learned Franks, some new evidence which produces strange contortions of physiognomy; they having quite made up their minds not to admit, and it being utterly impossible for them to deny. Precious set these civilizers; and every Frank is so, who is established here without an honourable calling; that is to say, unless engaged in trade or agricul

ture.

Two hours through the sands, and between hedges of cactus, brought me to Beyrout, early enough to go to the bath, which closes at sunset. I had not been there for nearly two months, and scarcely recognized the place. A new bathman had taken it, and fitted it up "à la franca." The cushions of the divan had given place to miserable nondescripts; English cotton imitations had taken place of the silk bordered futa: coffee was no longer served in the Flinzan and Zarf. When I rejected the Frank cups brought me, none others could be had, till they sent out to buy them. The follies of a man may be amusing, but the folly of a people saddens and disgusts. They have method, however, in their folly; carefully abstaining from imitating anything that might be useful, and selecting for destruction such things only as are excellent.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE SYSTEM OF PROTECTION.

April 8th.-I WAS to have sailed by the French steamer of the 5th, but again it has been impossible, and the events in Europe afford me every chance that I could have either desired or hoped. But it is events here. Is it not an event when a Russian consul at an out-of-the-way seaport, reverses in a moment the political relations of the European governments, and that, not on the receipt of a courier from his government, but on the arrival of a piece of news?

First let me set down the case as it is; not as it appears to be.

The demand to surrender the Hungarian refugees was not made in the hope that Turkey would yield, or with the intention of coercing her. This is not a statement made after the event. On On my arrival in Turkey last year, I used these words: "There is no war in contemplation; the quarrel is made, as that about Persia in 1838." The apparent union of the governments of England and France, had, however, the effect of drawing the nations together. This was counteracted by the outrage upon Greece by means of that English squadron which had just left that of France upon friendly terms, and without

prior communication of the intention to the French Government.* The attack on Greece, on the old pretext of Russia's ascendancy, has the effect of driving her into Russia's dependence, but the object clearly is a quarrel with France, although it does not appear why that quarrel was necessary, or what are the effects that are to flow from it. Enough for me that there is a quarrel with France, and that behind that quarrel there is some danger which has made it necessary. It will not then be an easy matter at this minute for England to make a quarrel with the Porte about the Lebanon. The more so as some glimmerings of the truth seem to be piercing in England, if one can judge by the batch of newspapers by the steamer; and not less in France

* I have since learned at Constantinople, that Sir S. Canning said, in exculpation of his own conduct, that he had been kept as much in the dark as the French Government.

It was to constrain the British cabinet to accept the protocol disposing of the Danish crown.

The "Spectator" has the following:-" Uniformity of effect indicates community of cause. The results are, that the Greek people are driven by distrust of England into a sympathizing allegiance to their king, the puppet of Russia; that the king is effectually estranged from the English friendship, taught to distrust even France, as an ally of England, and left to look for support from Russia alone. Is it a real quarrel, this of Palmerston and Nesselrode? Palmerston's ministration serves Russia as faithfully as Nesselrode's. How desirable it would be to get at the bottom of these mysteries and extract the truth! But against that exploration the present case is to be closed, like others that have gone before-for ever closed: Lord Palmerston 'is preparing papers."

also, as would appear from an article in the "Revue des Deux Mondes," from the pen of the son-in-law of the Duc de Broglie, French ambassador in London.*

The English act in Greece takes the Russian cabinet completely by surprise! It declares itself in ignorance of the footing on which it stands with. England, and awaits an answer. But M. Basili, at Beyrout, on the first news from Greece, knows exactly what to do, and two months ago repeated verbatim Count Nesselrode's despatch of the 19th February, which we have just received by the steamer. A Russian agent is neither a being of impulse nor a prophet. The closest intimacy reigns between the Russian and English consulates; but so horror-stricken is M. Basili at England's perfidy, that on the hour, he is converted from the most devoted of friends to the fiercest of foes. Not content with private vituperation for the bewildered Mr. Moore, he sought an audience in the lanes and saloons of Beyrout. He cited her act in Greece, as an instance only of her universal policy, and undeviating character; she was everywhere "a traitor

* Désesperant de pouvoir jamais s'entendre avec celui qui s'était fait à Madrid le patron des cabales des exaltés Espagnols; à Rome, à Naples et en Sicile le promoteur des insurrections; en Grêce un agent incessant de troubles, et de desordre; qui avait livré Fribourg et Lucerne à la colerè des Radicaux Suissesles grands Puissances venoient témoigner à la France le désir de se concerter avec elle à l'exclusion de l'Angleterre. M. le Comte de Collerado et le Général Radowitz pendant leur séjour à Paris mirent en avant l'idée d'une entente à quarte."

to her friends, an oppression to Europe, and a curse to the world." An English resident said to me, “I can compare his language only to that of Napoleon during the continental blockade." Do not these words describe Count Nesselrode's note of the 19th February?

The people of Beyrout were exceedingly surprised; they expected that he would be recalled by his Government so soon as Mr. Moore's report reached head-quarters. I explained at the time that M. Basili could only have acted on instructions, and that they would find a "Note," already written, would be fulminated from St. Petersburg, so soon as the necessary time should elapse for the "News" to appear to reach that capital. I was listened to with stupid wonder or undisguised incredulity. It was one of those, who had so listened, who brought me the newspaper containing the despatch. In giving it, he said, "Well, Europe, I see now, must be made up of dotards or children." By means of this interpretation, given beforehand, the people at Beyrout did not remain intimately convinced, like the rest of the world, of the implacable hatred subsisting between Count Nesselrode and Lord Palmerston.

This vessel brings intelligence of the speedy return of Colonel Rose. The people ask why has that functionary been so long absent? I inquire why is he now sent back? The Turkish anthorities console themselves with saying, 66 If any trouble