The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-03

HOBBIES OF NICHOLAS

thus set, has been followed perforcc
by his Cabinet ministers and otaers of
the ruling class, who. up To the time
OF his accession, oscillated comfortably
between the luxury of their Offices in
st. Petersburg and the amenities of
the principal European resorts OF
fashion, health and pleasure. Now,
taking the cue from their sovereign,
they are obliged to visit the various
localities aid provinces OF the empire.
In order 10 be in n position to answer
the demands for Information about
conditions there, put to them by both
the monarch and the Duma. Thanks
TO this. the provincial officials feel that
they are subject to personal super
vision, with the result that much abuse
of petty authority. much corruption
and tyranny have been ended.
Sir Louis Mallet's appointment to
the post of British ambassador at
Constantinoplc may be taken as in
dicating that Sir Edward Grey, Sec
rotary of State for Foreign Affairs, Is
determined upon having an envoy at
STEAMBOAT who is in thorough sympa-
thy and understanding with his views.
This VIGOROUSLY was not the case
when Sir Gerard Lowther was there;
and 1t is not bccaure Sir Gerard was
in i'll health, as stated at the time or
his recall, but because he was COM
pletely out of touch with Sir Edward,
that he had TO s.. Lowther is n man
with good deal of strength and de-
termination of chan acter. who was
convinced that, being on the spot at
Constantinople where he had previ-
ouSly served for a number of Years as
secretary OF embassy. acquiring q com
ple;e mastery of the Turkish lam
suage. he had better comprehension
OF the real conditions III the Ottoman
Empire than Sir Edward in Downing
Street.
Although hailed with the greatest
reclamation on his arrival at Constan-
tonople to take up his duties as am
bassador there four years ago, Sir
Gerard never took any stock in the
Young Turk party. and was forever
expressing in his dispatches his con-
viction that their rule would prove
disastrous to the Ottoman Empire. Sir
Edward. in Lond On. was convinced or
the contrary. and. naturally. did not
relish it when ultimately Sir Gerard's
predictions came true. In fact, the
two men have been at odds ever since
Sir Gerard was sent to Stamboul as
ambassador. where he persisted in
carrying out his own ideas instead
of those OF his chief in Londoa
Sir Louis Male, was for several
Scdi -i NIIeS private sec
rotary, and has since then been as
sistant Under Secretary of State tor
Foreign Affairs, being promoted to
that office because he was so thorough
~ identified with Sir Edwards poll
cies. That also is why he has now
been sent to Constantinople as ambas-
sador, with salary OF $4,000 a year,
all sorts of allowances. fine palace
at Constantinoplc. large country
"A ~ l1, lr. ~, ~.
picturesque portion of the shores OF
the Bosphorus, both fully furnished
and maintained for him at government
expense. and with steam launches and
even Il gunboat AT his disposal for use
as yacht when ne wishes TO go
cruising either in the Mediterranean
or in the Black Sea.
Sir Lofts. who is in his fftieth year.
has held diplomatic appointments at
Rio, Rome and Cairo, besides being
private secretary to Lord Lansdownc
when the latte. was Minister of For
ciGn Affairs. He owes the hapdle to
his name ID the knight Commander
ship of the Bath which he received
last year. The real name of his fam
lily is Mallet du Pan, and he is the
great grandson OF that Mallct du Pan
who, hailinS from an old family OF
Geneva, edited in Paris in the early
years of the revolution, the then Lead
ing newspaper in France. the Alercur,
de France Although he had been in
sympathy with the constitutional re-
forms. he was bitterly opposed TO the
revolutionary movement. and when
Louis XVI. and his consort were cap
turrd at Varenncs and Imprisoned in
the Temple. he undertook the hazard
Gus mission Of endcavoring to seek
aid In their behalf from Emperor Leo
pold of Austria. In consequence or
this. he was forced By the anger of
the Terrorist leaders. VINO were de-
termined to have his life. 10 seek
refuge in England. where he became
a prominent figure in public life. and
took an active part in the defense of
Warren Hastings. dying carly in the
nineteenth century. His correspon-
dence was edited and published by the
great French historian. Taine.
His grandson. that is TO say. the
father O.. the new ambassador To Con-
stantinoplc. was the late Sir Louis
Mallet. Under Secretary of state for
India; while a brother of the ambas-
sador is Charles Mallct. Financial
Secretary of the War Department, the
man who has the direction OF the en-
tire finances OF the British army. and
tary estimates. Hts work on the
French Revolution created such an
impression on the great London pub
fishing house OF Nisbet * Company,
that when he submitted his MS. to
them, they not only undertook the
publication. but also invited him to
become member OF their firm, TO
which he belongs to-day.
Sir Louis Mallct Is a bachelor, an
excellent linguist, of peculiarly sym
pathetic manners. and renowned for
his tact. He is likely to prove a sue
cess at Constantinoplc.
incidentally, 1t may be stated that
the English Secretaryship OF State for
Foreign Affairs, as now constituted.
dates from 1852. up To which time its
duties were fulfilled by the Secretary
OF state for the so-calIed Southern
Department The first actual Secretary
OF State for Foreign Affairs was Charles
James Fox. with Richard Brinsley
sheridan MS under secretary. 1t is
difficult tn imagine a mora brilliant