[15] Although a man of this description, unfit for Parliament, was quite fitted to represent his Sovereign at one of the most important Courts of Europe.—AUTHOR. [16] The Director‐General of official and private correspondence between the Palace and the Sublime Porte. [17] Blue Book, _Turkey_, 2, 1877, No. 152. [18] _Nineteenth Century_, January 1903. [19] Blue Book, _Turkey_, 1, 1877, No. 985. [20] _Times_, 10th February 1877. [21] Mr Blunt, H.B.M. Consul at Salonica, addressed the following despatch to Lord Derby:— “SALONICA, _10th February 1877_. “MY LORD, * * * * * “The leading men with whom I have conversed, and the people in general here, manifest much surprise and some irritation at the sudden dismissal of Midhat Pasha from the Grand Vizierate, in whom they had full confidence that he would carry out reforms. “The prevailing impression here is, especially among the Turks, that the fall of this popular statesman has been prepared and effected by the Sultan’s immediate _entourage_. “In case there is any demonstration at Constantinople, in favour of Midhat Pasha, the popular feeling at Salonica would, I think, coincide with it.[B]—I have, etc., J. E. BLUNT.” [B] Blue Book, _Turkey_, 15, 1877, No. 171. [22] At the accession of Abdul Hamid, he was his favourite First Secretary, and was thereupon appointed Grand Vizier. [23] He had been Grand Vizier in the time of Abdul Aziz, and ruined the Empire by his wretched and Russophil policy. [24] “_Turkey. Constantinople, 11th May._—The doubts I expressed in a recent despatch, concerning the veracity of the chief witnesses in the enquiry about the death of Abdul Aziz, are being confirmed, and the Sultan now hesitates about bringing the affair before a public tribunal. Several important personages, who cannot be suspected of complicity, declare openly that the raising of the question was the result of an intrigue, and at the Palace the opinion is gaining ground that the matter will terminate with the degradation and exile of the Sultan’s two brothers‐in‐law, and the temporary imprisonment of their supposed accomplices, without any formal trial. When the enquiry was first instituted, an old and devoted friend of the dynasty reminded the Sultan of an unsavoury Turkish saying, equivalent to our proverb about the wisdom of letting sleeping dogs lie, and His Majesty has now reason to regret that he did not follow his advice.”—_Times_, 12th May (p. 5, col. 3).