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selled the Porte to give to this system all the extension which the nature of things would permit. It has found in the Principalities an occasion particularly favourable for making a happy and striking application of this principle."

The "Livre bleu" then goes on to explain, how, in the Danubian Principalities, and in Mount Lebanon, the French Government has succeeded in carrying out its ideas, and especially in bringing about the establishment of selfgovernment. This is done by admitting, practically, the right of protection on the part of Christian Powers, and more particularly on the part of France, England, and Russia, to whom the administrative officers would have ultimately, in case they abused their authority, to render an account, either immediately or else through the Ottoman Government, and a similar state of things exists in Servia. In the case of the territory, indeed, which the Turks lately, at the instance. of France as it appears, gave up to the Prince of Montenegro, they seem to have surrendered every

thing, and to have totally abandoned the entire locality. In Servia, and in Roumania, they have given way on points which were considered till quite lately to affect their national honour, and as to which they were long most pertinaciously obstinate. In Egypt, in like manner, terms have been made by the Sultan, which at one period he would not hear of; all which concessions, it is reasonable to conclude, may have been agreed to, because of the necessity for concentrating all available resources on the deadly struggle in which he has been engaged in Crete. The "Livre bleu" further explains, that disturbances had arisen in Crete out of unredressed grievances; that the departure of the functionary named by the Porte to inquire into them was retarded from day to day; and that, when he arrived, the opportune moment had passed. It further impressively declares, while stating at the same time other truths which it is to be hoped will command due attention, that everything urges the Ottoman Government not to cherish deceitful illusions, and that the smallest danger incident to these

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complications is to retard the recovery of its finances, and the trial by experiment of all those steps in advance which can alone assure to it prospects of vitality, worthy of being seriously dwelt on; particularly in financial arrangements, in providing education for its Mussulman subjects, and in developing, by means of works of public utility, the immense riches of which the existence seems to be scarcely suspected; as well as in making, with this determined intention, an intelligent appeal to foreign capitalists, who can alone revivify Turkey, but whom inexperience and prejudice have kept at a distance up to the present

moment.

The "Livre bleu" proceeds to say, speaking of the Government of the Emperor, "It is penetrated with these considerations, of the justice of which the experience of the last ten years has so completely given evidence. It has not spared its counsels; and, without inquiring to what point they have been followed, it will renew them, if requisite, convinced that each day which passes calls more vigorously for

efficacious solutions." It appears from a statement in the collection of documents printed by the French Government in the "Livre jaune" for 1867 (p. 261), that the idea of re-occupying Mount Lebanon with a military force, in the event of grave disturbances occurring there, is by no means unfamiliar to French diplomacy; and no doubt can be entertained that France is always prepared to act with decision in supporting and making good her historical traditions, which have descended with the protectorate of the Latin Christians of Syria from crusading epochs. If any district in the vicinity of Mount Lebanon were re-occupied, England would naturally take possession of Acre and its vicinity, or of some other locality in Southern Syria, as it is within the Author's knowledge that she would have done, had the recent French occupation of Beyrouth been prolonged; and the two occupations must, in any event, benefit the country, even if they were expensive and inconvenient. However, their expenses could easily be refunded out of local revenues. It is evident, then, that

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France has a very specific Eastern policy, and that while she is anxious to develop civilisation throughout the Ottoman Empire, as a thing to be desired from a due consideration of general principles, as well as in the interest of the European commonwealth, she has at the same time an immense pecuniary and commercial stake involved. One favourite project, indeed, is to convert the Mediterranean into a French lake, which, however, may be done so far as to secure every facility to the French trading classes for deriving profit from it, without in the least interfering with other people.

There is no difficulty in our heartily joining the French Emperor in his proceedings tending to ripen the nationalities of Turkey, and to contribute to the wellbeing, material and moral, of its populations in carrying out his proceedings, and especially in developing the principles and practice of self-government. All this is best to be managed by entering into an understanding with him, with an intention to neutralise and civilise the East. Those international jealousies will then be avoided

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