NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 5013, 14 March 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL.

rjKJfKBAL SUM MARI. ■ , V W I>. and ex-Cokmol Baker »ro H-’ r * r ‘ * hsve proceeded to Burgas. in r.T' 7rl , ~ ( .. v ior to view the country where . k fn;v will hare to take up a do|!w 1 ,‘V.itien in the ««nt of the Balkan (pr>l v.r"c forced hr Hip-Russians, pilin’! _ s 0!1 i y ttro odicer* in the 1!ur ‘ r lrnv who have Weed longer in it l}cnn sr ‘ u B ■^, ll peror —Field-Marshal A on th»« V' i. - ep time of lorrice somewhat v ; u ; ami Lieutenant-General Von , k ; lV r.imandant of the House of ha* seen 72 years of service, that i’olish refugees in Bwitter* ■* ro mdressed a memorial to Lord Salis- ' . - Vj 5 , c him to use his influence with h ;:r . T ! in order to obtain for their !N : ', rn ‘under Russian rule, at present ,V “ oppressed,” the same concession* ” mwd ' 0!I bcbaH ° f th ° S ° U of Whitby, from i «-ith coals, struck an the beaeh at Ki in making for the harbour The v ’National lifeboat Harriott borteah, with a crew of 12 hands, put off ‘“‘h IL.-ue of the crew of the oolhcr. When ; f (he. wreck, the lifeboat capsized, *■ V • >. sn ds, with the exception of one, were - i-to the water. Seven of the men !: W;n getting into the boat again, and ashore, but three of her crew were r‘ i‘ Xhe crew of the schooner were ~;:*' ra ' r ii rescued by the rocket apparatus. " ‘l’ t »i storv come* from the village of u- i-on Irent. One Sunday afternoon, ' Tiiiap? children came out of school, *“ e ‘‘jfliow, aged 11, named James ■!'was teasing a girl named Charlotte U ar.i pulling her dress. She told him 7,”C -ui*e;, and pushing at him with an •v'f.nV* the point accidentaUy entered hi* "Ts"d'he tell unconscious to the ground. r/ww raken home, and the effect of the -Vt upon the father was »o great that he w« seized with a fit, and died shortly after- ,, Ihe little boy died about seven the Ts-j e'erioe, and his* mother ha* since been r.'fr.fd to the house, owing to the influence ihe sudden double bereavement. “lae anti-Papal newspapers have announced cns rlng of a scandalous action against the Antonelli. A certain lady has claimed, it is said, against the estate of the jste Ci-imai Secretary of State. The necesI& U papers have been placed in the hands of il L'-r'-, the Italian Minister of Grace and "’sr * a near relative of Moncini is to be tb? "counsel for the lady. It is likely the ifii- Kill never come before a court. The Is-t'j claims, were they even true in fact, -•uld not be successfully sustained in a court • ; ”*w and the only proper action to be taken s-.-.u.d’be one against the lady for attempting to extort money under threats of publishing tbixj! unpleasant. I-.f Ber.m corresrendent of the Daily V.-r jars it is piobable that Germany and i-;.iudwul soon send men-of-war to the PtLif in? Islands for common action against the obstacles which Spain puts in the way of their commerce with tha Sulus. The sovereign'." of Spain over the Sulu Islands is not bv Germany. 'it Falmouth, on Dec. 29, the Galveston ran fgnl of the Hiima, bound for Melbourne, Tine latter lost her ]ibboom,and bad her bows From returns which have reached us (says the Ti.-tpesa Mail), we gather that nearly it? wt;l? r cf the mohair clip cultivated betVetn"the Eaiine and the Mediterranean is consume a in Turkey. This would seem to nd’is: attention being paid to this industry in iiuetmli!. We hear that Messrs Webster ViLurra.. recently sold privately a parcel cf monsitr from the New England district at ’ Mr Edward Turner, who was surgeon to the rntneer Expedition to New Guinea, in 1-74 ].u arrived in Birmingham, and intends to irctn-e cn wbat he saw in the island wmen lit created so much interest lately amonz naturalist* and geographers. Accord .nz to the European Mail, Mr Turner is pre pir»: to throw some light upon the tails o: tr.c- Native*, who, he avers, certainly an ptisesicd of such appendages. _ An incident which is not a little signiucan ;; tne efficiency of the British navy at tbi romsnt,;» mentioned in a letter from Besiki a* • With a view to ascertain the time tha i ii n be occupied in bringing one of ou ; r;nmui* ;nlo action, the admiral directed i • turn out ’ in the middle of the nigh , n ir : T nrjvious warning. The cojnman no* ?ir' i mptlv ofaeved, the whole ship bein ..-.IrV fur action ucd the first gun fired witbi

h\m from the time the alarm waa i TL-re is some talk of another Polar expocjv,a,to be act on foot by the united yacht I .... .-<{ the kingdom. Dr Petermann, the i T-r:;.:.-. geographer, is now in London, m , .r-r to consult with the promotcra of the t«re. Commander Cheyne, B N.F.B.G S-. , i! -irnverrd a lecture on the aubject in Bt ■iK-.-n't Hall. The lecturer said he would until he had induced a private Lomi .‘O Ui out a (ingle ship—the Discovery —to reach the Polo by Davis Wellington Channel, and then to to the north-west, and get into the r r-:M from BehnDg'e Htraiti, which he - w-e - ud drift round the Pole, and return v.-th by gpiubergen. Impressed by the prac i intT of Una route, he would take com0* suH, t,n expedition, and would not of turning back, but would push oo.and wom-i encourage his men by assuring them that tlv.v would not return by the same route, ■u- -i i u '- c-Tery mile they made would bring home. Should he fail to secure ■ patronage in England he would ■ v,.; his services at the dispose of some other cowVjry, though it would boalastmgd pry« to Knglaod should Germany or America flri* plant a i h' at the Pole. r j nomas Edward. I he writer on scientific -.v ■?■**, has been awarded a pennon o! I ZM per'annum by the Qu.cn, and Jins received 4 d.i intimation of the royal intention OJ of which the following is a copy " r Whitehall-gardens, Christmas Day, IH7 • -n.r—ibf Oaten Ins been much interested .n reading Jut biography by Mr Bmiles, and • touched ‘by your successful P UMUIt -'•'dural (Hence under all the cares and trouble M daily toil. Her Majesty has been gm- ' -oudy pleased to confer on you a P of £W a year. I am, Ac., yours faithfully, L f 2 A (‘OMB MELD. 11 , , /■e j’lur ,U Van was socially observed m Pans by the usual interchange of congratm**ory £ood wiihce, and the display 0 - ingenious and significant, J IL-shops of dealers in such triflo9 ;, .; t : ca ] w:.', it ec'-ms, a brisk traffic in Wpcts," 'rout, of all kinds. or e ■ • represented Kussians and Turks fastenec to the Ciffie string ; a knot was poUcL fid ir a moment the Muscovite was nstn-9 Morn's shoulders. Others were eoanrungee f: -M by t ouching a string a Prussian cm. a* V'-dt blow on the helmet of a Bus *, ''■ her, while an English pfficcr, m e , c . . uniform, standing next in sucsMsiou, wni 11 Turk round in one hand and a the other. A certain toy, called the “ Question/' was largely in request, oonslructo us follows,—A confused number of ring hang »ound a steel crescent: how is order t be evolved out of chaos? Every effort pr< due.es a new entanglement. At last the to; seller, who is in the secret of the puzzl divides the crescent into several pieces, an the rings spontaneously arrange thorrßelves, The most exciting wreck over remembori in front of Brighton was that of the Ida, i Glasgow, on tho night of Jan. 6. BotnO ffl hours before the wreck .'he was seen USt *ome distance from shore The townepepp heard of tho probability of a wreck, and in le* nnnutes tho sea front was crowded wi pooplo. the nigbt grew darker tho cjcil mtni became intense, and about seven o 010 signals of distress were fired from the shi Anticipating this, the coastguard immediate

brought into pIM «hoir rockot The firstflred mixed Bio ship, the second passed over the vessel ; and, most, unfortunately, an accident, fatal in its results, happened at this moment through the dropping of a fuse upon an idle rocket. It exploded, scamporoo over the bench among the spectators,shattered,and broke both legs of Mr E. H. Jones, of Regent street London, who is well-known in connection with the West Middlesex Waterworks office. He was borne away to the County Hospital, where bo died from prostration the next morning. Others were also injured by the unfortunate accident. Captain F. Collins, immediately on sighting the signals from the ship, together with seven others, pushed off from shore in the town lifeboat, and succeeded in reaching the wreck in time to savo throe men, who had leaped into the sea and wore struggling for life. They also brought away others of the crow. The Humane Society's boat rescued the remainder, including the captain, whom it was hard to persuade to leave the lost vessel. The next morning the Ida lay a wreck upon the beach, and appeared to be breaking up. The Carlisle Patriot states that recently there was some ferment at Carlisle Quarter Sessions when it became known that there was likely to bo a breakdown of the machinery of justice, owing to the gentlemen of the Bar having refused to take briefs in the oases for trial. This was in consequence of an intimation by the clerk of the peace (Mr Nanson) that in future the Treasury would allow only a guinea a brief instead of two guineas, as hitherto. Tho barristers declined to take the reduced fee, and there was nothing left to be done save for tho attorneys to place the briefs in tho hands of tho court, and let it deal with tho matter as it thought best. Accordingly, when tho deputy-recorder (Mr Loofrio Temple, Q.O) had concluded his charge to tho grand jury, Mr Wannop handed in a brief marked “one guinea,” at tho same time saying that there was a strike among tho barristers, who would not accept the briefs at tho fee allowed. Mr Nanson said tho matter had boon brought before the deputy-recorder, who had arranged to pay the two guineas on this occasion. Mr Wannop—" Then I may mark tho briefs two guineas ? ” Mr Nanson—" Yes.” Shortly after this announcement the barristers came into court, and tho threatened block was ayerted.

THE EASTERN QUESTION. Regarding the results of the Conference, the London correspondent of the Melbourne Argus writes under dote Jan. 19, as follows: —

The force is at length played out, and now the question is how soon will the tragedy commence. My last Brindisi letter stated plainly that there was little likelihood that the Turks would give way, and that the conference would in all probability be a complete fiasco. It must be admitted, however, that the month has witnessed such a remarkable change in the character of the propositions made to the Porte that no one could have foreseen that the Ottoman Government would still adhere to its policy of resistance when there was. to all appearance, nothing worth resisting left. The attitude of the Turks at the fame of writing can indeed only be explained by the consideration of facts which do not he on the surface. For several days past it has been well understood in London that they would decline to submit in any way to the dictation of the conference. This, it is true, had not been made known m Constantinople, but the various European Courts, including of course, our own, had been advised of the decision, and our Government, which has never taken a very hopeful view of the situation, was convinced that the calling together of the Great Council of the Ottoman Empire under the new constitution wasarranged only to give weight to that rejection j of all demands which had been resolved upon beforehand. Thus, after damaging suspense, of rumours of every sort and kind, and of calculations innumerable, the majority of which have been completely fal'iSwo are at last.tousean Americanism, brought down to " hard pan ’’—and a very gritty residuum it is. For, attempt to dieguise 7 the truth as we may, the European Powers presuming that they wont into tno inference in good faith, hare been very ezregiously fooled. The Turk is the only nationality which leaves the council chamber without having in some shape or another lost reputation. It is quite impossihto. I think for any sober Englishman to bo altogether satisfied with the result. To get up enthusiasm for the Osmanli is no very easy matter and it will be time enough to surround them once more with a halo of imag narv virtues when—if ever—wo ora really driven, in protection of our own interests, to fight on their side. But the position which they havo now taken up is, on the whole, reasonable, and, from their I point c,f viow, patriotic. What they say is m effect this " You, thought gentlemen, m the first m stance that the flayers bad only b ° BU “ ciently numerous, and, sick man ns -turkey is he would permit the skin to bo tugg him .ilb « w-a v/rmld rob the operation of halt its u plcßsftntneifl, Bat, .0 pl»» W “ another, tna , our fl eßb and so, b „d to k»p * °” r ““to «,r..d at to "Vm.btto commence tho oicoriuion, you ciSLi. 10.. 4* hsrsT asKW little roasting awkward toe-nail, MtonS. .0 hov. would servo your no j ß y discussion fe -ot rather annoyed by J-h p y ofcrublo to in °« Ur - f outright or lot alone altogether, bo finished off outr . further use.albor tb.abo.ubjool.d lo«, 1... (li.uu.Bion- Oo upparetitly d jelors, now that you minds to agreed, we too baw made up ou d • übmit to no opcraUon whatov morning. if 7 °n W -pL h ro a son for such determined COmo ' in brief, that the Turks see language », - b " ’ b . enc my, Russia, is the plainly lh “ l j! hora thcy will really have only powe rW ‘thwh y hor strong to deal. t-fl a formidablo army, with iron-clad fleet, w 00 nulBtion now fairly plenty of arms, and P F j. ur j{ o y ( looking aroused all over the P Jj position and reonly to herself anlhJ °SJition to fight sources, w» n ab ° .. . be hos over boon Russia in before, or than she may ft , wo It must not bo „ Ku ropo, tho promay jeer at it «* 1 COll6 titution, the Sultani s mulgation nt j obvious intention to deliberato th. head the r ® fo . r "l * no t least, the assembling patriarch, and MobQinm odans and of the Groat Ooun the course to be Christians to docw P have propursued awards the vo Tarjtoy itself, daoed a vory . f R , r flb own that ho can admin?S“S‘”d tor lb. *7^^ n ; a V„i», hie governorship of thogo , )rovl nces u , governorship of iiagas , un . a a ned to. a Administrations. * , nit fair play, ho niay, wi ho has time p y Sultan, reform the can oocu tQ tbo death wun al HLnn flToo g What, »ft« ol^ hat haß it boon 1,0 Lt of Europe worth • W‘ hto the t“ffto*^» r “; £-o SirMtiPf. hi. owBluto”. from h im

they will see this thing out now rather than later. And besides, as wo oven can see, Russia herself has no groat stomach for the fray. Hero indeed has boon one of the mysteries of the Conference, a mystery that will never bo fully solved until our children rood the memoirs of the two groat German Courts. Could anything bo more remarkable than IgnatiofTs behaviour P Consider the sudden ultimatum telegraphed from Scindia P about the armistice, the Emperor's threatening speech at Moscow referring to guarantees, and the determination of Russia to interfere by herself, Ignatieff’s own demeanour at the time, with the migrations of his now too famous boxes, and the contrast between then and now is indeed remarkable. For the 13 propositions, which practically involved putting the Ottoman Empire in commission, and were to bo the basis of any arrangement with Turkey, hove disappeared, yet now the Turks reject Ignatioff's modified r6sttm6, which seemed ridiculous oven to those who were averse to any interference beyond the lines of the Treaty of 1856. There may bo some wonderfully astute policy concealed behind this Russian show of moderation, it is very difficult to see wherein it is hidden. Surely the sudden move of Prince Bismarck when he instructed Baron von Wertheim to make no further concessions, and ngoin, his action on this mild and indefinite protocol, which wos not to be signed until he had seen it, wore meant to emphasise the defeat which the Russian diplomooy pure and simple had met with. Hero was Germany, which had positively declared that her interest in the whole concern was most indirect, and not worth the life of one Pomeranian peasant, coming forward to stale that she felt humiliated at being obliged to follow Russia in such ignominious concessions to on effete power like Turkey, It was bitter, but the bitterness of the German people is not fully expressed even in that. To pass from gonorol considerations to particulars, a friend of mine has lately been staying for some time with one of the principal nobles in Saxony, who married his sister. Whilst there, ho had, of course, ample opportunity to guage the national feelings of the South Germans. He assures me thot their hatred of Russia and the Pan-slavonio doctrines, their rejoicing at the apparent failure of her policy, and their determination to submit to any sacrifices in the way of conscription rather than permit that unwieldy empire to aggrandise itself yet further in Europe, exceeds anything which was to be observed with regard to France prior to the war of 1870. It is possible that this feeling is not so strong in North Germany, but every German newspaper I have seen expresses something of the same intention, and that war with Russia is inevitable, sooner or later, is, I am told, the general openly-expressed opinion of military men. Such opinions tend, of course, to bring about their own verification, and it is scarcely conceivable that such Socialistic doctrines as those which make up the political creed of the Panslavists can be very welcome to Prince Bismarck, who already has to deal with a perceptible Socialist minority in his new Parliament. Indeed, there are people who boldly say that, as at the time of the French Revolution, more than one monarchical and anstocratic Government declared war in order to , keep their own roofs safe over their heads, and Germany, to counteract the spread of this earth-shaking, constitution-mining Socialism will be driven to direct the at-1 tention of her people to foreign danger. And true as this may bo of Germany, it is j tenfold more true of Austria. The success of Russian policy, as General Fadeef long j since pointed out, can only be eeoured by her disintegration. Yet, Austria, at the beginning, seemed to favour the so-called Slavonic cause, and the strong Slav element in the Austrian army—five out of the eight marshals of the empire are pure Slavs—apparently sympathise with the Bosnian and Herzegovinian insurgents. But how all this is changed ; the Magyars, who, of course, feel that their very existence is at stake, have speken out most plainly, and it is stated that during the recent conference the Austrian ambassador hinted to Midhat that it might bo quite as well to arrange with Austria as with any power. As this could soorcely have been done without the consbnt and connivance of Germany, publicly given, as many think, in Prince Bismarck’s great speech, it is easy to understand why the Turk may have reasons, in addition to those already urged, for his present defiant attitude, and the loan for 70 000 000 guilders, which wo loam by teleeraph to-day has just been contracted by Austria, would seem to betoken that, in the event of war, she does not propose to content herself with that benevolent neutrality which S had fondly hoped for. All this of course, presuming thatthero is good ground for it renders Russia’s position most unenviable. That she fully intended to go to war, and that all arrangements had been made for war in the early part of this year, cannot ! think.be doubted. That expected that England would bo her chief if not solo antagonist in addition to Turkey 18 ? 8 J, think, most probable. Her army is already mobilised, every preparation has noon made for the defence of her ports, and a very strong force has boon massed on tno Caucasian frontier. More than this, the Affehan pretender, Abhurrahman, is on the move, the whole of Affghamstan itself is in T hubbub, and I am told that our Government is in possession of evidence of intrigues in districts which affect us more nearly l In addition, a fleet of corvettes has *Dnfr fViftfO IS good JOftBOQ to DOIIOV considerable heetoUen, Sy.t°3»Wora in Emperor of the depth ana n b popular fcolm l P«Ty. Yet ho tho arms of nrobably—that war, oven knows-nono hotter, probably ina^ moro P ams landed in Siberia, Poland eargoc g rB t reverse, tho Socialist ready to rise on t rOU «u OU t tho country, societies conspin 8 . bankruptcy staring him in th military classes worn culhute genet 5 diplomacy discredited out with ennui, his diP‘™ thy of throughout buok on itself, and tho Russian church throw D t)jo u ; for . tho gradua p now worse off tunoto liberated _'p oftCo must moan a than they wore bofo opc j. that tho slow dissoluUon. Not „ break-up of Russia‘s so oo but that some suppos j evident to all, and tho risk » onomous » ov bro ’ u(?ht one false ra * JCnc/antl to the aid of Austria, He. 1 ” 1 ?• fcbo a j K nal for such a Turkey, t b M wo have not soon since general ojAbu * n( j B 0 the conference the middle age ambaßoador , tho most Marquis of Salisbury, seems to me noble the marqu of flr#t buffoon with to hove P. lfty ®v iob Whether intentional or not, o dexterity wh > itttion than it has yet deserves high vv ono mon at Conreceived- on overwhelming stanlinoplo. nos )q t)j() disadvantage of influence, in™ £ yari(ib i y to the detriment England, equa JL riouß wherever ho has been of Turkey- ohioan ery, such as even for bad faith a heretofore hestvRussian dip throughm(t acaroc ly talod to cue object was to obtain, disguised that m of his own at all hazard*, th ß o£ tbe Christian country. “ nd end. Our Government populations to tna®

had distinct evidence that a coup de main on Constantinople had boon almost planned through the cowardice of the bestial maniao Abdul Aziz, and knows well that the rising in Bulgaria was directed from Constantinople. Yet our envoy extraordinary, the master of India, throws himself into the arms of General Ignatioff, transcends all the ordinary courtesies of civilised life to display his affection for this noble-minded Calmuok, and parados his intimacy before all Stamboul. This would bo very intelligible if on alliance wore about to bo formed between England and Russia, if tbo lion and tho boar, the unicorn and tho two-headed eagle, bud made up their minds to dwell together in unity, and to bo decently gratified with tho peaceful partition of Asia, tho satisfactory administration of Turkey, and above all—how comforting to tho soul of tho really pious humanitarian—tho glorious amalgamation of tho Greek and English churches. But Lord Salisbury bad no such instructions, and if be went tho lengths hois reported to have done, ho no doubt did so in order to make the irony of tho situation more exquisite. However, his oonduot has had one good result. None can say now that we have not done our utmost to convince tho Turks that wo desired tho improvement of tho condition of tbo Christian population, none can maintain that jealousy of Russia ou our part has marred the conference. True, the English people did not quite like tho idea suggested and enforced by the Times, that wo should kindly destroy tho Turkish fleet for tbo sake of tho good cause ; and therefore, as far as that goes, Lord Salisbury oould not, even had ho desired it over so, have enforced tho extreme Badioo-Ritualistic view upon tho Turks and upon the Conference. But wo have done all we oould to insult tho Turk and to conciliate tho Russian, and if we have alienated the one without making a friend of the other, why, that is only another very nice example of modern English diplomacy, and thoro is no doubt that Lord Salisbury will have earned his dukedom quite as proudly and nobly as tho Earl of Ripon did bis marquisato. If we do fail now-a-days, we oan at least sham we don’t, and whether it’s tbo North Pole and lime-juice or Constantinople and saoerdotalism which forms tho topic of conversation, K.0.8.’s and peerages always add gentility to tho personages involved, and gaudily cover the blunders that have boen made. And so all is for the best in tho best of political systems possible, though which is the best, tho dregs of aristocratic, or tho soum of domooratio, Government, I leave it for you in Melbourne to determine.

(St. Petorshurgh Correspondent of the Times.) The present position of his Majesty the Emperor is certainly not enviable. On the one hand, ho and his Cabinet are entirely averse from war, and on the other, he has pledged himself to the country to aot independently if he fail at the Conference to obtain the guarantees which he has a right to demand from Turkey. This is a serious difficulty, and may not improbably drive Russia into a war, tho expenses of which will be incalculable and the results, to soy tho least, doubtful. How far the clever diplomacy of General Ignatieff in making concessions in order to maintain the European concert may help to extricate the Imperial Government from the dilemma in which it now finds itself tie future olone can tell; but it is evident teat, Russia having boen onoe baffled in her endeavours to coerce Turkey and Europe by an ultimatum followed by mobilization, the only step left to her was to preserve harmony among tho Great Powers, whatever it might cost her pride and dignity to do so. This polioy will enable Russia, in tho event of a refusal on the pare of the Porte to accept tho proposals of the Conference, to appeal to Europe for cooperation, material, if need bo, in forcing the Ottoman Government to yield, whereas had Russia maintained her former attitude and insisted on occupation, &0., she would hav e had no alternative but to fight, should Turkey prove recalcitrant. Even now opinion is divided as to what Russia oan and ought to do. The Golos is evidently in favour of peace, as the following extract from its impression of yesterday will show: — “ With regard to the position of Russia it is quite naturally explained by tho present state of affairs. When Europe showed itself indifferent to the Eastern Question, Russia, who was more immediately and almost directly touched by it, was obliged totiecide on acting alone sooner than permit the situation of

things to become in time even worse. Europe then awoke from its state of torpor, and took into its hands the future of the Christians of European Turkey. From that moment the object of Russia was temporarily gained. As soon es European interference showed itself Russia was released from direct responsibility} and as she was not obliged to act alone in the present crisis of the question immediately after Europe had interfered, only a certain share of collective responsibility will fall to her lot. It is for this reason that we await with impatience the intelligence ae to what measures England is prepared to take if the English proposals, accepted and supported by Europe, should bo rejected by the Porte. According to these measures we shall be able to judge how highly England prises the dignity of her word and to what extent she values the honour of her name.” ■ By this the Qolos evidently means that the Emperor is no longer bound by the famous Moscow speech, and certainly that journal is right in clinging to the only possible exit from the present embarrassing position of the Russian Government. It is much to bo hoped that the Imperial Government will take the same view, and that Europe may thus be spared the horrors of a war which might at first be localised, but in which so many various interests are involved that it is hardly probable that it could long remain so. That the argument of the Qolos is logically worthless it is scarcely necessary to point out, for anyone who has read the Moscow speech knows how deeply the Emperor pledged himself on that occasion. There are several foots which seem especially to betoken a peaceful issue. In addition to the state of the Army, Navy, and finances, of which I have already said so much, the Russian people appear to have sobered down into a state of carelessness with regard to the Servians and their other co-religionists in Turkey. One no longer sees in every street and railway carriage what ueod to bo the inevitable tin box marked with a rod cross, serving os o roooptaole for money in aid of the Slavonians under Turkish rule, The pictures of those well-known heroes which used to fill the windows of most of the shops in the principal streets have now made way for more sensible ond certainly moro profitable articles of trade. The opinions of the military element, too, have changed for the bettor Those officers who at one time wore eager i'or war at any price now regard that lost resort as the worst thing that oould happen to their country- No moro volunteers go down to Borvia, and those who have already served there have at lost decided to quit that ungrateful country, satisfied to bo distinguished henceforth among their comrades at homo as Knights of the Order of Takovo. I cannot believe that if there is any possible way out of the difficulty Russia will not bo glad to profit by it, and the temper of the people, which was lately thought to bo almost wrestsMble is now so much calmer that it is not likely to offer any trouble in this respect. After all public opinion in Russia is confined to the public opinion of a few comparatively small towns and anyone who has any knowledge of the country, and who is eon- - Bwith w ith tho power and activity of the regular and secret police, will know , v , if (ho Government is really determined fhafe no warlike demonstration should bo made, P haa tho power to make its will respected. With regard to the rural population of Russia, S can have but little idea of the difference k a Slav and an Englishman j and, although in the event of a war they would, in 1 Probability, be induced by their priests to ftl forward with what little money they Alve laid by, there is no fear of tho voice nTthie portionot the Russian people having ° „ influence either in favour of or against a wap with Turkey. That tho popular enthusiasm

is rapidly dying out there can bo no doubt, o notwithstanding that addresses are still sent J almost daily to His Imperial Majesty from all parts of tho Empire, Provincial and municipal C assemblies from one end of this vast country to s tho other, as well us clubs and societies of every kind, including tho Mnhomodans of C Turkestan and oven the Tartars of St Peters- i: burg, have all greeted the Moscow speech with t expressions, on paper, of tho greatest devotion and loyalty to the Crown. g (home Notes.) n Accounts from Bt Petersburg to Deo. 31 i state that groat despondency is perceptible at B Court and in Government circles, at the j unfavourable turn politics have lately taken. j The inefficiency of the army, so exceedingly t palpable on its partial mobilisation, has demonstrated to all true friends of Russia the j danger of a war with Turkey, so manifestly ( fraught with difficulties, which oven for tho t Autocrat Czar might prove insoluble. Only j tho bigoted Empress and orthodox olergy, trusting in tho superiority of tho Cross over , the Orescent, still advocate an immediate 1 rupture with tho Infidel Moslems, the opressors of tho Sclav Christians. The Czar and ( all loading generals seem merely inclined to , appeal to the fickle goddess of war in ease of dire necessity. His Majesty, considering the ( sudden illness of his brother Nicholas rather ominous, la earnestly attempting to bring about a pacific solution of the imbroglio, which assumed suoh vast dimensions on account of his former weak resistance to the clamorous agitations of tho Solavophile party. The two months’ prolongation of the armistice has been very welcome to Russia, as, in case of inevitable war, spring time offers better chances for an army invading Turkey than the present season. Hopes ore also entertained that the long support of the Ottoman army on a war footing will ultimately drain the pecuniary resources of the Porto. Tho course of tho Conference in Constantinople is severely criticised. In spite of tho present entiente between the Great Powers, every one anticipates the isolation of Russia in her eventual endeavours to enforce adoption of proposals agreed upon by the Conference if Turkey refuses her voluntary submission to them. High indignation is felt against Austro-Hun-gory for her hostile attitude to Servio ond the Sclav cause in general. Germany's polioy also awakens mistrust, Biamarok being openly accused of urging Russia to war, so that he might become the unlimited arbiter of Europe. Strange to say, expectations of an understanding with England on the Eastern Question are still cherished; not only from the Press, hut also from well-informed circles, the asser-

tion may be continually heard, that on the opening of Parliament Disraeli and bis " Turoophile ’’ Cabinet will be driven from power, and the direction of British polioy entrusted to the “ noble-hearted” Gladstone, who lends a willing ear to tho complaints of the persecuted Sclavs. Mobilisation of the Russian army has brought to light a whole list of frauds perpetrated by surveyors of magazines and leading members of tho commissariat. Millions of cartridges were discovered void of powder, and many barrels supposed to contain munition were filled with sand and stones. The central authorities endeavoured to replace the missing quantum as speedily as possible, for which purpose large orders had to be also given abroad. As precaution is enjoined on the Press with regard to the circulation of army reports, and up till now only one single correspondent, a Mr Erestowski, an ex-captain of the Guards, has been admitted into head-quarters, it is exceedingly difficult to give an accurate estimate of the efficiency of the army. The cold in Bessarabia has been so intense, that a furthrr division of the troops accommodated in barracks was perfectly impracticable. In consideration of tha inclemency, on order has been issued to the effect that every soldier is to receive two glasses of brandy, not containing more than ten degrees of spirits, a day, and that hot “ Barstoh,” a sour soup, is to be distributed at noon, and tea in tho evening. The presence of families belonging to officers remaining with the army collected on the frontier, has boen strictly forbidden, but pecuniary support is offered by tho War Office to those staying at their homos. Rumours of an intended mobilisation of further corps have not yet been confirmed, nor have reserves been called out. It is, however, asserted that a proposition emanating from tho oommander-in-ohief for the mobilisation of a part of the Warsaw and Moscow military districts, for the formation of an army of reserve, has been deferred by the Emperor until the result of the Conference is known. Suspension of railway trafflo in Southern Russia has caused an uncommon augmentotion in- tho prices of all provisions among the troops, and a speedy establishment of a line of communication with Odessa by means of transport wagons has been ordered. The expenses attendant on mobilisation, estimated already at 160,000,000 roubles, inclusive of sums devoted to defence of tho coasts and the Black Sea, have so nearly exhausted the Treasury that expenditure was obliged to be curtailed. All men-of-war or largo merchant vessels in the Black Sea have been concentrated at Otschakoff, and the harbours have boen protected with torpedoes and earthworks hastily thrown up—a precaution proving that tho fears entertained of a raid of the Turkish fleet are not yet removed. Tho Cologne Gazette says that the unfit state of the Russian army is attributable to several causes. In the first place, the new organisation has broken down completely. Emperor Alexander is reported do have observed;—“l knew that numerous defects would become apparent, but I had never imagined that things would turn out as bad as this.” Most inadequate provision has been 1 made for the accommodation and the sustenance of tho Army of the South. In the ' second place, tho weather has made great gaps 1 in the ranks, and weakened and enervated a largo proportion of those who still hold their 1 places in them. In tho third plaoe, it is affirmed that tho Ozar is doubtful to whom to > entrust the chief command. There are no ’ generals in tho Russian army deserving of ’ such a trust. Tho Ozar is reported to 1 have offered tho chief command to tho ' Gorman Field-Marshal von Manteuffel, > who holds the honorary rank of a 5 marshal of the Russian army. The Cologne 1 Gazette believes that Herr von Manteuffel I was not disinclined to accept the flattering ' offer, and applied for permission to Berlin. 1 He was doomed to disappointment. However hj great may be the favour in which ho is held r at Court, it did not extend fe.r enough to 1 secure assent to his request. He was informed f that if ho chose to accept tho Russian com--3 mand, of course ho was free to do so, but in 3 that o*so he must, of course, resign bis comt mission at home. The consequence wan that 3 ho declined. A number of Prussian officers of 1 Russian proclivities wore, it appears, prepared 1 to take service in Russia under him, but they ■ likewise have boon informed that they cannot ■ servo two masters. t HOME GOSSIP. t (/Kins in the IKoWd.) ) There must bo u terrible dearth of employ- , mont in London when a firm who advertised -’ Cor n gatekeeper last week received nine t hundred answers. _ . I hear that tho Prince of Wales has do--1 olinod to bo made a member of the i Geographical Society for the Exploration of f Central Africa, of which tho King of tho - Belgians is President. f lam pleased to hoar that tho very warmest r cordiality prevails between tho French and i English directors of tho Suez Canal. M. do i, Losseps tolls everybody who comes near him . that ho is delighted with his now colleagues, i It is noteworthy as evidence of tho progress 0 of Russia that no registry of deaths is kept 1 either in Moscow or St. Petersburg. And n yet suoh a useful branch of statistics is not o neglected oven in tho land of the neglectful y Khedive. o The French do not always know how to g touch English feeling, but in most of their a otteropts they mean well; in the Rue de n Rivoli they have a glove shop solemnly dedi-

oated to the Thames Tunnel —au Tunel de Londres. I regret to hear, on excellent authority, that General Garibaldi’s health is in a most critical state, 1 hear rat shooting is a groat excitement at Oxford, All the male population is out shooting the rats, who swarm in the trees, whither they have taken refuge from the floods. Advertisers have strange ideas of what constitutes a comfortable home. One such wiseacre at Hayward’s Heath promises a lady a luxury of that character “for only ten shillings a week, provided she will sleep with the pupils in a school and teach plain English two hours doily.” Curious comfort it will prove for the unhappy lady tempted to pay half a sovereign weekly for fourteen hours’ mixed sleep and teaching per week, and the dubious pleasure of having a whole school for bedfellows, and the school itself for a bedroom. That appears to be the plain English of the advertisement. Great concern is being expressed for the Hon Mrs Wodehouso, who was one of the victims of the Arlesey accident; and considerable indignation is felt towards a gentleman, a director of the railway, who took upon himself to force his way into the room where she was lying, and to cross-question her as to the extent of the damaged she had received. It is advisable that gentlemen intending to run away with other gentlemen’s wives should first count the cost, I hear that a lady, whose flight surprised London society about a year and a half ago, has since that time mu up a milliner’s bill to the amount of £4OOO. People are saying that Ignatieff carries too many guns for Lord Salisbury. 1 don’t think so; but it is certain that the Turks did, when they saw the successor to the great Eltchi, Lord Stratford de Bedcliffe, strolling down the streets of Pera arm in arm with the traditional enemy. " Peste,” said a vieux diplomats to mo, " o’ost magnifique, mais ce n’est pas la guerrie.” Precisely. Apropos of Ignatieff, his great recommendations are that he has the gift of tongues, and “ ne’er a true one.” An ex-attachl told me that, speaking of him to Brunow, the late Bussian Ambassador here, he said, " Ignatieff eat oharmant, mais il ne dit la verite que par accident.” "Pas m 3 me par accident,” said Brunow. A few years ago Ignatieff met my informant at Halil Pasha’s house. " When are you going to leave this brutal, corrupt, and effete country P ” said he, in excellent English. In five minutes he was congratulating Halil Pasha on the prospect of being speedily relieved of the presence of that intolerable English/atf. Midbat Pasha says that in his eyes the Bulgarian atrocities are as nothing compared with the treatment of the English creditors of Turkey, and that when he has settled with Bussia he will have a meeting at Exeter Hall to commemorate the Porte's return to its priscafides. The annoyance in Court circles at Berlin is thinly disguised at the appointment of Khalil Cherif Pasha as ambassador from Turkey. The Porte, I am informed, omitted to make the usual formal demand to the Imperial Government if the nomination was acceptable. Had such a demand been made, there was every likelihood that it would not have been smiled upon, as the antecedents of the new ambassador are peculiarly disagreeable to the German Emperor. Khalil Cberif Pasha belongs to the party of Young Turkey, and was not the most backward figure in the conspiracy which culminated in the dethronement of Abdul Aziz.

People in Paris have been living with their windows opes since New Year’s Day, Nobody wears a greatcoat. Ladies drive about in open carriages and thin dresses. The sight of a fire provokes perspiration. The effect of this May weather in January is to make the place dull. I hear that there is no dancing; that the two coming balls at the Elyeee are the only important sauteries in prospect; and that though the Duchesse do Chartres has just recommenced her Saturday evening receptions, no other great lady has yet followed her example. Is “ Society ’’ vanishing in Paris ? Miss Neilson seems to have had a peculiar experience during her recent visit to St Louis. After her last performance there, on her return to her hotel, she found the corridors blocked with a crowd of between seventy and eighty ladies, who had come in a body to see her personally and express their admiration of her. After they had delivered their verbal congratulations, and what the reporter calls "floral tributes," one of the young ladies announced her purpose of “ kissing Neilson, if it would be perfectly agreeable.” It is difficult to imagine anything more agreeable ,- and the ceremony passed off with delight to all concerned. Quite so! The dear old ladies of the Spectator, impulsive Mamma Hutton, and Pushing Miss Townshend, are right; the increase in the number of journals devoted to scandal and tittle-tattle is wonderful! Here is that agreeable rattle young Knowles giving up the wild and wicked Contemporary Review, and going to establish an organ of his own, to be called the Nineteenth Century. Leslie Stephen will write the sensation novel, Frank Harrison Hill the anacreontic verse, while Miss Oobb will supply the " Chat of the Clubs.” Perhaps, however, these announcements are premature. The Emperor and Empress of Brazil are at present making a tour in Sicily, Some unscrupulous admirers of order are praying that their Majesties may bo entrapped by the brigands, in the hope that such an outrage might at last awaken the Italian Government to the necessity of stern dealing with the mafia. This is rather rough on their Majesties ; but it is but the Italian development of the old English desire that a railway director should be smashed in the next collision. On the return of Dorn Pedro and his spouse—with ears unfoxed, let us hope—they intend to go to Rome in the strictest incognito— id, est, under some title patent to every loafer on the Oorso. I learn that Sir Henry Havelock and several other members of the House of Commons are resolved to offer a strong opposition to the compulsory retirement of any officers below the rank of major. Why they should draw the line above the rank of captain is not very plain; for if compulsory retirement for any cause except old age is desirable, it ought to be applied to all ranks. The only thing which can be said in support of Sic Henry Havelcok’s view is, that in reliance on the five years’ rule, many majors have held on in order to obtain the command of a regiment. The Duke of Cambridge, on the other hand, espouses the causes of the lieutenant-colonels, and is making a strong endeavour to have the five years’ rule abrogated. The fact is, a proper flow of promotions can only be effectively managed by a combination of promotion by selection and liberally induced retirements. I read in Monday morning’s telegrams that Midhat Pasha is willing to appoint as Governor of Bulgaria a Viennese Jew named Doutsoh, who has recently boon sojourning in Vienna. 1 had understood that Sir Moses Montoflore had all but accepted the appointment } but in his default I do not at all see why Doutsoh should not boos successful at governing Bulgaria as he has been at everything else to which ho has put his hand. When I know him ho was in the retail m ® er ‘ sohaum trade in o passage off the Karnthor Strasso. Gradually mounting the ladder, he embarked with groat energy in the lottery business, and floated several of these respectable and unspeoulative enterprises. In the natural course of events he later went into newspaper property combined with haute finance. No doubt Deutsoh knows his own interests best, and I think you will find be will decline Bulgaria, and stick to contracts and financing. Some weeks ago the body of a woman, cut into pieces and tied up in an old petticoat, was found in the Seine near Paris. After a long investigation by the police it has just been discovered that she committed suicide. At the Oirque Salomonsky at Berlin there has been a duel between a crocodile and a serpent. The crocodile chopped off the head of , his antagonist with a bite, and swallowed it.

Ho died the following day. Moral—crocodiled should be careful in their dietary. Some of our golden youth, who hare been the victims of usurers, should bear in mind the example of Henri Monnier, who, under similar circumstances, covered all the mono* ments of Paris, and all the walls and hoard* ings, with the inscription, "Or6deville, volour.” With a delicate forethought that cannot be too highly praised, the Visiting Justices of the Surrey County Gaol have determined to spend £IOO on the erection of a new and more convenient scaffold, with all the modern improvements. This should be a blessed encouragement to intending murderers. M. Gambetta's visit to England will taka place in the month of June. Although ha will be accompanied by some of bis friends who are members of the National Assembly, his visit will be of a purely private and social nature, and he will decline all addresses, deputations, public dinners, or invitations to provincial towns. He will stay with Sir Charles Dilke.

In Lord Palmerston’s journal, published in his biography by Lord Balling, I find under date April 2,1828, the significant remark “It is always said that the Turks are obstinate in November, and tractable in March.” Victoria Melita is the pretty name that hma been chosen for the infant daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh; and her Majesty must have given a sigh of relief at the intelligence that there were only two additional denominatives to remember in the enlarging circle of Boyal grandchildren, whose names alone previously numbered over a hundred.

Sixty powerful locomotives are in course of construction for the French railway companies, which are, at lost, beginning to perceive that it is possible to travel more quickly by rail than at present. Next year one will be able to get from Paris to Marseilles in 12 hours. It is to be hoped there will be no increase in casualties with the acceleration of speed. Countrymen and lovers of the late Benjamin Franklin may possibly "rear up ” at this piece of intelligence, but I may not withhold it on that account. I am informed that in the archives of the Colonial Office is a letter from Benjamin Franklin asking for an appointment as distributor of the very stamps which brought about the independence of the United States. Patriots en herie grow in all shapes, even in that of the office-seeker.

I hear there is very fine whiitling in the Temple Church on Sundays. A legal gentle* man, known for bis tuneful pipe all over England— bo says my informant—“oblige* ” regularly, by way of accompaniment to the choir. The effect is said to be very sweet and pleasing. It would be a good thing to giro some formal sanction to this practice in the next revision of the Prayer-book. “Then shall be said, or sung, or whistled,” Ac. The Spiritualists have had another great lift, in the "levitation,” to use their own language, of Lord Archibald Campbell three feet from the ground. His lordship was pre* viously such an unbeliever in the spirits that nothing short of strong measures would bring him round. Therefore, in a private house, under the mediumship of the daughter of a baronet, the society being " high,” bis lord* ship was not only elevated, but greatly raised in the estimation of his wife, to whom he went home, pale and trembling, soon after. If the promise contained in the following advertisement out from the Irish Times is performed, the linguistic powers of Balaam’s ass will cease to be marvellous: —“ To be sold, six cows.—No. 1. A beautiful cow, calved eight days, with splendid calf at foot; a good milker. No. 2. A cow to calve in about four* teen days, and great promise. The other two cows are calved about twenty-one dsys, and will speak for themselves. For particulars, apply at 15 Upper Buckingham street for four days.” The cheerful partisans of cremation are still full of vitality. They have banded themselves into a society for the promotion of their favourite idea at Brussels. Four hundred members have already joined, and a Com* mittee of medical men is busy drawing up the statutes, so as to be prepared for any even* tuality that may arise. As soon as this new type of burial-club has all its arrangement* complete, I presume there will be quite a jealous rivalship among the more enthusiast!* cremators as to who shall hare the honour of supplying the first corpse.

Those who lire near the throne of fashion assure me that the coming decree is to be “yellows everywhere”—in dresses, bonnets, trimmings, gloves, and what not. Ladies, who may have reason to be alarmed at the prospect, had better change their complexions, for they may be assured they cannot change the decree. Du reste, they hardly need the assurance. They know their master, as they showed conclusively of late, when the mysterious tyrant ordered them to wearplush, and was immediately obeyed. In the Paean of triumph which has been raised over Dr Sobliemann’s discoveries at Mycen« it is perhaps not superfluous to remark that some links are wanting to the chain of evidence which is to confuse sceptics and edify the true believer in Homer. The questions to be solved are at least these two—Was there one Homer or many ? and did he or they invent or describe the Trojan war? Now the discovery of regal remains at Mycenis only proves that there was an ancient period of civilization and war. Moreover, the weapons found are generally of stone, whereas, according to the nates saner, the Danai and the high-minded Dardens fought with weapons of steel. So perhaps a little scepticism is even now justifiable. So here is General Adye come to assure us that all is for the best in the best of possible arsenals, and that we are bound to show all our little secrets to any foreign officer who cares to pry into them, whilst the Governments they represent obstinately decline to give us the slightest information of value. Let me ask Sir John Adye a question ; Have the authorities at Woolwich succeeded yet in obtaining one of the new German field-pieces, in order to try it against our own gunsP There ore, or were, two old-fashioned Xrupps, at Shoeburyness; but, I suspect, no specimen of the new and vastly improved weapon has boon obtained. Have we so much as a single stand of Manser rifles to test against that beautiful and expensive arm, the MartiniHenry ? If we have either Krupp or Manser their existence has been kept remarkably quiet; and we are not at all given to hide our lights under bushels. Our Japanese friends are taking taidjy to the manners and customs, volatile and BUB of the civilised West. Each day bis majesty the Mikado, I learn from a correspondent at Tokohama, undergoes .* ridw f}°£te bat a gilt an hour. That illustrious tentato haa a gUC royal* rug for hia “ ade 1 of a dozen Siberian white foxes; and a sedanehair has been ordered for the august lady w ho directs the mode among Japanese darnel of quality. But while the fashion is thus set in things luxurious, the graver interests of morality are not neglected. Singing and dancing girls are prohibited from performing at Kagoshima, and fortune-telling is soon to be prohibited throughout the whole empire. The Moscow Gazette of January 1 (n,s.) prints the following communication from a correspondent at Constantinople: “ Lord Beaconsfield, not placing entire confidence in his colleague in the Cabinet, the Marquis of Salisbury, sent out to Constantinople a secret agent of his own, named Johnston, who passed through Russia, stopping at Kishnief on the way. Having arrived at his destination, be began to assure the Turks that Russia was not ready for war, and to urge them to reject all the propositions laid before* them, without fear of the consequences. Lord Salisbury, it ia said, becoming aware of his. designs, and of the intrigues of bu Henry* Elliot, lelegrophed to London that if Elhofc was not immediately recalled he would at once leave the Conference and Constantinople