abandonment of the principles on which the settlement of 1856 is based. It is perfectly consistent with those principles to recommend to the Porte, with the authority of united Europe, those regulations which the cry of justice and humanity loudly demands, and those administrative reforms which are indispensable to the welfare of the country. We do not imagine that the government of the Ottoman Empire can be put in commission, or carried on under the direct control of half-adozen representatives of Christian Powers. Such a government would not only be the worst that can be conceived, but it would simply be impossible, either for the Porte to accept or for the Powers to establish. Unity of will and purpose is the first condition of good government: but if the accounts to which we have referred of the present successful administration of the island of Crete are true, we see no reason that the same liberties should not be extended to the other Christian provinces of the Empire, and we trust they might have the same beneficial effect in Bosnia and Bulgaria, as they have produced in the island which was visited not long ago by similar cala mities.* *To show that when we speak of the reform in the administration of the Turkish Government there is something more in it than mere talk, we quote the following summary by Mr. Philip Stanhope of what has actually been done in the Lebanon and in Crete, by the judicious intervention of the Great Powers. Some valuable letters from Crete have recently appeared in the 'Pall Mall Gazette,' which give a satisfactory account of that island, which was seven or eight years ago in all the miseries of civil war. Mr. Stanhope writes as follows: 'Now let us see what are the arrangements in force in Crete, and the Lebanon, by which a fairly satisfactory basis has been arrived at for regulating the relations between the Christians and Mussulmans in those districts. The general principles, which are the same in each case, are-1. The appointment of a governor for a fixed period, and of the creed of the majority of the population. 2. The division of the provinces into departments, who, through their notables or chief inhabitants, appoint the members of a Governor's Council, composed of members of all creeds, to assist in the government and control the financial administration. 3. The appointment of a local chiekh in each commune, chosen by the governor, and of a mixed council chosen by the people of the commune, who decide all matters relating to the assessment and levying of taxes. 4. The establishment of the equality of all sects before the law, the publicity of all causes, the appointment of local magistrates of the creed of the majority of the inhabitants of each locality, and the nomination in each department of a mixed tribunal or reformed "Medjlis." 5. Definition of the administration of criminal justice, setting forth the class of offences for which summary punishment may be inflicted and those which must be judged by In conclusion, we would say one word on the attitude assumed by the Liberal Party on this question. It was greatly to the credit of the leaders and representatives of Liberal opinions both in the daily press and in public life, that they took the initiative in protesting against acts revolting to humanity, and peculiarly offensive to the British people, inasmuch as they were committed by the authorities of an Empire, in which this country takes a deep interest and to which she has so often afforded a generous support. The reticence or incredulity of the Government seemed to call more imperatively for this protest on the part of the people, and the result showed that England is not more insensible than of old to the cry of humanity and freedom. But these are not the only principles on which the foreign policy of this country is based. We hold with the Liberal Party that neutrality in the disputes of foreign States, but especially in civil wars-non-intervention until the interests of this country are assailed-the maintenance of peace, the strict observance of treaties, and absolute religious toleration, be it to Christian, Mohammedan, Buddhist, or Hindoo-are permanent principles, not only accepted by the nation, but imposed by the nation on those who would govern it. If these really are the principles on which England desires her statesmen to act, they are not lightly to be thrown aside under any amount of temporary excitement or even provocation; and for our own part we abide by them as an essential part of the Liberal creed. The Marquis of Hartington, whom we recognise with unqualified confidence as the leader of the superior courts. 6. Abolition of the system of farming taxes, regulation of the gross amount of revenue to be levied in each province, and the proportion to be applied to local objects. 7. Regulations as to police; that they shall be recruited from among all sects; and stipulations with regard to the imperial army that the commanders of the imperial troops, except in matters of strategy and discipline, are subject to the civil authorities of the province. 'It will be found that these are the general principles in each case, though there is some difference in detail due to local considerations, the governor of Crete being a Mussulman, while the governor of Lebanon is a Christian. The scheme of reform in the Lebanon is, however, perhaps, the one in which the machinery for the local administration of justice is best defined, and where by reason of the multiplication of sects the greatest difficulties had to be overcome. In this case also the maximum and minimum amounts of revenue to be raised in the province are alone established, but the mode of raising it is wisely left to the decision of the local authorities, and not subdivided as in the case of Crete under different heads of taxation.' VOL. CXLIV. NO. CCXCVI. Q Q Liberal Party, and whose rapid progress in public life is a source of genuine satisfaction, not only to his own adherents but to the country, which has marked him out as the statesman of the future, and Mr. Forster, second to none in his attachment to the cause of humanity and freedom, having taken little or no part in the numerous demonstrations which have taken place in various parts of the country, have visited the scene of these occurrences, and will doubtless have an opportunity of learning from the Ministers of the Porte themselves what are their intentions and their hopes. That appears to us to be the most practical and useful course to be adopted by two great English statesmen; and we have no doubt that the House of Commons will reap the advantage, in the next Session of Parliament, of their personal experience and observations. No. CCXCVII. will be published in January, 1877. INDEX. A Althorp, Viscount, Earl Spencer, review of Sir Denis Le Marchant's B Bancroft, Mr. Hubert Howe, review of his 'Native Races of the Pacific Bosnia and Bulgaria, review of works treating of, 535-favourable occupy Bosnia and the Herzegovina, while Russia seized on Bulgaria, Braun-Wiesbaden, Von Karl, his 'Eine Türkische Reise.' See Bosnia C Caro, Problèmes de Morale Sociale,' reviewed, 470-ideas the Christian Antiquities, Dr. Smith's Dictionary of, review of, with other D Daniel Deronda, by George Eliot, review of, 442-the author's re- Declaration of the Congress of Paris in 1856, 353-practice of nations |