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IX.] P OLITICAL R KIXKCTIONS. JQ 4 ! England. Under these conditions Asia Minor would iremain exactly where it was. A grand scheme which (would have had immense political results, had the iTurks accepted our interference in the honourable spirit Sof our intentions, has been frustrated by their want of ^confidence, and the Convention remains, containing an agreement of stupendous importance, by which England is committed to a military undertaking of the first magnitude, while Turkey risks nothing except her "promises of reform in the administration of her •Asiatic provinces. " " British interests " in this transaction are represented by Cyprus, which we occupy as tenants—paying ^96,00 0 a year for the ruined house, and leaving ourselves no balance from the revenue for the necessary repairs. There is no more difficult political associate than the Turk ; his defensive weapon is delay, and in înoments of the greatest emergency his peculiar apathy or patience never forsakes him. Proud and naughty to a superlative degree, in his heart he detests all extraneous counsel and interference, and would rather glide onward to destruction than grasp jhe hand stretched out to save him. Turkey has expected much from England, and has made a poor return for our sacrifice of blood and treasure during the Crimean war. She obtained an ephemeral financial reputation through the aid of France and England in becoming guarantees for a public loan ; upon this false position she traded until the inevitable bankruptcy plunged her into ruin, and opened the gate for the ientrance of her enemies, at the same time that dishonesty entailed the severance of friends. England has from mutual interests endeavoured to preserve G G

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