The London Gazette publishes an official report of the ceremony
performed when the Sultan of Turkey was invested with the Eng- ish Order of the Garter. The Queen's plenipotentiaries for that august ceremonial were Lord Stratford de Redoliffe and Sir Charles Young the Garter King of Arms. The Sultan made oath to ob- serve the statutes of the Order, so far as he could consistently with the Koran. He will probably observe them, the Koran notwith- standing, better than some Christian members of the Order have done. The simple fact that the London Gazette records the in- vestiture of a Mu.ssulman monarch is an historical fact full of suggestion.
In the East, no change of position is reported. We have in- deed rumours that Russia will surrender the Isle of Serpents but adhere to Bolgrad the younger, and that the Porte is preparing to fortify Giurgevo ; but the only novelty is a statement that some Russian sloops of war have captured Turkish smugglers, and fired upon an English gun-boat attempting to enter the Sea of Azoff. Whether it is a political fact, or simply a case of per- sonal misconduct on one side or the other, it is impossible to pro- nounce till we hear more.
The Paris journal the Constitutionnel gives a formal explana- tion with regard to the conduct of French officers in Persia. M. Bong*, this explanation says, has given advice against the Persian advance upon Herat ; and M. Baler, the engineering officer, has a commission in the Persian army only as a private adventurer, having no authority from his Government. _ This statement must be accepted until it can be disproved by evi- dence. It shows at least what the French Government desires Europe to believe.
Prussia continues hor effort* to raise some pubic opinion fa- vourable to her claim fox the reatoratiot of NeuchAtel ;„ but ap- parently in vain. Europe does-not Care about the matter ; and Switzerland is resolved not to renew the anomaly of a Royal suzerainty over one of the Republican Cantons.
