For the tenants, this new policy, though short perhaps of their aspirations, is at worst endurable. They declare - truly as we believe, but truly or falsely is not just now the question that the Lord of is once more very imminent, and Europe to the Cretan insurgents who demand has finally abandoned the attempt to main- union with Greece; it will probably be the tain "integrity" of Turkey. Russia pro- arrangement forced upon Thessaly and tests that she wants no acquisitions, France Epirus if the patriotic brigands of those anxiously denies any intention of coercing provinces can keep up anarchy long enough the Sultan, Lord Derby declares that it is to interest the West. Every tenant is to no duty of England to accelerate the fall of live without landlord till we know who is the Porte, but the result of all these assur- strong enough to enforce his claim to the ance is by no means reassuring to the succession. Christian Europe is to be made Turks. The powers engaged in the Crimean free of every Turk excepting the Sultan. War have either avowedly or tacitly adopted a new policy, and that the one which, of all others, the Sultan has most to dread, the policy of allowing the Turks to be ruined without immediately redistributing Turkey. Up to the death of Lord Palmerston the the Manor is a villain whom civilization doctrine of the British Government was will not endure, who levies rent by pillage, that Turkey must be upheld until some and exacts service by torture, who steals other power, Greek or Roumanian, or even their daughters, circumcises their sons, Federal, showed itself competent to succeed breaks all contracts, and considers the free her. To the last day of his career the late exercise of their religion an unpardonable Premier either believed, or said he believed, offence. Well, the new policy frees them that Turkey was improving; but he would, of him. He can demand a quit-rent and we imagine, have held to his policy, in spite arrest the transfer of their farms, but where of proof that Turkey was decaying, would the system has been established that is have asserted boldly that the interests of all he can do. They may not be able durEurope as a whole demanded that the am- ing the uncertainty of ownership to carry putation of the gangrened limb should be out the improvements they desire to postponed as long as possible. In his judg- drain, and build, and educate, and form ment the only alternatives were to keep alliances, but they are at least exempt from the sick man alive by stimulants or to com- violence, safe in their homes, released from mence at once a deadly struggle for his in- extortionate demands, able to protect their heritance. A third alternative has now daughters and to worship as they please, been discovered, and ever since his death a and that moderate instalment of happiness policy based upon that has been gaining is for the present much. The tooth reconsistency and form. It is possible to let mains rotten, but at least the pangs are the sick man die, yet consider him alive, gone. Nor is the new policy very hard and leave his immense estates without any upon the Lord of the Manor himself. He final distribution. Let the tenantry stay on has been tried, condemned, and sentenced without landlord, paying only some mode- by the opinion of civilization any time in rate quit-rent, until it is convenient to the last hundred years, and anything short fight out the great suit. In other words, if of immediate death by the sword is for him any province in European Turkey finds the an undeserved mercy. What are the crimes Sultan insupportable, let it revolt; and if of the Bourbons or the Hapsburgs compared it wins, let it obtain self-government, sub- with those of the Turk? If he can hold ject only to a nominal suzerainty, which his own till the legal executioner, the pubmay be terminated at the fitting hour. If lic opinion of Europe, is ready, well and the process is repeated often enough the good; if not, death by exhaustion is less Turks will gradually cease to rule, without painful than death upon the block. But "Turkey as a political expression being we do not wonder that politicians look with formally declared dead. This idea, which much doubt and some alarm upon the reis officially promulgated by Prince Gort-sult of the new system upon Europe. The schakoff, is not repudiated by Lord Stanley, and is, though not unreservedly, accepted by the Emperor Napoleon. It has already been acted upon in the Principalities, where the "Hospodar," Charles of Hohenzollern, is really an hereditary Sovereign; it is the policy for which Prince Michael of Servia is at this moment organizing a grand levy of troops; it is the compromise suggested tenants, be it observed, are not given their copyholds; they have to take them each by each, may fail, and can only succeed by exciting an agrarian insurrection. Is disorder of that kind in one estate quite safe as regards the rest? May not one of those who claim the inheritance ally himself prematurely with the tenants? In the event of a general quarrel, may not one "heir" seize his opportunity to take too much, to the tion to delay their interference. We canprejudice of all the rest? Russia, for ex- not see Egypt pass to any power but ourample, is always more or less distrusted, selves, the Romanoffs cannot submit to a and if France and Germany were at war, Christian massacre, Austria cannot see the might not Russia, in alliance with the mouths of the Danube pass into powerful Greek Christians, seize the manor-house hands, France will not give up her initself-seat herself permanently in Con- fluerce in Syria. Any one of the powers stanople? Russia, which raises subscrip- would fight sooner than permit any one of tions for the Cretans, and declines to "in- these calamities, and with the Eastern fluence" Servia, and talks so very strongly Question once aroused they are all possible about disinterestedness, not the best together. recognized quality of Russia, seems very No wonder, then, that politicians are much inclined, if she only dared, to make alarmed, that French papers teem with her sympathy concrete, and if France were speculations, that awkward questions are fully engaged upon the Rhine she would asked in Parliament, that Governments dare. Or might not two or more claimants usually as secret as the Inquisition publish combine, and so oust the third of his right- long despatches. The new policy, however ful or or unrighteous expectations? Suppose wise, involves the chance of a general war, - it is not our supposition-France and that is, of the greatest calamity which Russia were to combine, for France and could befall civilization, and alarm is only Austria? Or suppose the tenantry to de- wisdom. But we do not quite see why clare for one or other of them. Would England should feel this alarm in any not the suit come on immediately, to the especial degree. So long as she held herhorror of all persons interested either in self ready to defend, at all hazards, the economy or in general peace and good-will?" integrity of the Ottoman Empire," any Revolution once fairly on foot in Turkey, no politician, however experienced, can assign it any limits, can be certain, for example, that the Russians may not force their Government into a crusade, or the Turks compel the Caliph to declare war upon Infidels at large. The Czar is popularly supposed to be always intriguing in Constantinople, but those who know Russia say that in threatening the Turks he rather obeys than drives the popular will. The Mussulmans,on the other hand, are supposed to be weak, but a Turk fairly driven to the wall is one of the most dangerous beings in existence - will fight on without a chance of success, and die as calmly as only an Asiatic can. It is with the greatest difficuly that the Sultan has been induced to keep the peace towards Greece, and if he once thought his honour involved he might unfurl the green flag, and compel Europe to consent to his immediate expulsion. In any one of these contingencies, a Russian advance, a Mussulman outbreak, an alliance between two of the Great Powers to settle the Eastern question, general war might be a question of hours. Four at least of the Five Great Powers are too deeply interested to allow any considerations of prudence, or expense, or prepara movement in Eastern Europe was alarming; but if that policy is abandoned, as we understand from Lord Derby's speech it is abandoned, we have but one pressing interest to watch the independence of Egypt. So long as that is not menaced, either directly by France or indirectly by the course of events, we may, if we please, abstain entirely from the hurlyburly, leave Greece to carry out her own projects, or witness unmoved the extinction of the authority of the Porte. Whether it will ever be wise to stand so completely aside, whether we could, for example, remain quiescent while Russians besieged Constantinople, is another matter, but our policy is freed from a long-standing engagement to maintain Turkey. We are, for the first time since 1856, free to choose our own line in Turkish affairs, an immense change, and in our belief also an immense gain. The possession or the independence of Egypt is worth, to England, a great war, the integ rity of Turkey is not worth an additional farthing to the income-tax, and the recent negotiations have placed us in this most satisfactory position. We are as free as ever to fight for that which is worth having, no longer bound to fight for that which is not worth preserving. From the Examiner 9 March. DARK CLOUDS OVER EUROPE. HOWEVER disposed to regard sinister rumours and predictions of approaching calamities and "last woes" in the light in which alone they should generally be regarded as the idle dreams of diseased imaginations - there are occasionally precursors of portentous events, which no amount of phlegmatism or scepticism can wholly ignore. We believe that we are just now arrived at one of those critical periods in the history of Europe, when there are unmistakable signs of that general disturbance which has been long foretold, and which may really come upon us if the wisdom of statesman and Governments be unequal to the occasion. It is notorious that for some years past the political ties, whether of sympathy or interest, which bound the Governments of Europe in something like a federal system, have been relaxed; and, as a consequence, that events of the greatest importance and significance have been left very much to be decided by chance and the current of events. That such a condition of the States of Europe may have postponed a general war up to the present period may be true; but that it could have any other effect than to lead to ultimate confusion, no one who believes that reflection and foresight were given for the avoidance of danger and ruin can for a moment doubt. As the result of this laissez-faire laissezpasser system, what do we see? That no man would buy the peace of Europe at six months' purchase. The opinion is becoming universal that the general tranquillity cannot be preserved beyond that time. The same language is heard in the Ministerial Globe of London and the official journals of St Petersburg and Moscow. It must be a chaotic state of the world when a Grand Duke of Russia drinks a toast to the revolutionists of Crete, and Garibaldi has left his island home to preach up and organize an expedition in their favour. It had been almost sworn, says the organ of Sir Stafford Northcote, that we were to remain at peace this year, but we now doubt whether it will be possible to prevent war from breaking out before the year expires. A great war, it adds, is but a question of time. The Moscow Gazette is more precise in its utterances. "The solution of the Eastern question " it declares to be "a matter of necessity. The critical day approaches rapidly. The events which are preparing in the Peninsula of the Balkan are our cause." Not less emphatic is the language of the Journal de St. Petersburg. It directs attention to the " "immediate evils which may be the effect of Turkey continuing the oppression of the Christian people of the East. The Russian official journal also contains some despatches of Prince Gortzchakoff to the Russian Minister in London, which break off with a recommendation that Crete should be made independent under the suzerainty of the Porte; and this comes accompanied with a report that the Russian soldiers on furlough have received orders to join their regiments, and that a Russian force is to be moved towards the Turkish frontiers in the course of next month. Again, we learn from the Memorial Diplomatique, that an expedition is preparing against Turkey, from the Italian shores of the Adriatic, to be led by Garibaldians, if not by Garibaldi himself; and, from another quarter, it is stated that the electoral agitation in Italy, which has produced an unusual degree of excitement, is not foreign to the Eastern question, having been got up for the purpose of driving the Ricasoli Ministry from power and detaching Italy from her Prussian connexion. In Berlin, Herr von Bismarck has made an urgent appeal to the members of the new North German Parliament, to agree to the constitution before the 18th of next August, within which period, by the convention of Berlin of the 18th August, 1866, the more enlarged confederation with the States of South Germany may be effected; whilst at Vienna, there is unbounded joy at the renewed attachment of Hungary to the monarchy, and the vigorous steps taken by the Diet of Pesth in carrying out the Imperial wishes. We may mention, as among the signs of the times, a report, to which an excited imagination only could give origin, that Queen Victoria recommended the King of the Belgians to become a member of the German Confederation, with a view of securing Belgium against the supposed designs of the Emperor of the French. When we find at our own doors, under a Constitutional system where men undoubtedly possess a large amount of freedom, the torch of civil war spattering and smoking, although it will not take light, we may well bring together the signs of the ominous times which appear to be impending over Europe. In all probability the thunder will burst in the East, but who can contemplate the mixture of races, nationalities and creeds, which overspreads the whole of that part of Europe with the hope that if once We give up as perfectly hopeless the attempt to unravel the policy of any of the great Powers in respect to the Eastern question except, perhaps, that of Russia, which seems to contemplate the possession of Constantinople with a persistency and firmness of hope that in itself does so much for its own realization. The common saying in Paris is not now après moi le deluge, but après l'exposition vous verrez. Never since 1815 was the general peace of Europe in so critical a position. We should rejoice to see the Cabinets of the great Powers at work to conduct and render harmless the political electricity with which the atmosphere is charged; but should the storm burst, we can only lament the blindness of rulers, and hope that whatever is, is right. The discussion which took place last night in the House of Lords at once exhibits the absence of anything like a settled and definite policy, even amongst gentlemen holding the same general views on politics, with respect to the Eastern question, and the imminent danger that appears to be now brooding over that portion of Europe. From the London Review. owings," and has even taken the pains of copying out the former novel so as to lull the quick suspicion of his new publishers into blind security. What may be the morality of such a course we cannot inquire. The probability is that Mr. Wills is liable to an action. But neither Miss Braddon nor Mrs. Henry Wood can be accused of attempting to gull their publishers or the public. Mrs. Henry Wood writes quite openly to say that she sees no harm in calling an old novel a new one. Why should she not publish "Lady Adelaide's Oath" in England after having published it as "The Castle's Heir" in America? What can it matter to the English public whether the book is new or old? If she brings out her work at Philadelphia five years before it appears in England, she simply professes to write for an American public. Owing to the copyright laws, that edition cannot be imported into Great Britain. Owing to the price charged for three-volume novels, the English edition will not have a sale in America. The only thing to be said is, that this species of traffic in literature does not look very clean, and that an author who makes two separate bargains for the same work, can only avoid the blame attaching to sharp practices by bargaining openly and above-board, instead of blinding the reader by letting years elapse, and the bookseller by changing the title. So much romance attaches to the novels LADY CAROLINE LASCELLES & CO. (UNLIM. of "Lady Caroline Lascelles" that we must ITED.) THE way in which some of our popular novelists transact the business of literature has of late been curiously illustrated. It appears, by evidence of various kinds, that Miss Braddon has been writing sensational novels, compared with which her own acknowledged works are tame, and has been publishing them in a half-penny journal under the name of Lady Caroline Lascelles. At the very time that Mrs. Henry Wood's publisher has been indignantly disavowing another publisher's Mrs. Wood, we learn that another Mrs. Henry Wood has appeared. in America. The novels which enjoyed such a circulation in England have been tried beforehand on a Transatlantic public, and have then recrossed the ocean with a different title, and some slight disguise in the shape of grammar. Emboldened by these examples, another novelist has ventured still further, and has given a new birth to a work that blushed unseen seven years ago. Mr. W. G. Wills has adapted the name of "The Love that Kills" to his "Life's Foreshad not deal with them in a hard, practical spirit. In the first place there is something touching in the thought of a titled lady appealing to an audience of maid-servants. If Lady Caroline put pen to paper, one would rather expect her to have a number of the Court Journal to herself, and to have that number printed expressly for her on the thickest creamlaid paper, with virgin type which should never be used again. Or should this be too highflown, she would write for one of the most aristocratic of the old monthlies, such a one as lies on the drawing-room tables of the old-established clubs, and is never profaned by a reader. Such condescension as that of her writing the "Black Band" or "Diavola" is too much for us to realize. But when she vouchsafes to deal with American publishers for early sheets, and to throw aside the mask of fashion which is so lightly worn, our wonder is at an end. We can hardly be astonished at Miss Braddon assuming a new disguise or instructing the world by means of a new channel. Her title has no doubt been conferred by her Belgravia, which, - though valuable as a mode of communicat-cals. Nothing is more common than for one ing with the higher classes, is not sufficient man to begin a tale, for another to go on to exhaust her energies. Or it may be that with it, and a third to finish it, Stories she has found her former readers unwilling have been told of the novelist of a penny to follow her to the extremes of sensation- paper being engaged at a weekly salary, alism, and while with those readers she and receiving notice to quit while he was turns to high life, refined profligacy, and in the middle of a weekly instalment. One adaptation from the French, she uses half- novelist tried to get the better of the propripenny journals as a safety-valve for the etor by killing off all his characters. He superfluous vapour. If this be the case, was resolved that his successor should not both classes of readers may think themselves inherit one of them, And he was curious lucky. Every one must admit that the to see how fresh characters could be created breathless romance of Miss Braddon's ear- in the middle of a story. With this view lier works was more fitted for servant-maids he collected all the dramatis personæ in a than for cultivated readers. She disarmed ship, and blew up ship, characters and all much hostile criticism when she took a les- at the end of the chapter. And having son from "Madame Bovary." In the vio- done for them all, he wrote the "to be conlence of some of her native characters and tinued in our next" with a clear conscience the endurance of others, she was always and some sense of triumph. But his suctouching the borders of the impossible; cessor was equal to the task. A boat had and Lady Audley, walking several miles at put out from the shore under cover of the midnight to burn down a house and coming smoke with which the last chapter ended, down to breakfast as fresh as ever, was a and this boat, while bringing fresh characfigure worthy of Zillah the Destroyer or ters on the stage, was able to rescue some the White Witch of the Wampums. Yet of the old ones. Nor will this story seem - though on this point we speak with diffi- improbable to the readers of Mr. Sala's dence- we think Miss Braddon will be an "Quite Alone," the first volume of which improvement on the authors of the last was written by Mr. Sala himself in the named books. We have not indeed read company of his manuscript, while the seceither the "Black Bank" or "Diavola" ond volume was written by Mr. Sala quite with the attention which their merits de- alone and totally oblivious of what had gone mand. We are also sadly ignorant of the before, and the third was written by Mr. mass of fiction bestowed on the world by Andrew Halliday. We see no reason why Mr. G. W. M. Reynolds and the novelists of this joint-stock principle should not be the London Journal; but we feel confident carried out to its full extent. If one man that Miss Braddon will beat them. Whether can begin a novel and leave it to be finished she writes under her own name or under by another, why cannot several men begin on that of a lady of fashion, in her own style or various parts of a novel, let some skilful in a mixture of other styles, she is unap- editor join the parts together, and put the proachable, and she must be unsurpassed. name of Lady Caroline Lascelles to the whole? Too many cooks spoil the broth, but many cooks are needed for the complex work of a grand dinner. There is one for the made dishes and another for the pastry; the arrangement of the dessert is confided to one, while another is absorbed in the concoction of sauces. So we might have the several elements of a sensational novel worked out independently of each other. A woman might write the love scenes. man could put in the law. The inevitable detective might be intrusted to " Waters." The grand marriage could be described by a late curate of St. George's. The secret marriage, which was to vitiate the grand one, could be told by an ex-blacksmith of Gretna. The prophet of a sporting paper would look to the hunting scenes and the steeplechase. Or perhaps it would be a good arrangement, as these novels are apt to turn on breaches of the commandments, Our only fear is whether Miss Braddon's share in these mysterious novels is confined to the loan of another person's name. Mr. Maxwell's letter, which is to appear in the Athenæum, gives some hint of this as being the solution. What if the novels are written by a joint-stock company, and Miss Braddon's sole contribution to them is a license to suggest that she is Lady Caroline Lascelles? This would be nothing new in literature. In France the great Dumas has put his name on scores of title-pages on the strength of a few corrections. Miss Braddon, we believe, "edits" Belgravia on this . principle. It may be objected that though it is easy for one man to do work when another gets the credit, it is not so easy for a great number to combine in order to write one person's novels. But this objection merely shows that the people making it are ignorant of the principle of penny periodi A |