make use of his voice and influence as a means of increasing and confirming public opinion in England, in the belief of the barbarous conduct attributed to the Turks, and in hostility to them.”[107] These reverend gentlemen had evidently been the victims of, as Mr Holmes further says, “a monstrous joke,” and he proceeds to explain the matter. “After much reflection, however, the matter is, I think, as clear as possible. Near most Bosnian farm‐houses there are stakes, such as Mr MacColl describes, around which the haricot beans ... are fixed up to dry with something above them to keep off the birds.... At the time of Mr MacColl’s voyage down the Save, it is probable that most of the beans had been garnered, but a portion might have been left on one of the stakes which attracted his attention. This, on being pointed out to some practical joker amongst the officers of the steamboat, with its accidental likeness to a body, together, perhaps, with the previous conversation of the travellers, suggested the hoax, which, on seeing that it was seriously accepted, was kept up till the end of the journey.”[108] Another and most probable explanation of this astounding story was that what Canon Liddon and his friend really saw, “was a watchman who had mounted on his stake, probably to look at the steamer descending the Save.”[109] Anybody may be mistaken, even distinguished ecclesiastics; but what, in such quasi‐sacred persons was scarcely to be expected, was the tenacity with which they stuck to the impalement theory, after it was exploded in the minds of all impartial persons. Even high dignitaries of the Church don’t like being laughed at. FOOTNOTES: [1] “History of the Ottoman Empire,” vol. ii. p. 356. [2] “La Motraye,” La Haye, 1727, vol. i. pp. 383, 462. [3] See the “Relation du Baile Garzoni,” of 1586. [4] See Gervinus’ “Insurrection et Régéneration de la Grèce,” vol. i. p. 16. [5] Pozzo di Borgo to Count Nesselrode, November 1828. [6] _“The First Dragoman of the Russian Embassy to Mahmoud Nedim._[A] “MY DEAR HIGHNESS,—I have communicated the observations of your Highness to His Excellency the Ambassador, who has assured us in his reply that he will use his influence to arrest the Herzegovinian insurrection. No one desires more earnestly than ourselves the success of Your Highness’ projects. “Your Highness may give the necessary assurances to whom they may concern.” (1873). [Taken from a pamphlet called “Ussi Inkillab,” which was published at the beginning of the reign of Abdul Hamid—an interesting document in proving this fact.] [A] _Nineteenth Century_, January 1903. [7] See Appendix.—“Bulgarian Atrocities.” [8] See Appendix—“Bulgarian Atrocities.” [9] See Appendix. [10] _Nineteenth Century_, February 1888. [11] Boat. [12] _Nineteenth Century_, January 1903. [13] “Blue Book,” _Turkey_, 2, No. 105. [14] _Nineteenth Century_, February 1888, p. 279.