must infallibly lead. When will the maxim, so fatal to nations as in private life, be thrown aside, that we are always in time?

Turkey possesses life, adhesiveness, and resources, but not immutability. She is struggling, not with decay and anarchy, but with a renovated flow in her veins, against evils originating from without. She is cheered on in her task by England, without any certainty of final repose, or of rising to independence through her exertions. The master of Egypt and Syria, formidable by our errors, drains, plunders, and depopulates these unhappy countries, to do the work of the common foe. While extensive salutary reforms open to the rest of the empire prospects of order and increased security of property, the exigencies of the day lead to impolitic and vexatious taxes. The evil genius of Russia thwarts every development of the products of the soil, which interferes with her own. Abuses are tolerated which the Sultan can scarcely venture to probe, so long as he knows not in what quarter to look for support. Germs of discontent are perpetuated between him and the people, from the absence of all grounds of confidence in the ultimate destinies of the country, or

consolation for past disgraces. The military conscription for the regular army, which falls exclu sively on the Mussulman youth, presses heavily, amidst other burdens, on many provinces of Asia Minor. Disappointed, as Turkey has been, in every instance when her hopes of assistance were wound to the highest pitch; bound down to keep the peace against a rebel within her bosom; unable alone to escape from her difficulties; exposed to the demoralizing action of Russia on her administration and her raya subjects, and the Government urged to greater efforts to concentrate all its strength, exhaustion must follow the protracted struggle. The remedy lies in one word-SECURITY. Grant Turkey this, and her afflictions cease. There are weeds to be eradicated-but no institutions are subverted which require to be replanted. No parties, no classes, or privileged interests, stand in the way of the general good.

The subjects may combine and successfully resist the errors or abuses of power; they cannot control the march of the Government in the career of amelioration. Strangers to European forms of liberty, or the jealousies of their rulers, no abstract theories of rights distract the population into fac

tions-no spies disturb their privacy, and watch over their actions and thoughts. A community of local interests is the vital principle of unity in the empire. It proffers for cultivation one of the noblest fields ever presented to the genius and labours of man; and with us it rests whether it shall flourish in fertility, or be exposed to ravages which will convert it into a waste.

Turkey stretches out to us her hand; her ports are open to all our products; she demands reciprocity for her own, under a guarantee only that no malignant power, to which her prosperity gives umbrage, shall be allowed to take revenge. Then will her antiquated restrictions on some native productions be removed, and new channels opened for an interchange of commodities, which I scruple not to predict would in five years double our present exports of two millions, without limits to their progressive increase. Then will European civilization indeed be a boon to the East, and the East return the benefit. Then shall we have made to recoil within his congenial regions the northern Briareus, whose arms, like icebergs detached from the polar mass, are extended to invade and chill more benignant climes.

REPORT OF COLONEL LAZAREW

TO THE

ADJUTANT-GENERAL COUNT PASKEWITCH ERIVANSKI,

COMMANDANT OF THE DETACHED CORPS OF THE CAUCASIAN ARMY.

[In our last Number we inserted the Proclamation of Colonel Lazarew, enticing the Armenians of the Province of Azerbijan to emigrate into Russia. The following report shows how this measure was effected. Russia has stated that her policy is explained in her Treaties. In the Treaties of Turcomanchai and Adrianople we shall perceive that her policy consists in sowing treason amongst the subjects of the Powers she attacks, and then enforcing pardon from their outraged Monarchs, thus holding up in perpetuity an encouragement to all the malecontents of neighbouring States to consider foreign interference the greatest of earthly blessings.]

IN the year 1827, in the midst of the brilliant victories of the detached Caucasian Corps, your Highness saw the devotedness of the Armenians, who took an extraordinary interest in the success of the Russian arms. When I filled the office of commandant of the City of Tabreez, I employed myself, agreeably to your instructions, in making preparations for the emigration of this people. As an esteemed brother in the faith of the Armenians, I frequently laid before your Highness their feelings of veneration for the holy name of the Russian Monarch, who is the author of the well-being of my brethren.

After the very glorious peace for Russia, concluded by you in the year 1828, your Highness judged me worthy to carry into execution a project most useful to your native country, formed by you, namely, to effect the emigration of the Christians from the Persian dominions into the districts of Nakshivan and Erivan, lately acquired by Russia, and now, through the favour of the monarch, called the Armenian Provinces.

After the subjection under which the Armenians and their church have laboured during nearly four hundred years, the first step towards the union of this people under the protection of the mighty Russia, and of her mild and wise laws, is indeed the commencement of a great event. And this proceeded from you. On me likewise, as a Russian officer, so flattering a commission, given to me by your Highness, confers great honour, and, as an Armenian, perfect happiness.

To me, as well as to many others, the thing appeared at first to be free from all difficulty, particularly as before the conclusion of the peace with Persia some Armenians and Nestorians came of their own free will with entreaties to your Highness to fix them in the Russian dominions. However, subsequently, when they were to bid adieu to their houses and to the graves of their industrious forefathers, who had left to them great and fertile lands, as an inheritance; when the time came to leave their establishments of so many years standing, with all the comforts belonging to them, and to exchange present security for future insecurity; the Nestorians first required that they should receive compensation for the goods they had left behind them, and then the Armenians petitioned that at least a part of the value of their fixtures should be given to assist them in their first establishment in their new home.

Notwithstanding all these impediments, more than eight hundred Armenian families have been conducted by me into the new Russian Armenian dominions. Although I have unceasingly endeavoured to persuade the Nestorians likewise to emigrate, and have offered them more assistance in money; though I afforded two Nestorian meliks,* Sarchoseh and Almerdi, whom I settled, very considerable assistance;

Thus are now called the Overseers, as well the Armenians as the Nestorians. The word Melik is, without doubt, of Semitish origin, and meant originally as much as King.