17 JULY 1880, Page 1

All intelligence from Constantinople points to continued hesitation on the

part of the Sultan. He has received the Col- lective Note inviting him to obey the award of Europe, but as yet it is uncertain whether he will yield or resist. On the one hand, he has dismissed Osman Pasha from the Ministry of War, which, as Osman is all for resistance, looks as if he distrusted that course ; but on the other, lie has left him Marshal of the Palace, and in command of his own immediate guard. He has issued orders for the collection of 160,000 troops, is forwarding arms, supplies, and Irregulars to Albania, and has directed the fleet to be prepared to transport troops to Epirus. It is believed that he still expects evidence of disunion among the Powers, that he has hopes from German influence, and that, while professing perfect willingness to commence negotiations again, he will leave Greece to obtain her territories, if she can. Meanwhile, the Powers await his reply, without any sign that the European concord is broken, or that they contem- plate the possibility of a defiance. That does not prove that such a defiance has not been considered and provided for. Upon the whole, we should say the Sultan awaited a display of force, in order to justify him iu his subjects' eyes in surrendering Mussulman territory, but the force need not of necessity be visible. Note, as an unexplained incident, that the German Ambassador has summoned German experts in finance to Constantinople.