We do not know that it is of much use,
in these days of flaccid policies, to pretend to keep up " influence " at Constan- tinople, but if he wishes to keep it, Lord Derby should look strictly into the personnel of our embassy there. Count Igaatieff, who hoped for another appointment, has been ordered to remain, and Count Arnim is really going there from Paris. With these two men working together, with the Austrian hesitating between two policies, and the French Ambassador powerless, the English one, unless a very strong man, will be as isolated as Jonah in the whale, and about as competent to do anything effective. Sir H. Elliott may be the right man, for his despatches are never pub'- lished, but he certainly knew nothing about the progress of Turkish arms in Arabia until we had to defend Lahej by a dis- play of force, and if ignorant of one vital English interest, may also be ignorant of more. We do not say he is, but with the combination now possible at Conetantinople even an efficient man will scarcely do. We want the most efficient that can be spared, and permission for him to spend a little money too.
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