, 1877-05-26
HOBART PASHA.
(From the Times J

An interesting discussion was raised in the
House Of Lords on Friday with respect to the
position Of Hobart Pasha who contributes q Sc.
gious element to the Eastern Question but the
debate left his Ofio:al relations with this country,
like the Eastern Question Itself, in q state of IN.
pleasant suspense. Everybody knows that the
Turkish Navy has been organized. and is CON-
manded, by an English officer, still connected
with our own Navy but Lord Camperdowu
did we'll TO explain, ty the evidence of Parlia-
mentary documents, the strange position of hat
gentleman. Ter years ago the Porte, being
anxious to equip a great Navy with tie help of
the money lent by th8 couGljnx b0ndhoidefs,
naturally wished to obtain he services of an
English Naval officer, and it was impressed by
this qualifications Of Captain Hobart, who was
then on haIfpey. He seems TO have been offered
a great pecuniary inducement, and such dignity
Of rank as the Turkish service can present 10 a
distinguished English officer. Whether tue title
Of Ho5arf Pasha is more lofty than that Of plain
Captain Hobart Is 8 question which we Do not
undertake TO determine. However that may be,
the Admiralty was not we'll pleased on learning
that be Intend cd 10 transfer bis services from
the English TO the Turkish Flag, and it
wsrned him that If he should do so be would
forfeit his professional rights at home. Tho
rule Is, as Lord Camperdogn said. that an Of
deer on half pay is waiting for orders. Hence
IL would be highly inconyenient to let him aa.
oePt he commission Of a foreign Power, and
his position would become intolerabls if that
Power should go to war with a Government
friendly, or not hostile, to his country.
Captain Hobart was fGl,y warned OF these
obvious consequences. and fer a time be hesita.
Ted 10 accept the tempting offers Of the Porte.
Hearing that he was engaged IN the direction
Ct the CretQn blockade, The Admiralty asked
an explanation from him 50 long ago as the 9TH
Of January, 1858 but he was able TO reply
that, although he bad gone to Crete, lis visit
had been pu:ely private. A few days after.
wards. however, Sir Henry Elliot. then Mr..
Elliot, wrote to Lord Derby, then Lord
Stanley, that Captain Hobart was determined
50 1ccept The advantageous Offer Of the
Turkish Government, in spite of his confident
expectation that he would be struck off the list
Of Her Majesty's Navy, Presently he himself
minated to tbs Admiralty that he had allowed
himself to be made a " member of he Board of
Admiralty and the Director General of Ma.
val Schools in the Ottoman Empire" He al
50 expressed q wish that if his name ehould bs
removed from the list Of officers on active SER
vice, it should be- placed on the Reserve List.
But Lord Derby sternly said to the Admiral
~ that. in bis opinion, Captain Hobart, having
gone to the Turkish Navy without the leave of
bis own Government, should be requested to
resign naval position at home. The gallant
gentleman begged fer milder treatment, but
without effect. aud on tbs 10Th Of March 1863,
bis name was removed from the Navy List,
Soon afterwards, however, he applied for REIN
statement, and Lord Derby timated that thu
Admiralty would do vel! to put off the consi.
deration of the question till the Cretan rebel
lion should be suppressed. Thus be gave an
indirect hint of hope to the officer who was lam
gushing in the cold shade of splendid Turkish
pay. Meanwhile, Captain Hobart-who had
by that time blossomed into Hobart Pasha
had been employed at the blockade
Of Crete. In 1869 the Admiralty was dis.
posed to give him back his English
rank but Lord Clarendon, who had succeeded
Lord Derby, declined to sanction Such a pre-
MUM on official disobedience. A day of deli.
veranes, however. was brought BY the victory
Of the Conservative Party. Towards tie end
of 1874 Hobart Pasha pathstically begged that
the Government would take away the stigma
which it had inflicted by dismissing him from
thsrService. and sloquently rscited the praises
he had earned by. organizing the Turkish
Navy. Contrasting that.hs ha d been guilty Of
Aisobsdisncs. he virtually Fspsatsd his for
msT excuse that. being 9 poor man," be