The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-11 00:00:00

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

(From Monday's Evening Standard)
"TURKISH LINES, DATIOD PACHA, Friday.
A great change has occurred in the aspect and behaviour of
the Turkish army during the last three days. I have good
reasons to believe that the impression made on the minds of
several generals who witnessed the formidable Russian review
on Monday is the main cause of this. Large forces of all
arms, chiefly from the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus, are
constlntly arriving, and entrenched works, the construc-
tion of which had been abandoned, have been hastily com-
pleted during the last few nights. They are unarmed,
but their armament is close at hand, and rafts for artillery
have been constructed to carry the guns to the main points
of defence.—There are no Turkish troops in proximity to
the Black Sea. The formost Russian lines on this side are
swarming with troops, but no forifications are visible. The
Russians ostentatiously practise their musicians daily as
close to the Turks as possible, while the latter, in valleys
out of sight of the Russians, quietly drill and complete their
organization.
TURKISH LINES, AJAS AGA, Sunday.
Eighty thousand men now occupy the lines stretching
from iSlakrikiii due north to three miles north-west of
Kustjukkiii, where, bending eastward, the extensive double
range of batteries and earthworks protects the Sweet
Waters, then running again northward, remaining for two
miles in front of Ajas Aga, they reach Bagt,thedoi, with out-
posts at Belgrad. Finally they protect the forts of the Bos-
phorus by two camps situated at a thousand feet high on
two parallel ridges running inland from Buyukdere and
from Buyukliman. The army is entirely under canvas, the
large barracks of Daoud Pacha and Ramid Tchiflik having been
evacuated, and fitted up very badly for the sick and wounded,
who almost entirely fill both immense buildings, in addition
to the large original hospital situated on the same heights
of the above-named fortifications. Only one-half is yet
completed, while an enormous amount of work remains
to be done as regards trenches and riflepits. There are
no guns in the first line, but the material Is close at hand.
At Maslak stands the reserve division protecting the
junction of the roads from the Bosphorus, and there the con-
struction of batteries and the mounting of guns are being
actively carried on. Many of the sentinels are well provided
, with waterproofs. The weather is cold and stormy.

(From Tuesday's Times.
"ST. PETEESBURG, May 6.—Extreme reserve is at present
maintained here regarding the position of affains, so that it
Is very difficult to ascertain anything about the progress of
the negotiations, but there is reason to believe that ques-
tions of the very highest importance will be practically de-
cided in the course of next week. Meanwhile a change is
occurring in public opinion. The serious consequences
which would inevitably result from a new war are being
more and more generally recognised, and the desire of a
peaceable solution is proportionately on the increase."
"VIENNA, May 6th.—Accounts from St. Petersburg still
sound rather hopeful, and the reported mission thither of
Count Schouvaloff, which is anew confirmed, is regarcied as
a good sign. Opinions seem divided as to whether his visit
to the Russian capital is connected with the pourparlers
now going on, or whether he goes to take the direction of
Foreign Affairs. The first theory, however, is thought the
more probable. There is a growing conviction that even if
the physical health of the aged Chancellor is restored,
he will scarcely be in a condition to resume work
so very soon, especially in times so momentous and critical
as these; yet there is an impression that all possible con-
sideration will be shown him, and that, therefore, the
Emperor will as long as possible avoid naming his successor.
Naturally, however, should the action of Count Schouvaloff
In the present negotiations succeed, he is likely to be looked
upon as having qualified himself for the Prince's post. The
impression continues that some days will pass before there
Is likely to be a decided turn in one or the other direction."

In a letter from Vienna, under date May 7, the Correspon-
dent of The Times writes It is confirmed anew that the
present paurparters refer more to the merits than the formal
part of the freaty, and that the object of Count Schouvaloff's
journey to St. Petersburg is to be able to acquaint his
Government and the Czar more fully with the views of the
British Government on the modifications deemed necessary in
the stipulations of San Stefano. It is supposed that the visit
results from the initiative of the Count himself, who
seems to think that he will thus be far better able to
place his Government in a position to judge the
state of affairs than by the telegraph and the tedious
method of despatches. This supposition, moreover, gains
in likelihood by the circumstance that, according to all
accounts, the Czar is now to all intents and purposes his
own Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ever since this Eastern
complication began, His Majesty has taken a more active
part in the direction of affairs than was his wont, and
quite unexpected turns of events have more than once
occurred in consequence. The illness of the Chan-
cellor, too, at the most critical moment, could only
serve to develops this tendency to take matters into
his own hands, and the latest attempt to come to an
understanding with England is directly attributed
to his own personal initiative. In these circumstances,
therefore, the arrival of Count Schouvaloff, who has been so
long in the confidence of his Sovereign, kairts additional im-
portance. Of late, indeed, the Count had begun to be
looked upon in St. Petersburg as rather too favourable to the
English, probably because he had somewhat unpleasant
things to tell concerning the probable attitude of the
British Government and its disposition to give way: but
now that the Czar seems to have taken him into his special
confidence, this impression has disappeared and he is re-
garded as the herald of peace.
"Various versions are current as to the points of the
Treaty supposed especially to form the subject of secret
confabulation, but all of them fix on Ba.toum and Bul-
garia as the chief objects of contention. Even if only
guesswork, the surmise is likely to be right, as these I
two points are uudouhtedly those on which we may sup-
pose the greatest difference to exist between the views
of the two Cabinets. Batoum, in relation to the upper
Euphrates Valley, forms the first stage from a political,
military, and commercial point of view down to Mesopo-
tamia anct the Persian Gulf; while the Bulgaria as planned
by the Treaty of San Stefano would not be the first, but the
last stage on the road to Constantinople. Both together,
therefore, would make the Black Sea a Russian lake and the
Egean a Russian outpost.
"From Constantinople, likewise, the news sounds more
_ kfic, and an amicable agreement about the surrender of
the remaining fortresses is not regarded as impossible This
looks as if the question as to the withdrawal of the Russians
from Constantinople has also been making some progress, as
well as the solution of the other military difficulties about
evacuation and the sending back of the Turkish prisoners of
war. With regard to the retirement ofthe Russian troops, it
is ne longer the lines of Tchataldja but Adrianople which is
heard of. According to the Turkish view of the case, the
Russians ought to withdraw, not to, but beyond Adriancple,
so as to occupy the line they have fixed as the eastern limit
of Bulgaria. The Turks, however, warned by the past, seem
to be growing rather cautious, and propose to surrender the
coveted places, not at onoe, but one after the other, so as to
allow the Muscovites time to perform their part of the
engagement. Should this method be followed, Shumla
would probably be the first, Varna the second, and Batoum
the last to be delivered over."

pacitl,

The Eastern Budget's Vienna correspondent, writing on
the 4th just , says :—" The prospects of peace look brighter
than they did a week ago, though the probability of the
negotiations between London and St. Petersburg having a
favourable result is still doubted here."

The most absurd statements have been telegraphed from
here regarding the number of Russian troops in Roumania.
I have contradicted these errors several times already, and
reiterate most positively that, instead of there being
110,000 Russians in this country, their number does not
exceed 50,000 all told.—Correspondent of The Times.

- The Gobs, in an article on the political situation, says that
It has never been in favour of a warlike policy, but that the
moment has arrived when Russia must seek allies as well as
make every preparation for a war with England. "It is
above all necessary that Europe should clearly understand
that any one who is not on the side of Russia is against her.
Hitherto, in attempting to please everybody, we have only
met with universal opposition. We must now firmly resolve
neither to decline the assistance of new allies when they
may be useful to our cause nor to shrink from a rupture with
old allies when they are of no service to us. If we will only
place the practical interests of Russia in the foreground we
shall encourage our friends, and be in no danger of isola-
tion. We must go into the Congress armed to the teeth, as
we should into war.

We are informed that the Russian Government is quietly
manufacturing Whitehead torpedoes at Cronstadt. For this
purpose two large buildings have been fitted up with torpedo
machinery obtained from abroad, and several hundred work-
men are engaged day and night in manufacturing Mr. White-
head's deadly invention. All the men-of-war designated for
the ocean-going squadron are to receive a certain number of
fast torpedoes on their departure from Cronstadt.—Whitehall
Review.

A Roumanian soldier taken prisoner at Plevna in August
last has returned to Jassy from Constantinople. He says he
was exceedingly well treated, and that he saw no other Rou-
manians in the hands of the Turks.

The Porte has met the Russian demand for the evacuation
of Shumla by pointing out that the Russians are fortifying
Adrianople, Silivri, and Rodosto, whereas the Treaty of San
Stefano stipulated that the Bulgarian fortresses should be dis-
mantled. The Porte further observes that the Russians are
fortifying Ru.stchuk, and that, although the treaty limited
the garrison of that fortress to 50,000 men, fresh Russian
troops are being brought there.

On Tuesday afternoon the Sultan drove in a carriage and
four to Maslak, and inspected the troops in that vicinity.

At Adrianople the Russian authorities are taking great
precautions. Mussulmans are forbidden to leave their houses
after eight o'clock in the eveniog, a large number of persons
have been arrested, and search is made for concealed arms.

The Russian Government has called on 8,000 sailors of the
mercantile fleet to join the navy. This explains how they
are able to man the Cimbria and other vessels.—Vanity
Fair.

Russian ufficers who came here (Pera) to-day on account
of the religious fetes all declare that in their camp war is
considered to be inevitable. They talked very lightly and
boastfully, especially two generals, the whole tenour of
whose remarks was that they had conquered this country
and meant to keep it.—Correspondent of Daily Telegraph.

The deaths from typhus fever have been so numerous in
the medical staff of the Russian army that there are now
650 appointments waiting to be filled up.—Whitehall Review.

"Hitherto the Russian army has been paid half in coin,
half in paper. I hear from a credible source that an order
has been issued that two-thirds of the ordinary pay in time
of peace shall in future be given, this to be paid entirely in
paper."—San Stefano Correspondent of The Times.

St. Petersburg, May o.—Count Schouvaloff i expected
here from London in the course of the present week, and
much importance is attßched to his visit. It is understood
that the Count will not prolong his stay at St. Petersburg
beyond a fortnight.

to be that of leading men to moralise on the queer
distemper which urges whole races to destroy where
they might build, and to scatter misery where they
might establish peace, plenty, and comfort.
The distinctive feature of the present Exhibition is
the palace on the Trocaddro facing the Champs de
Mars and enthroned upon an eminence which over-
looks Paris and the whole valley of the Seine.
Built by MM. Davioud and Bourdais in a compo-
site style of architecture, half Moorish, half Renais-
sance, its dome and glittering minarets make it con-
spicuous for miles away. It will survive the
Exhibition, for the Town Council of Paris have
decided to buy it as a museum. ' Its rotunda, which
holds 7,000 persons, is the place where the- in-
augural ceremony was held and where the prizes
will be distributed in October. Flanking the rear of
the rotunda and spreading in two shapely semi-
circles to right and left are the wings, occupied
by exhibits of glass, porcelain ware, and statuary.
Terraces with colonnades front the wings, and
overlook the gardens which slope down to the river
quay, as also the cascade and fountains, which des-
cend from the foot of the rotunda, and bisect the
grounds. Eight large basins, surrounded by smaller
ones, compose the reservoirs of this cascade, and each
is provided with a giant water-spout. That of the
broadest and lowermost basin throws up a jet to the
height of eighty-three feet, splashing the colossal
statues of the four beasts which adorn the pedestals at
the basin's angles, viz. :—A bull by M. Cain; a horse,
by Rouillart ; a rhinoceros, by Jacquemart ; and an
elephant, by Fr6miet. Tlee rhinoceros, standing with
his fore-paws elevated on a boulder of rock, is espe-
cially remarkable. All about the garden of the
Trocadero are scattered houses illustrative of Oriental
architecture, and standing amidst spruce lawns and
flower-beds. There are the Chinese, Japanese, Persian,
Tunisian, and Algerian palaces, guarded by the
natives of those countries in picturesque costumes.
Then comes a Spanish restaurant on a large scale, an
aquarium full of sea and river fish, a grotto which by
a cunning arrangement of a million little squares of
mirror imitates stalactite, after which we have more
than a score of conservatories and hothouses, bloom-
ing with every flower that man has ever seen—
flowers of the tropics of India and South Africa,
mingling with the roses and camellias of our own
latitudes, and affording a spow which nursery
gardeners will gaze upon with something more
than admiration. All the buildings in this
garden would deserve a separate description; but
for the present we must pass on, merely noticing as
we go the splendid trophy of outdoor tulips planted by
the city of Haarlem. It represents the coat of arms of
the Dutch town in tulips of every imaginable colour.
and around its figure the words" Haarlem, Holland,"
in scarlet tulips on a ground of white ones. Crossing
the Seine by the Bridge of Jena (the same which
Blucher wanted to blow up), which has been widened
and raised, we pass over the subway to the opposite
quay, where the tramcars and railway trains run and
so enter the Champs de Mars. Here, again, we came
upon a wide garden stocked with flower-beds, hot-
houses, ornamental lakes, and palaces of different
nations. To the right two charming English cottages
almost defy description by their nattiness and evident
appropriateness as abodes for lovers. To the left we
have a collection of model foundries and manufactures,
in which the Creusot, St. Chamond, and Serre-Noire
are represented. A model of the observatory of Mont
Jouvis occupies a plot of ground near the quay, and
close to it is an annexe of the State Tobacco Factory
of France, where cigars are sold. Threading a long
lawn skirted by innumerable kiosques, for the sale of
newspapers, refreshments, guide-books, &c., we come
to the imposing façade of the Exhibition building.
crowned by two glorious genii, below which figure six
emblematical statues of European nations, England
being twice symbolished, first as Britannia and
secondly as a Colonial Power. We are now in the
Exhibition proper, and are at once struck by the
magnificent novelty unfolded before us in the shape of
the Street of Foreign Nations, a thoroughfare eight
hundred yards long, bordeered by houses of every
species of ancient and modern architecture. No such
a street was ever presented to human eye before, and
the grandest dreams of the opium smoker would not
show him one like it. The Prince of Wales's magic
Indian pavilion comes first, followed by the severe but
tasteful facade of a model factory, devised by some
manufacturer having brains as well as money, and not
imbued with the idea that factories need of necessity
be associated with unsightliness. Then comes
a ravishing row of pleasure villas, such as ohe
may admire on the banks of the Thames about
Richmond and Maidenhead ; after which the
United States, Sweden, Norway, and Italy all
'exhibit their dwellings of brick or wood, and their
palaces of marble. Japan, China, Spain, and Austria-
Hungary may be studied next; then comes Russia,
with houses curiously painted ; Switzerland, with cot-
tages and dairies ; Belgium, with fretted models of
Flemish town-halls; then Greece, Denmark, South
America, Morocco, Luxemburg, and Monaco, Portu-
gal and Holland—all in the order named. These houses
stand to the right of the Grand Street, and the
architectural sample of each nation forms the façade
to the industrial and art sections which lie behind.
The whole of the left side of the street and the left
wing of the Exhibition building to the rear are occu-
pied by French houses and by the French sections of
exhibits, so that France alone has chartered a space
equal to that of all other nations clubbed together.
Among foreign-countries England stands foremost,
both for the extent aid excellence of its productions.
. . . . And what a show theirs makes! If the juries
begin their work of prize-giving with any prejudice as
to England being a laggard in matters of industrial
art, they will have to recant that opinion on studying
the exquisite master-works of china, glass-ware, fur-
niture, and tapestry, which I humbly consider may
vie with the best productions of Sevres, Baccaret,
and the Gobelins respectively. I say nothing of the
mechanical exhibits, engines, and such like, in which
Englishmen do not generally expect to be rivalled,
much less outdone. . . .

THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER AND
CHURCH PROPERTY.
The Bishop of Manchester has addressed a letter to the
Rev. Dr. Gatty, vicar of Ecciestield, with reference to a
statement made in that village by a liberationist lecturer.
His Lordship writes :
" I cannot conceive what use a liberationist lec-
turer, as such, could make of so obvious a truism as
my statement that the Church of England is an
abstract idea, and materially and legally is incapable
of holding property. If anybody, I added by way of
illustration, were to bequeath by will £lO,OOO to
'the Church of England,' it would, I believe, be a
void bequest, for there is nobody, with a legal
entity, of that name that could claim it. The
property, I proceeded to argue, that is vaguely
called The property, of the Church of England'
is the property of various corporations, aggregate
and sole, within the Church of England, and
was either originally vested in those corporations or
has been transferred to them. Of the latter class are
such corporations as the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
or the Governor's of Queen Anne's Bounty ; of the
former class are the whole body of incumbents. You will
not find a single acre of land or a single pound oi
annual income standing in the name or paid to the ac-
count of the Church of England.' The first of my
arguments was to show the origin of what is called
Church property,' that it is not strictly Church pro-
perty at all, but property conveyed by will or gift to
particular corporations by private benefactors for the
spiritual benefit of particular localities' and I referred,
in proof: to the preamble of the great Statutes
of Provisors (25 Edward 111. cap. 6), which,
speaking of the 'foundation of the Church of
England in the estate of prelacy within this realm,'
adds, 'and certain possessions, as well in fees, lands,
rents as in advowsons, Nhich do extend to a great
value, were assigned by the said founders (the King's
grandfather, and his progenitors, and the earls, barons,
and other nobles of the realm and their ancestors) to
the prelates and other people of the Holy Church to
sustain the same charge, and especially the possessions
which were assigned to archbishops, bishops, abbots,
priors, religious, and all other people of Holy Church.'
I repeat I cannot see how a dry legal matter of fact
statement of this kind, which was merely made to
clear away vague notions which exist on the subject of
Church property, can serve the purpose of a Libera-
tionist lecturer. It is simply the statement of an in-
disputable fact, adverse, no doubt, to the theory that
the State, as such, endowed the Church, as such, but
not (so far as I can see) otherwise bearing on the point
at issue."