4 DECEMBER 1886, Page 2

To all appearance, the withdrawal of Russian agents from Bulgaria

has left the Principality a free and orderly country. The want of a Prince, though probably felt in the Army, does not weaken the Administration, which is quietly, and to all appearance satisfactorily, conducted by the three Regents, sub- ject to revision at some future time by the Assembly. The cities are perfectly quiet, and the peasantry show no dissatis- faction with the state of affairs, The Russians publish tinily accounts of atrocities, but they are not confirmed either by English or German residents, of whom there are many. The leading Bulgarians have agreed, it is believed, to reject the Min- grelian Prince offered them by Russia, and are sending three Commissioners to the Courts of Europe, ostensibly to ex- plain affairs, really, we may suppose, to search for a Prince. It is quite possible, however, that they may return, for money is very scarce, and the Regents are believed to think that the best policy may be to govern quietly, await events, and should a happy opportunity ever occur, recall Prince Alexander as King of Bulgaria and Generalissimo of the united Balkans. That would be a most satisfactory ending ; but Russia will never voluntarily sanction it, and the new Federation would require the determined protection of Europe. Still, it might have 350,000 very fair soldiers.