Midhat's Parliament has been got together, and on the 19th
of March, the Sultan, "leaning on his sword "—the only Turkish sceptre—listened to the reading of the first " speech from the throne." The idea of the speech was that Sultan Mahmoud com- menced reforms, and that Sultan Abdul Medjid would have con- tinued them, but for the Crimean war and subsequent " criminal intrigues," which necessitated great loans. The " interest" on these loans was " reduced," in consequence of the insurrection in the Herzegovina, and the credit of the State thereby affected, and the Sultan hopes that this will be among the first subjects of the deliberations of the Parliament. He has always held that Englishmen did not care for Bulgarians, but for bonds. The reforms are now to go on, and the Parliament to pass " an Electoral Bill, a Provincial Bill, a Bill on Com- mercial Regulations, a Code of Civil Procedure, measures for the reorganisation of the Tribunals, the promotion and retirement of public funitionaries, a Press Bill, a Bill for the organisation of a Court of Accounts, and finally, the Budget Law." The Sultan has made peace with Servia, and hopes to make peace with Monte- negro, and considers that the Conference showed that the Porte was ready " to anticipate those wishes of the Powers which can be reconciled with Treaties, with international law, and with the exigencies of the situation." His moderation and sincerity will, he hopes, draw closer the bonds of amity with Europe, and he also hopes that he shall not be pressed for other engagements than those he has given. There is no sign of concession in the speech, and none that the Ottoman caste needs any restraint whatever.
