The pro-Turkish party actually succeeded on Thursday in getting together
a respectable meeting at St. James's Hall, to hear Mr. Algernon Borthwick discourse on the sins of Russia and the political virtues of the Turks ; and they succeeded, too, in getting a Duke to take the chair,—the Duke of Sutherland. Mr. Borthwick had, however, nothing new to say. His panegyric on Ottoman government generally will not de- ceive any one who accepts the authority of the English Blue-books passim, and his account of the origin of the Bul- garian massacres will not deceive anybody who accepts the authority of Mr. Baring and Lord Derby. Mr. Borthwick, however,. himself perhaps does not accept the authority of a Cabinet which he declared to be insufficiently provided with "back-bone.' The Duke of Sutherland talked rank Urquhartism, speaking of Russia's agents as fearful and widespread, and describing them as like serpents, which "lick the victims they are about to devour."' Two of the most favoured agents of Russia in England are, says the Duke, Mr. Gladstone and General Ignatieff. But he did not say whom Mr. Gladstone licks, or whom he is likely to devour. This- sort of talk speaks for itself. No resolutions were proposed or passed except resolutions of thanks to Mr. Borthwick and the Duke of Sutherland.
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