On Tuesday, Sir Charles Dilke called attention to the rumours
of Russian advance in Central Asia, where it was said, —on no good authority, apparently,—Russians had crossed the Oxus, and he asked for information as to the new British mission of Sir N. Chamberlain to Cabul. Mr. Bourke replied that he did notbelieve that the Russians had crossed the Oxus, but undoubtedly they had sent a mission to Cabal. And the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer intimated that our mission to Cabul was to be a sort of diplomatic answer to the Russian mission, and was to be " of corre- sponding weight and dignity." The tone of both Mr. Bourke's and Sir S. Northcote's speeches about this Russian mission to Cabal was fidgetty, not to say anxious, and it is obvious enough that the relations of the Government with Russia are by no means improved since Lord Beaconsfield's grand language about —" Thus far, but no farther." In Central Asia at present we do not believe that there is anything to fear, or indeed that there ever will be much to fear from Russia ; but at any rate, the new Protectorate of Asia Minor, so far as it has affected the Russian "road to India" at all, has made it, we do not say more practi- cable to Russia, but certainly more tempting. We have roused- Russian pride anew, and provided ourselves with nothing but new burdens.
