10 AUGUST 1878, Page 15

CERVANTES ON CYPRUS.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECT5TOR:]

SIR,—I confess that it has caused me some disappointment, that not one of the many busy bees who have been gathering know- ledge about Cyprus from a thousand different sources has applied himself to the immortal author of "Don Quixote." Or is it the case that those guardians of our liberties who support the adventurous policy of the Premier are unwilling that the public mind should associate the acquisition of Cyprus by the British Government with the adventures of the Knight of the Wind- mills ? It is more than likely, for Cervantes speaks of Cyprus whilst it was yet in the hands of the Christian Venetians, and just before the Turk, with the treachery peculiar to his political character, came like a thief in the night and seized it, as "a place of peace and wealth, and possessed of all that which constitutes happiness which it is in the power of nature to bestow upon man ;" and in other places Cervantes speaks of it as the "rich realm of Cyprus," its "bright and happy climate," and its "once happy and contented people." Why, then, has this immortal author not been quoted among those who, as eye-witnesses, are able to testify to the beauties and excellences of our new possession ? There are two answers to the question. The first is that our Tory friends have a great horror of ridicule, and a keen appreciation of its power, and rather than run the risk of the public making a comparison between the Convention of Constantinople and the methods of reform and modes of righting wrongs adopted by the great Hidalgo of La Mancha, they preferred to dispense with his testimony, although it was favourable to their side. The other answer is this—that to have suggested the name of Cervantes as a witness for the physical excellences of Cyprus would have recalled all that he has said of the moral defects of the Turk as a governor, a citizen, or a political ally. For Cervantes could speak of hellish tortures of inoffensive Christians conducted before his own eyes, to intimidate him to a confession, which he would not make, although threatened with impalement ; he could speak of Turkish perfidy as no other could, and of the incurable dishonesty of a Government which always sold its public offices to the highest bidder, and derived its income not only from the sale of women's bodies, but of the minds of men. So that, after all, we are not to wonder why the Tory Press has not put Cer-

vantes into the witness-box to give a character to Cyprus.— I am, Sir, &c.,