1877. Edward White Benson, consecrated 25 April. Truss. A transverse spring-truss for ruptures was patented by Robert Brand in 1771, and by many other persons since. The National Truss Society, to assist indigent persons, was established in 1786; and many similar societies since. Tuam (W. Ireland). St. Jarlath, the son of Loga, who lived about 501, is looked upon as the first founder of the cathedral of Tuam, though the abbey is said to have been founded in 487. The church was anciently called Tuaim-du-Gualand. In 1151, Edan O'Hoisin was the first archbishop, at least the first who received the pall, for some of his predecessors are sometimes called bishops of Connaught, and sometimes archbishops, by Irish historians. The see of Mayo was annexed to Tuam in 1559. Tuam is valued in the king's books, by an extent returned anno 28 Eliz., at 50. sterling per annum.-Beatson. It ceased to be archiepiscopal, conformably with the statute 3 & 4 Will. IV. 1833; and is now a bishopric only, to which Killala and Achonry, a joint see, has been added; see Archbishops. New Protestant cathedral of St. Mary, consecrated by the bishop, the Hon. Dr. Charles B. Bernard, 9 Oct. 1878. Tubman, see Postman. Tubular Bridges. The Britannia tubular suspension bridge, then the most wonderful enterprise in engineering in the world, was constructed, 1846-50 (Mr. R. Stephenson and Mr. Fairbairn, engineers), about a mile southward of the Menai Strait suspension bridge.* On the Britannia rock, near the centre of the Menai Strait, the surface of which is about ten feet above lowwater level, is built a tower two hundred feet above high water (commenced building May, 1846), and on which rest two lines of tubes or hollow girders, strong enough to bear their weight and laden trains in addition, the ends resting on the abutments on each shore; each tube being more than a quarter of a mile in length. The height of the tube within is thirty feet at the Britannia tower, diminishing to 23 feet at the abutments. The lifting of these tubes to their places was a most gigantic operation, successfully performed, 27 June, 1849 The first locomotive passed through..... ..March, 1850 The Conway tubular bridge, a miniature copy of the Britannia (principal engineers, Mr. Robert Stephenson and Mr. Fairbairn) erected.. At Chepstow, a railway tubular bridge. .1846-48 A bridge or viaduct on the tubular principle (called the commenced by Catherine de Medicis, after the plans of Philibert de l'Orme, 1564; continued by Henry IV.; and finished by Louis XIV. This palace was stormed by the mob, 10 Aug. 1792; and ransacked in the revolutions of July, 1830, and Feb. 1848. Louis Napoleon made it his residence in 1851, and greatly renovated it. The restoration of the Tuileries (much injured by fire by the Communists, May, 1871) was determined on, Oct. 1872. Tulchan Bishops. Episcopacy was revived in Scotland by the regent Morton, who, with other nobles, absorbed the larger portion of the revenue, 1572-3.-Tulchan was a stuffed calf-skin set before a cow to facilitate milking. Tulips, indigenous in the east of Europe, came to England from Vienna about 1578. It is recorded in the register of Alkmaer, in Holland, that in 1639, 120 tulips, with the offsets, sold for 90,000 florins; and that one, called the Viceroy, sold for 4203 guilders! The States stopped this ruinous traffic. The tulip-tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, was brought to England from America, about 1663. covered, it is stated, by Dudley, lord North, who, when Tunbridge Wells (Kent). The springs were disvery ill, was restored to health by the use of the waters, 1606. The wells were visited by the queens of Charles I. and II., and by queen Anne, and soon became fashionable. Tungsten (also called wolfram and scheelium), a hard, whitish, brittle metal. From tungstate of lead, Scheele, in 1781, obtained tungstic acid, whence the brothers De Luyart, in 1786, obtained the metal. 1859 it was employed in making a new kind of steel. In Tunis (N. Africa) stands nearly on the site of Carthage. Tunis was besieged by Louis IX. of France, who died near it, 25 Aug. 1270. It remained under African kings till taken by Barbarossa, for Solyman the Magnificent, 1531. Barbarossa was expelled by the emperor Charles V., when 10,000 Christian slaves were set at liberty, June, 1535. The country was recovered by the Turks under Selim II., 1575. The bey of Tunis was first appointed in 1574. Tunis was reduced by admiral Blake on the bey refusing to deliver up the British captives, 1655. The Hussein dynasty was founded 1705. In July, 1856, the bey agreed to make constitutional reforms. He died 22 Sept. 1859; and his brother and successor, Mohamed- es-Sadok, took the oath of fidelity to the constitution. Insurrection, 18 April; ships of war sent to protect Euro peans.. pire. ..May, 1864 .25 Oct. 1871 Jan. 1879 Tunis decreed to be an integral part of the Turkish em- Disputes between France and Italy respecting railway Dispute between a British subject here and a French company respecting purchase of the Enfida estate; decision left to the legal tribunals... 1880 66 Feb. 1881 Tugendbund ("League of Virtue"), formed in Dispute with France; predatory incursions of the KrouPrussia soon after the peace of Tilsit, June, 1807, ostenmirs, nomadic shepherd tribes, on Algerian territory, sibly for relieving the sufferers by the late wars, and for March; military expedition sent from France; lands in Tabarka, 25 April; bombards fortress, and occupies the revival of morality and patriotism. Its headquar- Bizerta.. .30 April, ters were at Königsburg. It excited the jealousy of The bey appeals to Turkey, 11 April; and the Great Napoleon, who demanded its suppression in 1809. Powers It .27 April, The Kroumirs said to be enclosed by the French; the was dissolved at the peace in 1815. bey's army retreats.. .early May, Tuileries (Paris), the imperial palace of France, Alleged battle with the Kroumirs.. .......about 2 May, The Britannia tubular bridge was intended to supply the place of one of the finest bridges in the kingdom; and the railway, of which the tubular bridge forms a part, is in like manner a substitute for one of the finest mail-coach roads ever constructed. The road from London to Holyhead has been long regarded as the highway from the British metropolis to Dublin; and the late Mr. Telford was applied to by the government to perfect this route by the London and Holyhead mail-coach road, which he did by erecting a beautiful suspension bridge over the river Conway and over the Menai Strait; commenced in July, 1818, and finished in July, 1825. The French approach Tunis, alleging the object to be to standing with the French government, and to prevent the introduction of arms into Algeria through Tunis. The financial system of the regency to be regulated by France in concert with the bey 12 May, 1881 Reported conflict between the French under gen. Bréart and the Arabs; the French enter Mater.......18 May, The Sultan of Turkey protests against the treaty... May, M. Séguin, a news correspondent, murdered at Beja by a fanatic (who is executed)... 28 May, M. Brangard, inspector of telegraphs, and assistants, murdered by Arabs, near Oran. about 5 June, M. Roustan, the consul, appointed French resident minister (said to be virtual ruler, replacing bey); French army returning home ..June, Mustapha Ben Ismail, the bey's chief minister, received by president Grévy, at Paris.. 21 June, Insurrection at Sfax, revolt of great chief, Ali Ben Khalifa, announced.. .30 June, Tunnage AND POUNDAGE were ancient duties levied on every tun of wine and pound of other goods, imported or exported, and were the origin of our "customs." They commenced in England about 1346, and were granted to the kings for life, beginning with Edward IV. Charles I. gave great offence by levying them on his own authority, 1628. They were granted to Charles II. for his lifetime, 24 June, 1660. By the act 27 Geo. III. c. 13, these and other duties were repealed, 1787, and a new arrangement of excise and customs was in troduced. its kind ever built, and is regarded by engineers as a A tunnel is now (1882) in process of construction under .21 July, 1880 (For Mont Cenis and St. Gothard tunnels, see Alps.) Turan, see Turkestan. Türckheim, see Türkheim. Turin, the ancient Augusta Taurinorum in Piedmont, capital of the Sardinian states, and of the kingdom of Italy, till 1864, when it was superseded by Florence. Its importance dates from the permanent union of Savoy and Piedmont in 1416. The French besieged this city; but prince Eugene defeated their army, and compelled them to raise the siege, 7 Sept. 1706. In 1798, the French republican army took possession of Turin, seized all the strong places and arsenals of Piedmont, and obliged the king and his family to remove to the island of Sardinia. In 1799 the French were driven out by the Austrians and Russians; but the city and all Piedmont surrendered to the French, June, 1800. In May, 1814, it was restored to the king of Sardinia; see Italy, 1864. Here prince Humbert was married to his cousin Margherita amid great rejoicing, 22 April, 1868. The monument to Cavour was inaugurated 8 Nov. 1873. An exhibition opened by the king, 25 April, 1880; see Treaties. Turkestan, called by the Persians Turan, Independent Tartary, the original country of the Turks, in Central Asia, was reached by Alexander, 331 B.C. The Russians are gradually encroaching on this country; on 14 Feb. 1865, a new province, Turkestan, was created by decree, and gen. Kauffmann made governor, 26 July, 1867. Tunnels, for drainage, are ancient. The earliest tunnel for internal navigation was executed by M. Riguet, in the reign of Louis XIV., at Bezières, in France. The first in England was by Mr. Brindley, on the duke of Bridgewater's canal, near Manchester, about 1766. Project of the Gravesend tunnel, 1800; the report upon it, 1801. The Thames Tunnel was projected by Mr. Brunel in 1823, and opened for foot-passengers, 25 March, Turkey. The Turks were originally a tribe of Tar1843; see Thames Tunnel. Innumerable tunnels have tars; but, by incorporation with the peoples they have been made for railways. The railway tunnel at Liver- conquered, have become a mixed race. About 760, they pool was completed in the middle of 1829, lit up with obtained possession of a part of Armenia, called from gas, and exhibited once a week. On the London and them Turcomania. They gradually extended their Birmingham railway there are eight tunnels (the Prim- power; but in the thirteenth century, being harassed rose Hill, Watford, Kilsby, etc.), their total length being by other Tartar tribes, they returned to Asia Minor. 7336 yards.-Smiles. It was computed by Mr. Fowler The Turkish empire till 1878 comprehended the almost that there were 80 miles of tunnels in the United King-independent principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, dom in 1865, which cost about 6,500,0007., at the average of 45l. a yard; see Alps and Thames. Tunnel between Dover and Calais, suggested by M. .about 1802 Tunnel for a railway beneath the Channel from Dover to M. Thomé de Gamond, after many years' study, exhibited Feb. 1876 Servia, and Montenegro, the hereditary viceroyalty of Egypt and Tunis. The Turkish quadrilateral fortresses were Shumla, Varna, Silistria, and Rustchuk. The population of the empire was estimated at 43,600,000 (1871); 47,660,000 (1877). By the treaty of Berlin (13 July, 1878) Turkey is said to have To be occupied and administered Inhabi- Mahomtants. etans. Square 28,125 1,061,000 513,000 Formed into the principality of Act authorizing construction and lending state credit, passed.. Work begun.. 1854 Alp Arslan and the Turks conquer Armenia and Georgia, 1065-8 1288 Othman, his son, emir of the sultan of Iconium. founded the Ottoman empire at Prusa, Bithynia, by policy and conquest, in... 1299 Organization of Janissaries by Orcan about Nicæa conquered, 1330; and the Morea.. 1330 Dardanelles blockaded.. Surrender of Varna... 1346 The Turks penetrate into Thrace, and take Adrianople.. 1361 Amurath I. remodels the Janissaries. Bajazet I. overruns provinces of the Eastern empire, 1362 1389 et seq. He defeats Sigismund of Hungary at Nicopolis, 28 Sept. 1396 He besieges Constantinople; but is interrupted by the approach of Tamerlane (or Timour), by whom he is defeated and made prisoner, at Ancyra.... .......28 July, 1402 Macedonia annexed, 1430 Ladislas of Hungary defeated and slain at Varna by Amurath... .10 Nov. 1444 Amurath defeats John Hunniades at Kossova.......Oct. 1448 The Turks, invading Hungary, repelled by Hunniades... 1450 Constantinople taken by the Turks under Mahomet II., which ends the Eastern Roman empire.......29 May, 1453 Belgrade relieved by Hunniades' victory over the Turks, Greece subjected to the Turks (see Greece)........ The Turks take Otranto, diffusing terror throughout Europe.. July, 1456 1458-60 1480 .1 Oct. 1828 Russians retreat from Shumla. 16 Oct. 30 Oct. ...10 Nov. 11 June, 1829 .2 July, Siege of Silistria raised by Russians.. Adrianople is entered by the Russians, 20 Aug.; armistice agreed on.. 29 Aug. Treaty of peace at Adrianople.. .14 Sept. Fire at Constantinople; extinguished by the men of H.M.S. Blonde.. 22 Jan. 1830 The porte acknowledges the independence of Greece, 25 April, Treaty with America.. .7 May. Great fire at Pera; British embassy destroyed....2 Aug. 1831 New military "order of glory" (Nischan) founded, 19 Aug. 86 St. Jean d'Acre taken by Ibrahim Pacha, son of Mehemet Ali....... ...2 July, 1832 He defeats the army of the sultan at Konieh....21 Dec. Ibrahim Pacha marches within eighty leagues of Constantinople, and the sultan asks the aid of Russia. Jan. 1833 The Russians enter Constantinople..... .3 April, Treaty with Russia, offensive and defensive......8 July, Office of grand-vizier abolished.. .30 March, 1838 Treaty of commerce with England, concluded by lord Ponsonby, ratified.. .16 Aug. 66 [For the events of 1839 and 1840 in relation to Syria, see Syria.] Christians admitted to office in Turkey...........June, 1849 The Turkish government refuses to surrender the Hun garian and Polish refugees on the joint demand of Russia and Austria... .16 Sept. [The porte (countenanced by England) firmly resists this demand.] Russia suspends intercourse with the porte.....12 Nov. ..Jan. 1850 ......Jan. 1851 13 Feb. 1852 Aug. 66 1579 Turks driven out of Persia by Shah Abbas Great fire in Constantinople. 1585 1606 Turkish Croatia in a state of rebellion. Imperial order of Medjidie founded. Prince Menschikoff repairs to Constantinople as Russian negotiator, 28 Feb.; his peremptory demands rejected, 1739 19 April, 1853 Reschid Pacha becomes foreign minister; the ultimatum being rejected, Menschikoff quits Constantinople, 21 May, Hatti-scheriff issued, confirming the rights of the Greek Christians. 27 Jan. 14 March, .28 March, A caravan consisting of 2000 souls, returning from Mecca, destroyed by a pestilential wind in the deserts of Arabia; 20 saved... Subjugation of the Wahabees (which see).. Ali Pacha of Janina, in Greece, declares himself independent.. ......9 Aug. .1818-19 1820 Insurrection in Moldavia and Wallachia. .6 March, 1821 Persecution of Christians, 6 March; the Greek patriarch put to death at Constantinople.... .23 April, [For the events in connection with the independence of Greece, see Greece.] Horrible massacre at Scio (see Chios).. Sea-fight near Mitylene; Turks defeated. New Mahometan army organized... 66 .23 April, 1822 ...6 Oct. 1824 .29 May, 1826 [Several conflicts ensue with varied success.] Osman Pacha storms Peta, the central point of the insurrection..... .25 April, English and French governments, after many remonstrances, send troops, which arrive at the Piræus; the king of Greece submits, and promises strict neutrality; the Greek volunteers are recalled......25 and 26 May, Convention between Turkey and Austria........14 June, Abdi Pacha and Fuad Effendi take the intrenched camp at Kolampaka, and the insurrection shortly after 18 June, Reschid Pacha, having retired (3 June), resumes his office, 1 July, The Russians retire from the principalities, which are thereupon occupied by the Austrians. Turkish loans.... Firman authorizing free exercise of religion.....18 Feb. 1856 Massacre of Christians at Jedda (which see). The allied powers determine the Montenegrin boundaries .8 Nov. Prince Alexander Cousa elected hospodar of both Moldavia and Wallachia.. ...5 and 7 Feb. 1859 [The porte at first objects, but afterwards accedes to the double election.] Electric telegraph completed between Aden and Suez, May, Great fire at Constantinople; 1000 houses destroyed, -10-14 Sept. Conspiracy against the sultan, 17 Sept.; his brother implicated; several condemned to die; reprieved, 66 Dispute with Greece for intervention in the Cretan insurrection; see Greece...... Fuad Pacha dies.... Dec. ... Feb. 1859 .... April, The prince and princess of Wales's visit.. Memorial of the porte to the European powers desiring the abolition of the consular jurisdictions termed "capitulations", ...June, The khedive or viceroy of Egypt censured for assuming sovereign powers encroaching on those of the sultan, Aug. System of compulsory education promulgated......Oct. Arrival of the empress of the French at Constantinople, Inauguration of the Suez canal. The khedive submits to the sultan. Modification of the "capitulations". Great fire at Pera; British embassy and about 7900 houses destroyed; great loss of life... ...5 June, Another fire at Constantinople; about 1500 houses burned, 11 July, Change in the cabinet; Mustapha Fazyl, finance minister, 14 Aug. Reported treaty between Turkey and Greece to resist European aggression in the East. Russia repudiates the treaty of Paris, 1856.. ...21 Oct. .31 Oct. A note delivered to the porte (see Russia). Sept. and Oct. Great agitation for financial reform. ...Oct. Alleged ill-treatment of Christians in.Turkey; proposed intervention of the Great Powers, 5 May; the Turkish government promises investigation and redress, 30 May; all the powers satisfied except Russia.....June, 1860 War between the Druses and Maronites in Lebanon; massacres (see Druses)... ..June, Massacre of Christians at Damascus (see Damascus and Syria)..... .9-11 July, Convention on behalf of the Great Powers at Paris; armed intervention of the French agreed to....2 Aug. Inundations at Galatz; loss about 175,000l. .....24 Feb. 1861 Christians revolt in the Herzegovina, aided by the Montenegrins... . March, Great need of financial reform; the British ambassador, sir H. Lytton Bulwer, proposes a scheme....... April, Discussion respecting the French occupation of Syria; it ceases.. .5 June, Death of the sultan, Abdul-Medjid; accession of AbdulAziz, his brother.. .25 June, Economical reforms begun; Fuad Pacha made president of the council..... ...July, The late sultan's jewels sold in London.. .......Aug. Imperial order of knighthood (Osmaneh) to include civil as well as military persons, founded... Imperial guard reorganized. Fuad Pacha made grand-vizier.. แ Exhibition of the produce of the empire opened in Revolution in Bucharest (see Danubian Principalities). Ministerial changes; Ali Pacha becomes grand - vizier; Fuad Pacha foreign minister.. .11 Feb. Maronite revolt under Joseph Karam suppressed; his flight, Jan.; Turks leave.. 28 March, The recommendation of the European powers to the sultan to give up Candia finally declined....31 March, Omar Pacha commander-in-chief of the Turkish army, April, Destruction of the dock-yards in the Golden Horn by fire, 2 April, The sultan, with his son and nephew, visits Paris, 1-12 July; arrives at Buckingham Palace, London, 12 July; entertained by the queen at Windsor, 13 July; by the lord mayor. 18 July; at a ball at New India House, 19 July; gives 25007. to the poor of London, 22 July; sails from Dover, 23 July; at Vienna, 27 July-1 Aug; returns to Constantinople.... 7 Aug. The sultan declines the proposition of Russia for the suspension of hostilities in Crete, and an international commission.. cessor... The sultan's jewels, etc. (valued at 8,000,000l.) exhibited at Vienna. Aug. The shah of Persia arrives at Constantinople....19 Aug. Inability to raise a loan; the sultan gives up a large sum; great financial reforms proposed... Oct. Turkish aggressions on South Arabia checked by Great Britain.. 66 Nov. Great improvements in the army; formation of reserves, Hussein Avni, pacha; made grand-vizier.. Feb. 1874 Improved financial arrangements reported.. .. April, The sultan ill; he recognizes his nephew Murad as suc.about 5 Oct. Austria, Germany, and Russia inform Turkey that they consider they have the right to conclude separate treaties with Roumania.. .20 Oct. Mésondivé or Mésoudiyé, Turkish iron-clad, launched at Blackwall.. .28 Oct. Turkish debt 3,000,000l. in 1854; 180.000,0007. Budget: estimated receipts, 21,711,764.; expenditure, 26,299,1787.. ...June, 1875 Insurrection in Herzegovina (which see); great excitement in Bosnia, Servia, and Montenegro....July-Aug. Mahmoud Pacha made grand-vizier, with a strong ministry, about... .25 Aug. Decree (in consequence of the deficit of 5,000,000l. in the budget) that for five years half the interest on the debt be paid in cash and half in five per cent. bonds, 6, Oct. Circular note, remitting taxes and promising economical and commercial reform, 7 Oct.; another, stating object of the government to stop onerous loans, develop the resources of the empire, etc... ..20 Oct. Remonstrance of British and Russian ambassadors with the government respecting expenditure and treatment of Christian subjects.. Raschid Pacha new foreign minister. Midhat Pacha, reformer, resigns. Firman issued, ordering great reforms, equality of rights to Christians, etc. .Dec. Note of Andrassy, Austrian minister, respecting reforms, 30 Dec.; adopted by Germany and Russia, Jan.; by Great Britain, 18 Jan.; transmitted to the porte about 7 Feb.; agreed to.... .10 Feb. 1876 Payment of April dividends deferred to July...11 April, Insurrection in Bulgaria, promoted by foreign agitators, The grand-vizier Mehemet Ruchdi, Hussein Avni, and League in aid of Turkish Christians formed in Mukhtar Pacha defeated by prince Nikita, at 66 66 66 27 July, London, 27 July, Urba or 28 July," Issue of paper money announced .28 July, " Several days' conflict; the Turks enter Servia, and capture Gurgosavatz; Servians retreat.... .7 Aug. Turkish barbarities in Bulgaria reported by Daily News correspondent; substantiated by Mr. Schuyler, the American commissioner from Constantinople, dated, 10 Aug. Asserted victory of prince Nikita at Medun, near Kutchi, about 14 Aug. Advance of the Turks under Abdul-Kerim Pacha upon Alexinatz; severe fighting, 9 Aug..........19-30 Aug. Servia invites the mediation of the guaranteeing powers, about 24 Aug. Murad V. deposed on account of bad health; his brother, Abdul Hamid II., proclaimed.... ...31 Aug. The Great Powers propose an immediate armistice, the restoration of the status quo ante bellum, payment of an indemnity by Servia, etc.; memorandum presented, 3, 4 Sept. Servians said to be severely beaten before Alexinatz, 1,' 2 Sept.; continued indecisive fighting. about 17 Sept. Armistice till 25 Sept. agreed to.. Prince Milan proclaimed king by the army at Deligrad; disapproved ...16 Sept. Report of Mr. Baring, the British commissioner in Bulgaria, published ..19 Sept. [It establishes the facts "that a ferocious Mussulman soldiery, in revenge for a feeble and abortive insurrection, were let loose on the inhabitants of a large prov. ince; that the population were barbarously massacred, men, women, and children included; and that during the storm of savage fury crimes of all descriptions, and outrages unmentionable, were perpetrated on the inhabitants."-Times.] Firm, incisive despatch from lord Derby to sir H. Elliot, referring to Mr. Baring's report, proposing longer armistice, etc... 21 Sept. The porte receives the propositions of the six Great Powers... .26 Sept. Lord Derby informs the deputation from the city of London that, in regard to the Eastern question, the gov ernment is laboring for local self government for the Turkish provinces in Europe, equal treatment of Mahometans and Christians, better administration for both, security for life and property, and effectual guarantees against repetition of outrages......27 Sept. Servia rejects the renewal of the armistice; Tchernayeff and army dominant; fighting renewed.... 26, 27 Sept. Servian attacks on the Turks near Alexinatz severely repulsed .28, 29 Sept. In reply to the Great Powers, the porte declines an ar mistice, opposes administrative autonomy to the provinces as impracticable, proposes a senate, and guarantees incisive reforms.. ...2 Oct. 66 66 66 46 Important Turkish successes in the valley of the Morava, 19-24 Oct. Servians and Russians defeated; armies under Tchernayeff and Horvaritch divided, 19-24 Oct.; Djunis taken by Turks; Deligrad untenable; severe Russian loss.. ..29 Oct. .dated 30 Oct. Alexinatz captured by Turks; Russian ultimatum given, demanding six weeks' armistice within forty-eight hours.. dated 31 Oct. Armistice for two months signed.. ...1 Nov. Deligrad captured by Turks, now virtually masters of Servia.. ..1 Nov. Pacific declaration of the czar to lord Augustus Loftus, 2 Nov. Neutral despatch of lord Derby.. Deligrad evacuated by Turks; farewell address of Tchernayeff to officers, exhorting to constancy.......4 Nov. Czar's speech at Moscow; he will act independently if guarantees are not obtained.... ...10 Nov. Marquess of Salisbury appointed special ambassador for conference at Constantinople; he arrives at Paris, 18 Nov.; Berlin, 20 Nov.; Vienna, 24 Nov.; Rome, 29 Nov.; Constantinople..... .5 Dec. about 8 Dec. Preliminary meetings of conference of representatives of six great powers begin (Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Germany, France, and Italy). . 12 Dec. Ruchdi Pacha, grand-vizier, replaced by Midhat Pacha, a reformer.. Alleged abortive conspiracy to restore Murad, 19 Dec. Armistice extended to Feb. 1877.. ...Dec. New political constitution proclaimed (chief provisions: indivisibility of the empire; the sultan supreme; individual liberty; freedom of all creeds, of the press, and of education; equal legal taxation; a senate and two chambers; general elections by ballot every fourth year; irremovable judges, etc.). .23 Dec. Opening of the conference.. .23 Dec. ...27 Dec. Financial decree of 6 Oct. 1875, abrogated.. .28 Dec. The great national council of Turkey rejects the propositions of the conference, 18 Jan.; it closes, 20 Jan.; chief ambassadors leave soon after.. .22 Jan. 1877 Negotiations for peace opened with Servia and Montene gro.. ..about 26 Jan. Midhat Pacha, the grand-vizier, dismissed and banished; succeeded by Edhem Pacha (educated at Paris); reforms to go on 5 Feb. Gortschakoff's circular to great powers, inquiring what they intend to do, signed 19 Jan.; published about 7 Feb. Protocols of the conference published in Times, etc., early in Feb. In Turkey "there is no aristocracy; no governing class; no organized democracy; no representative government."-Marquess of Salisbury.. Peace with Servia signed.. ..1 March, First Turkish parliament opened; 30 senators, 90 depu ties; speech from the sultan read 19 March, Gen. Ignatieff visits Berlin, Paris, London, Vienna, etc., March, Protocol signed for six powers; principles-to wait for Turkish reforms and watch; conditional disarmament in Russia and Turkey (voidable under certain conditions).... ......31 March, Protocol rejected by Turkey, 12 April; justificatory circular sent to the powers; Mr. Layard sent as temporary ambassador to Turkey. ... April, Insurrection of Mirdites or Miridites, April; armistice with Montenegro not renewed.. 13 April, Arrival of Mr. Layard as ambassador, at Constantinople; he affirms the neutrality of Great Britain, about 24 April, War declared by Russia (see Russo-Turkish war, 1877), 24 April, Riotous manifestations by the softas, soon subside, 24 May, A jihad or holy war against Russia propounded by the Sheikh-ul-Islam .about 28 May, Suleiman Pacha successful in Montenegro; relieves Nicsics; besieged.. . May et seq. |