, after dessert, with crackers … and sometimes with a port finger .

– Each centenary receives a letter on their birthday from the Queen in person, who knows about it in terms of longevity !

– In the enclosure of a theater, one never pronounces the word " Macbeth " which brings bad luck. One modestly says " The Scottish Play " (the Scottish play).

– For most British people, seeing a black cat … brings good luck.

– After eating a boiled egg, we pierce the shell with the spoon so that the demon escapes.

– Merry Xmas or Happy new year ? The British massively send each other Christmas cards , but especially not after New Year's Day. And don't hesitate to sport the most kitsch Christmas jumpers possible in December . These quirky grandmother sweaters, which appeared in the 1980s, have become a real fashion phenomenon since 2010.

– Queen Elizabeth II was the 1st British monarch to appear on a bank note. But it took several decades before she smiled at one of them!

– There are two and two : brandishing the index and middle fingers with the palm forward is a sign of victory. On the other hand the same gesture by turning the back of the hand (not badly used in the stadiums of football) towards its speaker intimate him.

The right to difference

The treacherous Albion has always had the gift of irritating the continentals. His phlegm generated in other peoples a feeling of mistrust. Ignoring reality in order to impose one's own vision of the world is a pillar of English philosophy. It is hard under these conditions to agree with the other countries of the European Union, on the terms of a Brexit as incomprehensible across the Channel as it is unexpected. The French cultivate the art of living, the table, good wines, haute couture. The British like to entertain the absurd and the irrational . If radicals that may be changes and mixités resulting from increased immigration, the xcentricité remain a national characteristic. Because in this country, crowded with small houses lined up and all alike, the right to be different is really a reality. Whether it is the extravagant fashions of youth or the gaits of these old aristocrats who sit in the House of Lords, Britain loves eccentricity . The right to be different , whether individually or as a nation, is part of this country's cultural heritage. We can thus meet a salesperson with piercings and tattoos in a luxury boutique, or a woman wearing the scarf behind a bank counter.

English humor

The cultural roots of these behaviors can be sought even in Arthurian legends , sublimation, the quest for the Holy Grail , King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table … All of these still represent the deep aspirations of the English nobility and those of the man in the street. From the conflict between small daily pettiness and great lyrical flights was born the taste for derision . Suddenly, the British love to be "winnowed" and have no equal in making fun of themselves . The only real insult you can give them is to tell them they don't have a sense of humor. In the midst of an existential crisis, while 1 million British people marched in London in March 2019 against Brexit ( something never seen since the war in Iraq!), We saw hatchy slogans hatching each other, making fun of the situation, the people themselves and especially the leaders.

Tourist Guides

Attitudes and values ​​form the foundation of all cultures. How do they assess business equity? How important is work-life balance in the UK? Although seemingly unimportant and often overlooked during the preparation stage, understanding these aspects could become essential when doing business with the English.

Attitude towards strangers

The United Kingdom is a multicultural country and the British are generally very welcoming to foreigners.

In general, the opinion of foreigners is that in the UK the conversations are shorter and focused on general topics, such as the weather outside, which is a very popular topic and often used for “ break the ice".

The English attach great importance to their privacy. Although they seem very open in public, the implicit message spread in their culture is “Please respect my personal space.” Although the UK is multicultural, this need for privacy requires many people to be thoughtful enough when it comes to making new friends. If a foreigner absolutely wants to adapt to British culture and create good relationships, he must be patient and realize that for the creation of these friendships it will take more time than expected.

Education and training

General education

Education has a very high standard in the United Kingdom: most (74% of adults between 25 and 64) have obtained the equivalent of the Baccalaureate. A considerable percentage of the population continues in higher education, where a conventional university degree can be obtained after three years, unlike the majority of other European countries, where university studies normally last five years. To obtain a university degree (license), one can take exams in any subject, mainly in the field of humanities or exact sciences, this diploma being compulsory to reach the master level. The latter is normally completed in two years (full-time or part-time) and it is necessary to start doctoral studies. A master's degree in business administration is often a springboard for those who wish to later have a leadership role within their respective company or field.

In general, university degrees are seen as a basic qualification ensuring the start of one's career, yet many professionals in the business world seem to place more emphasis on acquired status by experience than on university degrees. This is all the more obvious for the leaders of organizations, which is why the mention of university degrees is useless on business cards or other. Very often, this contrasts with the practice of many other European countries, where success must be based on a solid university context if one is to acquire a respected professional status.

Integration of students

During university studies, most courses offer students the opportunity to do a year of internship (in their country or abroad), or to do an exchange with a partner university. The majority of employers pay student interns for the time they work, rates vary by field and region. Academic courses that offer placements can be university (bachelor's) or post-graduate (master's), but expectations will differ depending on the universities and programs within the same university.

Depending on the location and the subjects studied, it is possible that internships are compulsory. Although some students choose to go abroad for an internship, most do so in the UK.

Salary

Unlike France, internships in the UK can be paid or unpaid and there is no universal salary to expect. It is preferable that internships are remunerated at around half of a starting salary for the trade in which one is apprenticed. In the United Kingdom, employees have the right to a minimum wage, which guarantees them a certain standard of living. However, trainees are not necessarily recognized as employees and students who are asked to carry out an internship of less than one year within their studies are not entitled to the national minimum wage. This is a non-negligible aspect both for the trainer and for the host company, especially in the case of internships in London, where the living costs can greatly exceed the resources of a student.

Housing

The course of a training course in the United Kingdom often supposes to find oneself where to lodge, although there are exceptions. In certain fields, for example the hospital field, the accommodation and the food are assured for the personnel, which tends to decrease the expenses. However, rental is very common in the UK, with furnished rooms for short term rentals. The rent is paid monthly, but you must leave a guarantee (the approximate amount of three months' rent) before handing over the keys. Another small clarification: London is super expensive, with expensive rents in the central region or high transport costs of long commuter shuttles and conurbations.

Visas

Depending on the country you come from, you may need a visa to work in the UK. Immigration is a major political problem there, which means that adaptations to visa applications are often made. This is why it is advisable to always confirm your status with the British Border Agency or an equivalent organization if you assign another name in due time:

The cost of living

Usually, students should be able to finance their living costs themselves. Compared to the majority of European countries, the United Kingdom is expensive; However, unlike the Scandinavian countries, in the UK the cost of living is low, and like everywhere, the cost of living depends on what you do and where you live. The largest costs are usually represented by rent, which can range from £ 300 per month in some areas, such as Manchester, to almost six times in London, where you may have to pay above £ 2,000 . Other areas of London, with access to underground stations and bus routes, will generally cost less, depending on the area and location.

Communication in business

Establishing contact

For a British director, the handshake is the ordinary form of greeting during a first meeting. However, if you work with someone on a project and meet for several days in a row, a handshake may not be offered every time, but there may be everything just a verbal greeting. In the same way, after a business meeting, if we will meet again the next day, the handshakes may disappear.

When you are introduced to someone new, the expectation is to shake hands and say “Nice to meet you !” (= Nice to meet you!) Or more formally “Are you okay?” These phrases will normally have similar responses: “Nice to meet you , too !” (= Nice to know you too!) Or “Fine, thank you , how are you ?” (= Yes, thank you. Are you ok too?). The handshake should be firm, while paying attention to the hand of the person being greeted, in the direction of matching the strength of the latter. A kiss is not an acceptable greeting in a typical business situation.

Normal greetings in the UK are “Good morning / afternoon / evening !” (= Hello / Good evening!), Which are usually followed by another usual greeting: “How are you ?” (= Are you okay?) Do not be tempted to make a complete assessment of your state of health, because it is only a greeting of courtesy and not a real question.

Generally speaking, the British are seen as an emotionally neutral nation. The “rigid upper lip” is a feature, defined by emotional restraint and courage in difficult situations. Public expressions of feelings are always viewed as unprofessional and uninviting, especially in the business environment.For foreigners it is recommended to avoid explicit gestures and physical contact of the type of a light tap on the back or kissing, and to maintain a sufficient distance so as not to invade the personal space of the people around you, unless this cannot be avoided (the use of public transport during rush hour). In addition, a long unnecessary eye contact is also taken for a violation of privacy and can be interpreted in several ways: from rudeness to a sign of aggression. They should therefore be avoided.

Face to face

The presentations depend on the circumstances, the situations. In general, it is better to be introduced by a third person, although this is not always possible. A handshake is the typical salvation for a new introduction, but it should not be expected at later meetings. For example, colleagues do not shake hands every day at work.

The first words of a conversation with someone can be intimidating, because of the cultural norms and expectations of the British. In general, it is advisable to start with a neutral subject, such as the weather outside, or something dictated by the immediate situation: advice on what to do, eat or drink. You should start a conversation with open questions rather than subjective points of view, because you cannot always anticipate the reaction of others. As you will see, the British are tolerant and open-minded. It is possible, however, that some give their opinions on the tabloid press, which often describes the world in white and black.

In order to create good professional relationships, it is advisable to let conversations flow naturally, by following the common thread given by the person you are talking to and asking for permission to dare to touch on probably sensitive subjects, while not being too negative or sarcastic point.

Another difficulty in oral communication lies in the British's attraction to the lesser of facts, which sometimes betrays disapproval and a difficulty in understanding how the British really perceive things, people and situations. For example, what is described as “a little expensive” may actually be “very expensive” and “a little problem” is basically “a huge obstacle” for the British counterpart. British euphemisms and humor

Good practices – Business meetings

Business meetings remain a characteristic of life in society in the United Kingdom. Their nature and content vary, but they are seen as an essential element of communication. It will be necessary to ensure that the agenda is transmitted beforehand, before any meeting, so that everyone is fully prepared. Meeting locations, lists of participants and any required equipment, e.g. computers and projection equipment must be planned in advance. The meetings must be structured carefully, so that they start on time, they follow the agenda and end with verbal speeches given by an appropriate person.

The use of technology has extended its influence to the world of meetings: video conferences and telephone calls mean that managers are no longer required to travel to participate in meetings. This saves them time, saves transportation costs and saves time. However there is a drawback: these technologies no longer allow for personal contact face to face, something considered unsatisfactory by some cultures. It will be necessary to analyze any contribution to the meetings in order to be sure that what is said has value for the meetings and for the organization.

In the UK it is expected that all aspects of a meeting will be documented and known to all participants. You have to appoint a person, usually the one who chairs the meeting, who reviews the aspects mentioned during the previous session, to ensure that we have advanced as planned and that we are dealing with all aspects collateral. During these official meetings, a secretary draws up a report, which he then circulates.

The attitude to adopt during business meetings

An appointment should be made at least a few days before. After arriving in the country, please confirm the details of the meeting by telephone or e-mail and ask for directions on the location of the meeting, if these details have not been provided or are unclear. Although the British have a reputation for following the rules and arriving on time, they have a culture of having a certain degree of tolerance when dealing with strangers. Don't panic if something goes wrong during your stay and spoils your program; you will simply have to inform all the parties involved and make phone calls to cancel or reschedule your meetings, with the chance that your business partners will understand you and offer to help you.

The most convenient time to organize a business meeting is probably 10:00 am, especially during the initial stages of the negotiations. It is unlikely that the very first meeting will take place at lunch. It depends on the parties involved and the context of the meeting. In the United Kingdom, an unannounced business partner should not be approached.

When you meet someone for the first time, most managers will appreciate having some information about the company you represent in advance, which will allow them to establish some basic details about that company. last, thus saving time during the meeting and increasing your credibility. It will also be useful, when you go to the company for the first time, to learn some information about it, in order to better understand its culture, its interests.

The negotiations

In the UK, it is advisable to send an executive director to discuss business, rather than a young employee. This comes from a certain distrust of young directors, which is still rooted in British culture. But that does not mean that British leaders regard young people as incompetent. Some executive directors may have relatively few academic qualifications and traditionally value experience and knowledge as indicators of success. What is more, sending older individuals gives more credibility and authority, which is essential for successful business negotiations. However, these attitudes are gradually changing and it is likely that in young companies and new fields, such as information technology, these findings are no longer valid.

Although discrimination on grounds of sex, race, age and other protected characteristics is illegal in the United Kingdom under the Equality Act 2010, it is still possible to come across an “unreformed director”. This varies depending on the field and location of the company concerned, those who appreciate knowledge are often more liberal compared to traditional industrial companies. If you face bias or discrimination when dealing with a UK manager, maintain your professional conduct and seek advice or guidance from your company or from someone you work with, perhaps be, in the UK.

During the negotiation process it is useful to keep in mind that British professionals look at their work in a detached and sentimental manner, tending to focus on objective facts and solid evidence, so that emotional persuasion techniques are not a waste of time. Likewise, in the UK personal ties seem to carry little weight in business, which differs from other European countries. On the other hand, aggressive sales techniques, such as derogatory remarks about competition, will probably have very little positive influence on your business partners, which can even be counterproductive.

Similarly, any facial expression should be minimized, making it difficult to guess the thoughts and opinions of British negotiators. This conduct is neither suspicious nor suspicious; this is just a typical professional approach.

Work schedule

Theoretically speaking, classic working hours are between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. In practice, this can vary considerably and shift work is now a common practice in manufacturing and services. The majority of professionals and office workers will start from 7:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. and work 8 hours a day. However, many employees work a lot of overtime and most of those who work in offices will already arrive at 8:30 a.m. People with executive functions and salaried professionals often work more hours than required, in order to finish everything. Sometimes the British prefer to stay at work later so as not to bring work home. However, this is changing and thanks to the introduction of flexible tasks, easier movement and technological progress, employees can now start working earlier and finish later.

Some government offices, especially in rural areas, usually close at noon, between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., but remain open until 5:30 p.m., however the number of such organizations decreases, as the majority of people work throughout the day. . On the store side, opening hours have become almost irregular, since some supermarkets are open 24 hours a day, 7 days 7. As for banks, they are generally open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm during the week, the majority having now extended working hours one or two evenings in the week and half a day on Saturdays. Shops, restaurants and tourist attractions tend to be open longer in major cities.

Use of social media, specific to the country

The arrival of the Internet in the United Kingdom is one of the most pronounced in Europe, with more than 85% of the population using it. The number of highly involved individuals and organizations who have access to the Internet and social media at work, at home and on the move is increasing.

In general, British SMEs are quite used to using social media. In fact, they use a diverse range of social networks for business with concrete goals. Most SMEs are open to developing new skills and implementing training.

Social media legislation is growing more and more in the UK and the Advertising Standards Authority offers support, noting that marketing communications from those who advertise on their websites and social networks must adapt to the same principles as other means.

Individuals / Students

In the study of the “ Passport to Trade 2.0” project, in the case of students, the most popular social networks are Facebook and YouTube , followed by Twitter , LinkedIn and Google+. Among different age groups there are considerable variations in preferences for these media. Twitter , Google+ and LinkedIn , for example, are used more by people over the age of 35, while YouTube is used primarily by those between the ages of 18 and 35.

With regard to social networks, in the United Kingdom the responses show significant similarities between SMEs and students. However, a major difference is linked to the habit of “talking with people you don't know”, which is considered acceptable by British SMEs, but unacceptable by students from the United Kingdom. Students thus seem to be more careful with the people with whom they communicate, which is relatively understandable behavior, since they expose much more personal information on social networks than SMEs.

Students also reported cultural differences. A relatively common difference can be illustrated by the following quote: “I have found that people from different countries, especially from continental Europe, do not use their full names in social networks like Facebook. Instead, they use abbreviations or their first name but it is rarer ”.

SMEs

In the United Kingdom, social networks are increasingly used for activities, which follows from the results of the study of the “ Passport to Trade 2.0” project. Basically, British SMEs seem to use a variety of social networks, the most popular being Twitter and LinkedIn , followed closely by Facebook. Because of the frequent use of Facebook by employees, it is often blocked in quite a few companies. LinkedIn seems to be quite useful for companies that have experience in working with foreign partners, highlighting international collaborations based on social networks. The most popular in the UK are:

There is a whole series of SMEs that do not use social media. It depends on the domain: either social networks are not important for their activities, or they do not know how to use them, or they are deprived of resources.

Social Class and Royal Manners

This impact is not surprising in a period which is that which accompanies Brexit . It is a matter of marriage between a British prince and an American at a time when Great Britain is somewhat regaining its international position of yesteryear, facing the United States and, much more distantly, from Europe. The second important phenomenon for Great Britain itself is that it is a Métis person . British society is an increasingly mixed society. A number of people of African origin settled in Britain find themselves in the character of the future wife.

The announcements sent to the 600 guests mentioned the dress code : for men, a military uniform, a tailored jacket or a suit, avoiding the garish colors. For women, " a city dress with hat. The dress code is vague enough that there is a risk of misstep. It also makes it possible to honor old, little-known traditions, such as the use of straw as material for hats after Easter.

Here are some etiquette tips for a royal wedding :

• Dress and shoulders

Etiquette expert Myka Meier, who trained in London with a member of the Royal Residence, says that proper attire for such an occasion may be much different in the UK than elsewhere in the world.

Women's shoulders should be covered. You should know that this is about the Church of England, and that the groom's grandmother is at the head of this institution. Skirts should not be shorter than the longest finger when arms are held along the body, and no longer than the middle of the calf, says M me Meier. “ We will not see a cleavage. We won't see much skin, she noted. At least we shouldn't. It would be seen as disrespectful. Mostly black or white dresses are to be avoided. White is reserved for the bride, and possibly her bridesmaids. Black is a color of mourning. Accents, patterns or small touches of these colors are acceptable.We will probably see slight patterns, but too large prints are unacceptable, says the specialist. It will be a spring wedding, so we can expect a lot of pastel and seasonal prints, like flowers.

International guests can dress in their country's equivalents.

" Ultimately, we want only to be adapted to the formality of the event we participate ," said M me Meier.

•  Hats : size doesn't matter Royal weddings can be like a hat festival.

“ Hats are a sign of celebration for a British wedding. They're kept on their heads inside the church, but people have to think about the ones sitting behind them, "said Ms. Meier, who specializes in etiquette and international and business social protocols. “ It's not the Kentucky Derby. No big ledges. Nothing too high, ”she notes.  The bibi – these little hats decorated with curls, flowers and more – is popular and perfectly acceptable, in addition to giving a touch of whimsy to the outfit. " Fantasy, not madness, is acceptable, " says stylist Diane Lloyde Roth, who has been dressing Americans for European social events for over 30 years. M me Meier points out that women often begin with the hat when planning their outfit. M me Lloyde Roth is a general rule : " Make sure your hat and your outfit will the same event. The huge hat worn by Princess Beatrice at the wedding of Harry's brother Prince William to Kate Middleton will serve as a warning. Observer for the royal family Anne Chertoff describes the great loop of Béatrice's bibi as being " ridiculous in so many ways, but at least you could see through it ".

• Find the right shoe

Marriage is a religious event, but also an event that takes place during the day. This does not mean that you can show up there in any way. It is not a picnic.

We must forget about open shoes and platforms. The slingback is also considered too familiar, Judge M me Meier.

" We want something about four inches high, maximum," she says. Entrance will not be easy. There will be stone, although we will also see different types of carpets. "

What about stilettos ? Better to forget them. And the handbag ? He must be small. 
“ There are about 800 seats in the Saint-Georges chapel, but we are still crowded there. There is no space for large bags, ”said Ms. Meier. Pockets or other bags that can be kept on the knees or on the side are preferred.Duchess Kate regularly uses such bags. You never see the queen walking around with a giant bag either.

• On the men's side

The majority of men will wear a suit jacket, predicts M me Meier. They wear clothes, often gray, navy blue or black. They also have a jacket and tie. Fine stripes can sometimes be found on the pants.  As for the suit, the darker it is, the more formal it is. The linen suit is to be avoided. Shoes should be waxed as they have never been waxed before. And men can have fun with the colors and patterns of their ties, handkerchiefs and socks. However, brown belts or shoes are avoided, which are perceived to be less formal than black ones.

Medals worn on military uniforms are common, as are other types of medals pinned to suit jackets.

• Don't overdo it

" The Americans sometimes forget, says M me Lloyde Roth, who lives in New Canaan, Connecticut. You are not the princess.  Make-up should be minimalist, as should accessories. Tasteful guests will let their hats speak for themselves, she notes.

“ You can go there with a bold lip, and a hat. It balances everything, ”suggests the stylist.

As for the accessories, she offers these wise words from Coco Chanel : “ Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take out one. "

• The Hollywood factor

" The only possible culture shock would happen if the people of Hollywood tried to be more royal than royalty, " said Lloyde Roth. They must remember that this is the highest class. They own the jewelry and the clothes they wear. They do not turn into mice at midnight. "

It is said that the queen does not particularly like dresses with narrow straps and too revealing outfits. Guests will not change into attending a reception immediately after the wedding, but there will be a private party at Frogmore House, south of Windsor Castle. If evening wear is required, as was the case after the marriage of William and Kate, women will be expected to wear a long dress.

" It can be sleeveless, strapless or long sleeve, depending on the style and personal preferences of the guest ," says M me Meier.

M me Chertoff agrees and predicts fabulous outfits in the evening, including plunging necklines and high slits in the skirt.

The queen had not attended the evening following the marriage of William and Kate, and will no doubt do the same this time, so no risk of shocking her. What will happen at Frogmore House will stay at Frogmore House.

" The cameras will be off. Everything will happen behind closed doors , ”concludes Ms. Chertoff .

Shortly after the wedding day, each guest receives a piece of cake placed in a metal souvenir box and accompanied by a small word of thanks. The newlyweds keep the upper levels of the cake in order to serve them for the baptism of their future children and keep another piece for auction, as it is also a tradition in the royal family.

First point : this princely marriage, less strategic of course than that of William seven years ago, which somehow enthroned Diana's eldest son as heir to the British throne posed and installed, first allows the Windsor family to make talk about her around the world. What to delight in return the newspapers and weekly celebrities , not to mention the other press organs which all devote pages or special editions to the event. There they hold a 21st century fairy tale, between a sympathetic and committed young prince, like his mother Diana, in charitable actions, and a 36-year-old American actress, divorced, mixed race and convinced feminist.  We are far from the scandal which in the 1930s forced Edward VIII, in love with a divorced American woman, to renounce the throne. Today, Queen Elisabeth, scalded by the huge communication error at the time of the tragic death of Princess Diana in September 1997 – which she had finally caught up with thanks to her Prime Minister at the time Tony Blair – Queen therefore understood that she had to play both tradition and modernity, a skilful blend that can assure her family popularity over time.The queen is lucky : her two grandsons, unintentionally, complement each other wonderfully. William, more posed, more discreet, more serious, will one day ascend to the throne if all goes well. Harry, more mischievous, more party-goer, more charming, is a champion in relationships, attracting sympathy in spite of or perhaps precisely because of his past deviations.

Ultimately, in terms of communication, it is a win-win operation for all these media and for the royal family which will offer this Saturday a very beautiful ceremony, under the sun in addition, to tens of millions of viewers around the world. Not to mention the economic spinoffs in striking and stumbling pounds sterling – the marriage should bring in the British economy around 500 million pounds – not far from 600 million euros. The event is not only happy, however, including in the United Kingdom. There will thus be a meeting of Republicans calling for the abolition of the monarchy in London at the same time as the festivities in Windsor. Two thirds of the British find the event of little importance. But the important thing is elsewhere : it shows that the Windsor brand is doing quite well and allows millions of people, with these weddings distributed around the world, to revive in them their Walt Disney side. Finally, beyond folklore and beautiful images, it confirms the political role of the royal family in Great Britain.

CASE STUDY –

WALLACHIA SOCIAL LIFE SEEN BY BRITISH ETIQUETTE IN HISTORICAL TIMES:

“I know of no river scenery in Europe

to be compared with it (…)

the Danube is wild and awfully grand.”

John Paget

Few travel accounts written by British travellers who visited Wallachia at the end of the eighteenth-century focus on Wallachia only. Most of these British travellers headed toward Constantinople, and it was only on their way to this imperial capital that they described Wallachia 'en passant,' spending very little time in this area.

At the end of the eighteenth-century numerous foreign travellers came to visit the Principalities. Ambassadors, leisure travellers, men of science, missionaries, and other types of travellers noted down in their diaries information regarding various aspects of the cities in the Principalities, but most of them focused on the negative aspects that they had experienced. It is tempting to believe that the British travellers enjoyed their stay in Wallachia and appreciated the natural landscape and the traditional customs, but the social and political context which characterised the Principalities at the end of the eighteenth-century projected a different, usually negative, image of Wallachia.

In the first half of the eighteenth-century, a small number of British travellers visited Wallachia and according to Jeremy Bentham, “an Englishman is a rarity in that country”. Due to an increasing interest in the French language and culture in the second half of the eighteenth-century, the visitors who came to Wallachia were predominantly French, outnumbering the English ones. Very few British travellers visited Wallachia, and even fewer passed through Oltenia during this period of time. Towns such as Craiova, Slatina, and Râmnicu Vâlcea are described sketchily as the travellers stopped in these towns for a short period of time on their way to Bucharest. Nevertheless, during the second half of the eighteenth-century, various significant British high-ranking officers or educated people visited Wallachia, even if for a short stay.

Sir James Porter, for instance, as a British ambassador at Constantinople between the years 1747-1762 portrays the commercial relationships of the Danubian Principalities. Moldova and Wallachia were the main bridges that connected Vienna to Constantinople. The Danube is described in economic terms as being the best route from the Occident to the Levant. What the end of the eighteenth-century in Wallachia reveals to the British travellers and officials is a portrayal of the unfortunate consequences and the ruins brought about by the Russian-Austrian-Turkish war (1787-1791) as well as of the Russian and Ottoman dominations. From the sixteenth- to the eighteenth-century, the Ottoman Empire made every effort to transform its official authority into an absolute suzerainty. The Porte appointed a Wallachian prince in exchange for fabulous sums of money and consequently, the princes did not feel secure in their positions, being either replaced or deposed, and eventually, assassinated.

The historical context of the various journeys undertaken by British subjects along the Danube river at the very beginning of the Victorian Age, in the 1830s decade of the 19th century, is one of innovation, based essentially on a British invention of the 18th century – the steam engine. This heralded a new age – the industrial one – and permitted safer and faster travel in voyaging on rivers towards territories previously inaccessible.

The British quickly took advantage of the opportunity; as a result, in the above mentioned decade there were several British travellers to reach the territory of present day Romania. For some this was the end of their journey, while others were only passing through. Once the steamboat was introduced on the Danube River, the difficulties of obtaining free passage throughout the territories of all the countries crossed or bordered by the Danube was seen as a small obstacle indeed. In addition, for those travellers setting forth in the 1830s, this new avenue of voyaging represented novelty and adventure.

Initially however the voyage was fragmented. The steam boats could not reach the Black Sea; portions of the voyage required travelling over land due to the dangers of the turbulent waters of the Danube between Moldova and Schela Cladovei. Thus, a portion of the voyage could be undertaken overland or by small barges whose progress would not have been impeded by the shallow waters. From Schela Cladovei the traveller could continue his journey on another steamboat that was meant to travel on the lower Danube. At times, as a result of the drought, there were longer segments of the Danube that could not be navigated due to the shallow waters.

Elizabeth Craven is a woman who travelled throughout Europe after she had divorced Lord Craven and she noticed the frequent change of the princes performed by the Ottoman Porte, followed by the huge fortunes that these princes collected only to be shortly and inevitably chopped off of their heads after reigning for about three years on the throne. Consequently, Wallachia suffered all the more due to a poor management of the principality and owing to an enormous disinterest regarding the vital administrative affairs. The Turkish powerful influence gradually lost its force when faced with the new military power that emerged in the eighteenth-century, Russia.

An explanation is needed on Lady Craven's name and life. First of all, her first name appears to be incorrectly spelt in both Călători străini despre łările Române, Vol. X, First part, and in Mihaela Grancea's article, Călătorie și loisir în secolul al XVIII-lea. Contrast no. 7/2001, "Perspective". Lady Craven's correct first name is Elizabeth, and not Elisabeth. A second observation concerns an error that occurs in Mihaela Grancea's above-mentioned article. Mihaela Grancea asserts that Lady Craven was married to the Margrave of Anspach in 1786, when she visited Wallachia and Transylvania. According to A Biographical Dictionary of the Living Authors of Great Britain and Ireland from 1816, Elizabeth Berkeley Craven was married to William, late Lord Craven until 1781, when they officially separated. It was not until 1791, after Lord Craven had died, that she married the Margrave of Anspach.

Some other travellers who braved the dangers were Michael Joseph Quin (1834), Edmund Spencer (1836), Charles Boileau Elliott (1837) and John Paget (1838).

Michael Joseph set up a model for other travellers, not only in terms of the formal aspects, but also in the way he perceived and depicted the Wallachians in his story. The first three travellers were only passing through Wallachia on their way elsewhere, however, the fourth – John married a Hungarian baroness and lived in Transylvania for the remain of his life. When Michael Joseph Quin undertook his journey, he had to disembark immediately after Vidin. Quin was a pioneer of this route, since it had only just been launched.

Aside from their British nationality, these travel writers share the condescension with which they treat the local inhabitants, their absolute belief in their own superiority, and the conviction that the steam power would become a moral and civilizing engine that would propel the backward territories of Eastern Europe and even of the Ottoman Empire. They each had reasons other than the novelty of the experience to travel – Captain Spencer to gather information, Elliott, who was a vicar, to consider the state of Christianity in Eastern Europe and elsewhere, Quin to write articles, as he was a journalist, while Paget was living in Transylvania and was an agriculturist. Despite these differences, the way they perceive the Wallachians encountered throughout their journeys is quite similar. Thus, it is not simply their British national identity that makes them one, but also their worldview and the impulse to try to improve the lot of the less fortunate.

Britain’s “self-appointed position of guardian of international morality” shines through the pages of these travel narratives, however, the travellers also criticize the lack of action on occasions when the Britain should have acted. (Taylor 396).

Charles Taylor discusses the idea of moral progress as established in the 19th century. This is indeed the impression given by the travellers who judge the locals for their different mores, habits, customs or costumes in a rather unflattering manner. The entitlement and righteousness of the travellers lead to the projection of a sense of superiority towards the locals: “The very picture of history as moral progress, (…) which underlies our own sense of superiority, is very much a Victorian idea.” (Taylor 394)

The British identity is created through the appreciation of technology, innovation, and progress and a pronounced dislike for primitiveness and backwardness. Thus, Britain is seen as a civilized country, with developed technology and innovative industry, a progress that is reflected in its society, economics, politics and customs. On the other hand, the predominantly agricultural territory of Wallachia is seen as backward not only in terms of industry and technological developments, but also in terms of its social and political classes, while the morality prevalent in this territory is disreputable at best. Furthermore, the central virtue of industry, highly appreciated by the British, is seen as lacking in the Wallachians, which are treated contemptuously as a result.

The slave trade had been suppressed in 1807 and slavery had been abolished in 1833 in England, yet on visiting Wallachia, these travellers discover that slavery was still a fact of life here. Female modesty, which was the norm in Britain, is not viewed the same way here. The importance of the family as the building block of British society is disregarded in Wallachia where, we are informed, divorce occurs quite often.

As the travellers leave the West behind them, it feels as if they are travelling back in time. The moment they set foot on the steamboat travelling away from the civilized world, the comforts of Western life gradually disappear. One by one they become infrequent or inexistent as if the leap made by civilization in the Western world had not occurred. With each new step towards the East the traveller is reminded of a less civilized and developed past, of earlier times and of earlier mores.

For the most part, these travellers are glad that these earlier times and mores have been overcome in the West with only few nostalgic remembrances of things such as hospitality. As the travellers transit various geographical spaces, they seem to be moving back in time. The awareness of how far civilization had come in the West is set in the forefront of their minds even before travelling to the East: We feel that our civilization has made a qualitative leap, and all previous ages seem to us somewhat shocking, even barbarous, in their apparently unruffled acceptance of inflicted or easily avoidable suffering and death, even of cruelty, torture, to the point of revelling in their display. (Taylor 396)

What comes as a shock to these travellers is the continued existence of those earlier models within a space they perceive as other. Thus, these narratives from the 19th century are a way for the travelling British to represent their culture by means of a mirror provided by the inhabitants of the countries transited by them. The cultural representation is commendatory for the British Empire and derogatory for the East, and implicitly for the Wallachians. The geographical and temporal removal from the West to the East is tacitly implied to parallel a reversion to an earlier model, possibly a sign of a fall from grace

The romantic period in Europe – with its first proponents in England and Germany and its starting date of 1798 – is characterized by several aspects that become immediately visible in these travel narratives from the 1830s. The escape into the past, history, tradition and foreign, exotic places, identifying national characteristics in terms of mythology, folklore, and language, contemplating nature with its local specificity, seeing man as a microcosm mirroring the outside world as macrocosm.

Visiting distant lands is a typically romantic pursuit of leisure, as are an appreciation of nature, of gothic elements, of ruins and of exotic places. The British travellers’ journeys through Wallachia fit several of these categories since they visit the ruins of Trajan’s bridge, of castles, and cities.

Joseph Michael Quin uses romanticized images with gothic overtones in the way he sets up nature as an inherent extension of the national character: The whole of this narrow passage amongst the rocks was curious, and highly romantic.

(…) A cluster of rocks, somewhat further on, assumed all the appearance of the ruins of a cathedral, with its towers and ivied walls, and Gothic windows and gates. The effect of this pile was remarkably picturesque, as it rose on an eminence above a mass of green foliage, which seemed to conceal the lower parts of the cathedral. (Quin 91-92)

In this particular fragment, nature itself has taken the guise of a pile of stones that seemed to be a cathedral at one time. The point of entrance into Wallachia, while voyaging down the Danube, is represented by the Iron Gates: celebrated "Iron Door" of the Danube. It is a series of rapids so called from the extreme difficulty of passing them, and also probably from the almost impenetrable nature and ferruginous colour of the rocks.

(…). These rocks (…) looked terrific; the gaping jaws, as it were, of some infernal monster. When the Danube is at its ordinary height, replenished by its usual tributaries, the roar of its waters in hurrying through the "Iron Door," is borne on the winds for many miles around, like the sound of continued peals of thunder. (Quin 144)

Describing the first confrontation with Wallachia, Quin chooses to describe the Iron Door of the Danube with words such as “extreme difficulty”, “impenetrable nature”, “gaping jaws, as it were, of some infernal monster”, “roar of its waters”, “the sound of continued peals of thunder” which clearly place the style in the Romantic period. He uses the landscape to characterize the people of this land. The Wallachians and their land are placed in world beyond that to which the traveller is accustomed. The land seems to protect its people since the entrance to it seems impenetrable. The Gothicised nature of gaping jaws and peals of thunder seems ready to expel the foreigners. Thus, the British traveller’s depiction of Wallachia as the land of alterity is justified in his view.

Edmund Spencer begins his interactions with Wallachia by describing the cataracts or whirlpools that constitute “an object of great terror to the navigators”. (Spencer 62)

The impetuousness and violence of the stream that dash ships “to pieces by the foaming surge” is seen as a possible connection to the character of the Wallachians. (Spencer 63)

The Iron Gates or Demirkapi as it was called by the Turks due to its prior impassability is described as length due to its savage beauty and the perils it represents – a channel, rushes between stupendous rocks down the descent with the rapidity of lightning, and with a crash so tremendous as to overpower every other sound; while the foaming surge, as it broke with violence over the deck, and lashed the sides of our vessel, gave to the river the appearance of the sea when agitated by a storm. The romantic character is evident here, but what is more important to Spencer, is the fact that the steamboat he was on was the first to accomplish the perilous feat of travelling past the cataracts without employing the alternative overland route.

Another romantic element refers to the ruins of the bridge built by Apollodorus Damascenes at the command of Emperor Trajan.

“the remains of the arches are visible at low water, and the towers on each side of the river still maintain their position, in defiance of the storms of ages.” (Spencer 73)

In this case too, one may consider that these ruins enduring through the ages are a sign of the character of the Wallachians. Elliott also praises the romantic character of the Danube, seems impressed with the wilderness of the views. He tells us that “the scenery on both sides is romantic to a great degree” and “the river opens a majestic view.” (Elliott 134)

After a few positive remarks regarding the landscape, the attention of the traveller turns to further criticism.

Finally, John Paget starts by praising the Danube and its picturesque, yet wild vista:

“I know of no river scenery in Europe to be compared with it (…) the Danube is wild and awfully grand.” (Paget 116)

In true romantic style he also visits the ruins of Trajan’s bridge and those of Sarmisegethusa at Gradistie, “the former capital of the Dacians, the residence of Decebalus”, and the place where Trajan built Ulpia Trajana. (Paget 181)

The British travellers discuss the baths at Mehadia, which existed since the times of the Romans, who called them “Thermae Herculis ad aquas”. These baths are surrounded by landscapes that are “beautiful, abounding with romantic valleys and lofty hills” (Spencer 66) and there are legends which link Hercules to this area:

“Hercules bathed in a dark cavern, access to which is by a small aperture not large enough to allow a man to enter erect.” (Elliott 137)

Paget also mentions the legends attached to places such as a cave near Babakay:

“the identical cave of the Dragon slain by St. George, and where, they say, the foul carcass still decays, and, like Virgil's ox, gives birth to a host of winged things.” (Paget 116)

Similarly, to the earlier travellers, Paget places the Wallachian principality beyond the realm of the ordinary. He also chronicles the superstitions of the Wallachians and their connection to the Romans: one superstition in particular reminds Paget of the Roman libations – refers to spilling a little of the water taken from well, to appease the spirits “who might otherwise make her pure draught an evil-bearing potion.” (Paget 223)

Paget appreciates the heart and soul of the people inhabiting this land, a people who is unwilling to leave behind the bones of its ancestors. Moreover, in Paget’s view, the Wallachians’ redeeming qualities are his love of his parents and the care and respect for the elderly:

“They would consider it a disgrace to allow anyone else to support their aged and poor, while they could do it themselves.” (Paget 220)

John Paget looks towards the history of the principalities in order to winnow the truth from the falsehoods ascertained as the national character of the Wallachians by those prejudiced against any eastern people. Charles Boileau Elliott characterizes the Wallachians in terms of their agricultural occupations but also informs the reader that in older times they used to be shepherds – hence the name: “in Illyrian Vlach signifies a herdsman, whence is derived the name Wallachia.”

Slavery was an issue that would have scandalized the British traveller since Great Britain had just made it illegal. In Wallachia the slaves were all gipsies. Gipsies lived throughout Europe and the question of their origin had not yet been resolved, yet it was supposed that they hailed from Egypt. The prejudice against gipsies was prevalent elsewhere as well and it was rampant in the principalities. Here, they were valued as little as, or less than, beasts of burden.

The physiognomy, musical taste, thievish and conjuring tricks, falsehood, dirt, and idleness, which characterize them throughout the world, here equally distinguish them. (…) A healthy man costs three pounds, a woman two; and both sexes are bought and sold by the nobles without any regard to the bonds of domestic union. (Elliott 159-161)

In terms of morality, Elliott becomes quite critical of the Wallachians: “immorality of the worst description pervades all classes in the principalities.” (Elliott 161) This sentence he passes due to the lack of observance of marriage vows and the fact that the locals divorce their spouses without much thought. Elliott is firmly convinced of the salience of the family as the building block of society. Thus, by allowing divorce, the society of the principalities is perverted especially since it does not attempt to pass judgment, to shame or to shun those involved in such scandalous conduct. Elliott is firm in his judgment of this disreputable behaviour, considering that the values of his own nation and culture are visibly superior: “it may safely be affirmed that Christendom does not contain a country more demoralized and more degraded than Wallachia and Moldavia.” (Elliott 162)

This is the ultimate historical act at the end of the eighteenth- and the beginning of the nineteenth century, which indicated that a series of economic, administrative, social, and politic changes would definitely occur, influencing the culture and the mentality of the society as well. Ambassadors, leisure travellers, men of science, missionaries, and other types of travellers noted down in their diaries information regarding various aspects of the cities in the Principalities.

There is no doubt that the opinions of the British travellers on Wallachia depended to a large extent on their professional background and education, the aim of their visit, as well as the geopolitical interests that their country had in this area. As such, it would be useful if we made up a typology of the travellers to Wallachia.

On the one hand, descriptions of Wallachia came from the British officials to the Ottoman Porte, such as Sir Robert Liston and Sir William Sidney Smith.

On the other hand, the leisure traveller type of visitors who crossed the Principalities on their way to Constantinople could afford to undertake a luxurious “Grand Tour” (John B.S. Morritt of Rokeby, Robert Stockdale, Randle Wilbraham, and John Jackson). Then, those who travelled for scientific purpose in Europe and Asia were, among others, William Hunter, John Jackson, Lady Elizabeth Craven, and John Sibthorp.

British travellers to Wallachia perceived the realities in Wallachia in relation with what they had already known and valued. Some of these travellers had a superficial attitude regarding what they saw, or they were simply ignorant. Whether they had personal or official interests in the area or travelled for pleasure, whether they were censored out of security motives or practiced self-imposed censorship, these British travellers to Wallachia admired the geographical prosperity of the country, but criticised the lack of interest manifested by the people in regard to the advantage they should take of the natural resources of their country. The bumpy roads, the lack of accommodation associated with the impossibility of getting food supplies for a few days were perceived by the British travellers as a refusal to the basic things that a person needed in order to feel comfortable.

The Wallachian identity is constructed through its closeness to the nature and landscapes of the country the Wallachians inhabit, as well as through the criticism offered by the travellers in terms of the primitivism of the living conditions.

The British identity, on the other hand, is conceptualized via the technological advancements and the inventions of the age – chief among them being the steam engine that enables the British nationals to travel down the Danube – and through their desire to attempt civilizing missions wherever they go.

While there is a clear dichotomy between the two identities, the British travellers also seem to realize that this ease of movement and conveyance will eventually result in an obliteration of the distinctive national features of Europe and a merging of these identities.

Nevertheless, the British national identity is clearly poised as the superior pole of the binary opposition and through reverse-mirroring, the Wallachian identity becomes an alterity through its primitive and Orientalized embodiment.

Consequently, the travellers spent very little time in Wallachia and complained about the situation they experienced. However, in order to understand all these aspects in general and in detail, these British travel accounts should be translated into Romanian completely and correctly, owing to the fact that the research that has been done so far is incomplete and sometimes lacks accurate interpretations.

CHAPTER IV

British Romantic Writers in Wallachia.

Lady Elizabeth Craven

This country may be called indeed

a jewel ill set,

what would it be under the hands of taste and industry.

Elizabeth Craven

During the later eighteenth century in Britain we see the rise of the woman travel writer. This rise promoted debate and conflict amongst British reviews and papers about the nature of women’s travel writing. However, women travel writers such as Lady Montague and Lady Elizabeth Craven, were at the fore of an intellectual drive to describe and detail other countries, climates and cultures.

Elizabeth Craven (1750-1828) was a British author and traveller. After thirteen years of marriage to Baron William Craven, six children and a scandalous life, she separated from her husband in 1773, settled in France and thereafter travelled extensively. In 1791, both her husband and the wife of her lover passed away. She married the latter in Lisbon the same year. The couple led an opulent life in various towns of England. She died in 1828, in her villa at Posilipo near Naples.

Lady Craven wrote pantomimes, farces, fables and travel chronicles, and also composed two musical works. During the years 1785-1786, she travelled through Central Europe to Saint Petersburg, Moscow and the Crimea, from where she sailed to Constantinople. She visited the Greek islands of Andros, Siphnos, Naxos, Antiparos, Melos, and by way of Smyrna ended up again at the Bosporus.

On her return trip, she stayed in the Danube capitals of Jassy (Iași) and Bucharest. She became acquainted with Phanariot circles and travelled throughout Moldavia and Wallachia quite comfortably and without trouble. Craven left us remarkable descriptions, albeit tinted with the English aristocrat’s irony, of the Greek women of the islands and their diversions, the music of the Greeks, the Sublime Porte’s appointment of Phanariot Nicholas Mavrogenes as Prince of Wallachia and his departure from Constantinople, as well as of her voyage on a Turkish vessel with a Greek captain, from the Black Sea port of Sebastopol to the Ottoman capital.

Those visiting Turkey and Russia, as Craven and Montague did, were unearthing new insights into the lives of people outside of Britain. These insights became, in a book trade still based on plagiarism, part of the geography and history books of the period.

The first widely published travel narrative by a woman was Elizabeth Justice’s A Voyage to Russia published in 1739 and this was followed in 1760s, 1770s and 1780s by a whole raft of published travel narratives by women. Among these we find Lady Elizabeth Craven’s A Journey through the Crimea to Constantinople (1789).

Lady Craven was a controversial figure. She separated from her former husband William, the sixth Baron Craven, in 1767 and after travelling the continent developed a “more than sisterly affection” for the, then still married, Margrave of Anspach, to whom Craven’s letters are addressed. As one reviewer in the Analytical Review noted “The letters of this sprightly female will naturally excite curiosity”.

In later editions of her writings Craven attempted to defend what she perhaps perceived herself as her neglect of her family whilst travelling, a reaction to the moralistic climate prevailing from the late eighteenth into the early nineteenth century. However, Craven was also involved in a conflict over the appraisal of foreign peoples. Craven attacked Montague’s Embassy Letters arguing that they were “male compositions, pretending to female grace in the style, the facts mostly inventions”. In reality however the difference here was how Montague and Craven each chose to display the countries they visited. Where Montague chose to admire Turkey, Craven chose to display its cultural contrasts with English society from a standpoint of moral repugnance and orientalising condescension. This was welcomed by the monthly review who praised her “liberal reflections” as those of a “lover of her own country” and “citizen of the world”

Lady Craven’s writings were also more explicitly associated with conflict. Very little on Turkey had been published in Britain during the eighteenth century. Lady Craven’s letters, published as they were during a conflict between Russia, Austria and the Ottoman Empire which ended with the 1792 treaty of Jassy, were an important source of knowledge on Turkey and the Ottomans and thus of interest to numerous Britons. In fact, this information was also used by the combatants themselves: Lady Craven met with Emperor Joseph II in 1786, the year before war broke out, and brought him a selection of maps of Turkey which, she noted, “seemed to please him very much”.

However, travel writings were also an instrumental tool in that great Enlightenment project of discovering and categorising the world. In his travels across the globe during the late eighteenth century John Ledyard mused on the idea of a ‘philosophic geography’ whereby the different gradations of society, civilised and uncivilised, distinctions between brute and man, might be described. What Ledyard was engaged in describing in his ‘Philosophic geography’ was the manners and civilizational status of different countries and peoples.

When describing the countries through which she travelled Lady Craven was engaging in a very similar affair to Ledyard. The concern with civilisation which characterises Ledyard comes forth in Craven’s comments on Wallachia, musing that “This country may be called indeed a jewel ill set, what would it be under the hands of taste and industry”. Lady Craven describes the landscape, the villages and towns, and ethnographically categorises the people she passes, describing the Cossacks as the “Ugliest fiercest looking men imaginable, with their eyes set in their head, inclining down to their nose, and uncommonly square jawbones”. Perhaps the most original comments, which struck out the ‘new path’ described by Astell at the beginning of this article, are those reflecting the state of women in Turkey and the Crimea. Excluded from the Ottoman court, Craven describes instead the experiences of the women of the harem and the status of villagers instead of the political and diplomatic material which dominated other accounts.

It was the new information that travel writers including women such as Lady Craven acquired and presented in their published letters that became important in the geography and history books of the day. In many cases travel writings were borrowed and copied from with little regard for footnoting. Lady Craven’s insights into the lives of Tartars and Turks are used throughout the sections on these states, especially those on the houses of Tartars and the situation of women in the respective countries.

Whilst there was a conflict about what the status of women travel writers was during the later eighteenth century, women like Lady Craven were also part of an intellectual discovery of the world, demarcating a ‘philosophical geography’ which was then digested by the reading public of Britain in the form of travel writings and in geography books. This discovery and description of other countries was not restricted to men, and women, particularly of Craven’s class, played a major role.

The tourist use of the vessel in aristocratic Travel Enlightenment Europe has been little studied so far. This is the interest of the journey that leads Elizabeth Craven in 1785-1786, on the borders of Europe, to the Crimea, land still uncrowded, and Constantinople. It follows an original geographical journey in which fit the usual elements of the Italian cultural circuit and those rarest of the Greek archipelago, reserved for the privileged few. The story of her journey provides information on routes, types of ship and cruise, coastal most often. The analysis of these sea routes used to assess navigation conditions, stops and that the passenger feels. This type of source can contribute to the study of sea routes by individuals during leisure travel in the late eighteenth century.

In addition, the story assesses the report to the sea of the traveller. It conveys images that construct representations of modern maritime world. We would add that in these journeys of a dilettante, the taste for the picturesque, the observation of coastal landscapes and drawings of her favourite itineraries combining the overland and sea lanes. The traveller passes from one to another with carriage, servants and luggage, sometimes leaving the ground or behind the clutter.

The vogue travel stories in the eighteenth century is no longer to stress, especially in England, where the genre is popular with a cultivated public. The use of the epistolary form, even fictional, is a figure imposed very fashionable in the literature of the Enlightenment. The 68 letters that make up the book are addressed to a brother-friend, the Margrave of Ansbach, future second husband of Elizabeth Craven.

Lady Elizabeth craven made the same journey as Hauterive in the following year, 1786. Setting out from Constantinople, she rejected the Belgrade route as overly infested with robbers:

I have consulted maps, and the best informed travellers here and am assured I can go through Bulgaria, Wallachia and Transylvania to Vienna with great ease and dispatch.

Then, however, she received new warning of much greater risques in taking this new route, for that I should find heads stuck up on poles at every mile, those countries being much more infested with robbers and murderers than other.

She decided not to believe it, but travelled nevertheless with two most excellent little English pistols I wear at my girdle. She admitted, most women would be frightened with the journey I am taking; but I must get out of this country of Mahomet’s now I am in it, and so I shall proceed cheerfully and merrily.

That she was a woman made her journey appear especially adventurous, in the making and in the telling. She played upon this in her travel account, in Bulgaria, for instance:

Bulgaria is but little cultivated, and where I saw a Turk at work in the fields, he was armed with a gun…Such a sight, and a wood I passed through, so little worn by travellers, that the trees and bushes tore off the door of my carriage, were circumstances that might have made any fine lady tremble.

Thus the reader – and the fine lady – was invited to tremble with her. In fact, she had a travelling companion, Mademoiselle, a Frenchwoman with a white little dog, and both fine ladies had an official Turkish guide to make all arrangements.

The prince and princess of Wallachia importuned Lady craven to stay for a year, perhaps thinking her an even finer catch than Hauterive, who was then staying in the neighbouring Moldavia – but I assured them I should not stay four and twenty hours in Buccorest. All the same, she noted with pleased surprise that Wallachia was not quite the Orient:

The supper was served in a more European manner than I should have imagined; a table upon legs, and chairs to sit on, were things I did not expect.

She took away with her some very beautiful embroidered handkerchiefs as a souvenir. Moreover, she admired the mountains and forests of Wallachia: Nothing more wild and romantic can be conceived…but such scenery can scarcely compensate for the dreadful road.

Indeed, though twenty peasants were carrying her carriage over the mountains, it nevertheless overturned and she found herself upon the ground with Mademoiselle besides her crying over and over, Je suis morte.

With an English eye for agriculture, she admired the soil of Wallachia, a rich, black mould, and concluded, this country may be called indeed a jewel ill set, what would it be under the hands of taste and industry.

The metaphor of the jewel ill set neatly expressed Lady Craven’s Eastern Europe, for it suggested the lack of polishing and finishing that made those lands almost, but not quite, a lady’s prize. The Transylvanian Alps, or the Southern Carpathians, ran along the border between Ottoman Wallachia and the Habsburg empire, those enchanting mountains destined certainly for other purposes than harbouring oppressed subjects or fugitive murderers. She was relieved to see the Habsburg eagle, to enter Transylvania and feel myself under the Imperial protection, and the old customs official told her she was the first lady he had seen or heard of passing that frontier.

She dramatized her account as a lady’s adventure, from start to finish, discovering lands where visiting adventurers had been mostly men. The Emperor Joseph II was reviewing his regiments in Transylvania when Lady Craven crossed the border, and he sent me word he should wait upon me, which he did. He was especially interested in the maps that she had collected on her journey, which seemed to please him a lot. In fact, Joseph II would go to war with the Ottoman Empire the very next year, in 1787, his last great adventure in foreign policy. He hoped to conquer Wallachia and Moldavia, so the maps and experiences of Lady Craven were of special interest in 1786. The jewel, even ill set, appeared desirable to an emperor. If the Habsburgs had reached Bucharest, they would have stayed for more than a day.

What the end of the eighteenth-century in Wallachia reveals to the British travellers and officials is a portrayal of the unfortunate consequences and the ruins brought about by the Russian-Austrian-Turkish war (1787-1791) as well as of the Russian and Ottoman dominations. From the sixteenth- to the eighteenth-century, the Ottoman Empire made every effort to transform its official authority into an absolute suzerainty. The Porte appointed a Wallachian prince in exchange for fabulous sums of money and consequently, the princes did not feel secure in their positions, being either replaced or deposed, and eventually, assassinated.

Elizabeth Craven is a woman who travelled throughout Europe after she had divorced Lord Craven5 and she noticed the frequent change of the princes performed by the Ottoman Porte, followed by the huge fortunes that these princes collected only to be shortly and inevitably chopped off of their heads after reigning for about three years on the throne.

Consequently, Wallachia suffered all the more due to a poor management of the principality and owing to an enormous disinterest regarding the vital administrative affairs. The Turkish powerful influence gradually lost its force when faced with the new military power that emerged in the eighteenth-century, Russia. Starting with the year 1774, with the Russian–Turkish peace treaty of Kuciuk-Kainargi and reaching the highest point in 1849 when the Balta-Liman meeting took place, various conventions were signed to consolidate the commitment that the Ottoman Porte had made in regard to the Romanian Principalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Travel writing was one of the most popular literary genres in the eighteenth century. Arguably, this period was a time of increased scientific and economic exploration, and numerous scientific expeditions were motivated by the ambition to ‘boldly go where no man has gone before’. At the same time, travel in the form of tourism became more widespread, especially for the middle classes.

Before the second half of the eighteenth century, information in Western languages on the Romanian lands tended to be confined to these kinds of incidental observations by scholars, traders or diplomats usually on their way between larger centers such as Vienna, Istanbul, Warsaw or St. Petersburg.

A particular stimulus for interest in the area was the renewed conflict between Russia and the Ottomans which broke out in 1768, and was often cast as part of the broader question of the revival of Greece. In the absence of any designated territory of Greece during this period, the status of Moldavia and Wallachia as lands governed semi-autonomously by Phanariot princes appointed from Istanbul, as well as their location in the path of the Russian armies on their way south, rendered them the focus of European attention.

British travellers to Wallachia perceived the realities in Wallachia in relation with what they had already known and valued. Some of these travellers had a superficial attitude regarding what they saw, or they were simply ignorant. Whether they had personal or official interests in the area or travelled for pleasure, whether they were censored out of security motives or practiced self-imposed censorship, these British travellers to Wallachia admired the geographical prosperity of the country, but criticised the lack of interest manifested by the people in regard to the advantage they should take of the natural resources of their country.

What the end of the eighteenth-century in Wallachia reveals to the British travellers and officials is a portrayal of the unfortunate consequences and the ruins brought about by the Russian-Austrian-Turkish war (1787-1791) as well as of the Russian and Ottoman dominations.

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ANNEXES

1

LETTER LXIV.

BUCCOREST.

WHEN I landed in Wallachia I found horses, provisions, and guards, provided for me, and I rather flew than drove along. From Karalash, for a considerable way, the route lay on the borders of the Danube, where cattle of all sorts were feeding upon the finest sorts of clover, intermixed with various flowers. There is no road made, and I saw no carriage track, but a fine soil without stones or ruts, made the journey very pleasant. As I came near to Bucco∣rest I quitted the meadows, and saw a most beautiful country, where small woods of fine timber and Turkish corn, standing above six feet high, formed a rich and varied pic∣ture. Several boyards came to meet me, and my Arnauts, or guards, were extreme∣ly alert and clever; though their usual mode of supplying my carriages with horses often gave me great displeasure; for it frequently happened, that a peasant mounted on a good-looking horse, with his sack of flour behind him, was dismounted in an instant, a tired horse left him, and his fresh horse harnessed to my carriage. I wanted at least to have some money given the man, and an explanation of the affair, but it seems the Prince of Wallachia had ordered that I should have no trouble or delay—and not be suffered to pay for any thing, so that the little money I gave away was privately, and not without much management could I con∣trive it. Just as I was about to enter Bucco∣rest, I found a party of Janissaries with a tent pitched about a mile from the town, who quarrelled with all my attendants, and made the postillions drive back to enter the town another way as I was told, that road having been shut by order of the Prince. My sur∣prise increased, when I found myself drove under a large gateway belonging to a Greek convent, the inner court of which was very fine and spacious surrounded by cloisters with Gothic arches—My carriage was pre∣sently surrounded by people of various na∣tions, talking all languages to me—At last I addressed myself to one in a French dress; pray, Sir, said I, where am I? A German servant of mine spoke to him in German, and I found I was driven in there to per∣form quarantine, for five days at least. The superior of the convent, by this time had come up to the door of the carriage: fancy∣ing by my looks, I suppose, that I had not the plague, he desired me to make use of his rooms till I had chosen my lodging for the night. The old venerable man sat by me and Mademoiselle while we dined; and I had then sent down to the town to inform the Prince of my situation—But I asked my respectable host where I should lodge if I staid—He pointed to a small miserable room across the court, with only bare walls, and the windows of it were all broken. This room was to contain all my suite with me; for every company I found that arrived, was kept apart from the rest. Close to the door of this room I saw a wretched crea∣ture alone, with death in his countenance. And pray, says I, what is that miserable figure?—A man suspected to have the plague, who was put away as far from the others as possible, with a little clean straw to lie upon. I confess I was heartily glad when the Imperial agent came from the town, to inform me the Prince was very sorry for the mistake—that it never was his intention I should be sent to the convent. I thanked my old father for his civilities, and hastened to the town, where I had been but a few moments, before a gold coach, made I believe in the year one, came to the door, with a set of brown-bay stone-horses, that seemed to spurn the earth. There was a Turkish groom that held the bridle of each horse. A kind of chamberlain, with a gold robe on, and a long white stick in his hand, and the Prince's private secretary came to fetch me. The whole town, I believe, by this time was got round the equipage, and we proceeded very slowly to the first court of the palace, in which I went through a double row of guards, some of them Janis∣saries, and the others Arnauts and Albani∣ans. In the second court was another dou∣ble row of guards, and these extended up a large flight of steps that conducted us to the great audience-chamber, in the corner of which, a space was divided off with cushi∣ons, upon which sat the Prince, dressed and attended à la Turque; over his head were ranged the horses tails, the great helmet and feather, the magnificent sabre, and other arms which I had seen parade before him in the streets of Constantinople. He asked me by the interpreter, how Mons. de Choiseul did—and if I would not make some stay in Wallachia. Coffee and sweetmeats were served, and when I rose to take my leave, one of his chamberlains told me in a whisper to sit down again, when my ears were assailed by the most diabolical noise I ever heard; upon which with a very grave loud voice the secretary said, c'est pour vous Madame—c'est la musique du Prince; and the Prince desired me to look out into the court—There I saw trumpets of all kinds, brass plates striking together, and drums of all sizes, some of which, not larger than breakfast-cups, were ranged on the ground, and the strikers of them squatted on the ground to beat them. Each musician was endeavouring to drown the noise of his neigh∣bour, by making a louder if possible; and I do not know that my nerves ever were so tried before; for my companion, who saw the difficulty I had to refrain from laughing, was saying, for God's sake do not laugh—Mr. de Choiseul's excellent German mu∣sicians came into my head too at that mo∣ment, and the contrast of his music to the noise I heard, added to the absurdity of the thing, so that I suffered extremely; how∣ever this scene did not last long, I was called to have an audience of the Princess—

But here I must leave you for the present. Before I set out I will finish my account of this reception.

Adieu, E. C—

A Map of the Roads of Crim Tartary, the ancient Chersonesus Taurica.

Lady Elizabeth Craven,

A Journey through the Crimea to Constantinople.

Sifnos from the northwest.

Lady Elizabeth Craven,

A Journey through the Crimea to Constantinople.

Annexes 2

Queen Victoria, Prince consort Albert and their first five children (painting by Franz Xaver Winterhalter). This union of the young queen and her German cousin, favored by their family circle, will prove to be a true love story.

World History Archive / ABACAPRESS.COM

The wedding of Victoria and Albert is celebrated at the Queen’s Chapel of the Palace of Saint James, built in the 17th century by the architect Inigo Jones. Culture Club / Getty Images

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OBTAIN PERMISSION TO MARRY

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