18 NOVEMBER 1876, Page 3

Sir John Lubbock, who spoke at Maidstone last week, and

who, though a banker, seems to take a cheerful view of the prospects of Europe, made a suggestion that, as far as England's interests were concerned, it would pay us very well to buy the western provinces of Asia Minor from Turkey. That, he said, would secure our route to India, and would not impose any per- ceptible burden on England. That means, we suppose, that with a long sea-coast in the Mediterranean we should be safe enough, but would it take a long sea-coast ? Would not one or two islands with good harbours be enough? Still, Sir John Lubbock's view is the really reasonable view, and we wish he could impart it to the mercantile mind. That magic word " Constantinople " may yet cost us dear.