The news of the week from the East is of
little importance. The Turkish Government is appointing Councils of varions. kinds to carry out its promised reforms, which the insurgents only
ridicule, and is straining every nerve to pay the half-interest due in January. The collectors in the provinces are commanded to send in money, whatever the result, and the population in many provinces are described as on the verge of insurrection. The statement that guarantees for the reforms are to be demanded from the Sultan is repeated every week, but the form of these guarantees is not given, nor is it certain that Russia and Austria are agreed upon their terms. In fact, all parties appear to be waiting,—the Turks to see whether they can borrow money in January, the Austrians to see whether the rebellion can outlast the winter, and the Russians to see whether in spring the prospect is hopeful enough to justify action against the Turks. Nothing is in the least improved in the situation, but the clockwork has still some distance to fall before it explodes the dynamite. In the interim, the Sultan has ordered another ironclad, and is going on with the Mosque (cost £2,000,000) which is to carry his name down for ever. He need fear nothing for his immortality. Augustulus is no more forgotten than Augustus.
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