while the Congress of Berlin decided upon a policy so bold as that of declaring the range of the Balkans as the frontier of what may now be called New Turkey, they have, in fact, furnished it with a frontier which, instead of being impregnable, is in some parts undefended, and is altogether one of an inadequate character.  My Lords, it is very difficult to decide, so far as nature is concerned, whether any combination of circumstances can ever be brought about which would furnish what is called an impregnable frontier.  Whether it be river, desert, or mountainous range, it will be found, in the long run, that the impregnability of a frontier must be supplied by the vital spirit of man; and that it is by the courage, discipline, patriotism, and devotion of a population that impregnable frontiers can alone be formed.  And, my Lords, when I remember what race of men it was that created and defended Plevna, I must confess my confidence that, if the cause be a good one, they will not easily find that the frontier of the Balkans is indefensible.  But it is said that although the Congress has furnished—­and it pretended to furnish nothing more—­a competent military frontier to Turkey, the disposition was so ill managed, that, at the same time, it failed to secure an effective barrier—­that in devising the frontier, it so arranged matters that this very line of the Balkans may be turned.  The Congress has been charged with having committed one of the greatest blunders that could possibly have been accomplished by leaving Sofia in the possession of a Power really independent of Turkey; and one which, in the course of time, might become hostile to Turkey.  My Lords, this is, in my opinion, an error on the part of those who furnish information of an authentic character to the different populations of Europe, who naturally desire to have correct information on such matters.  It is said that the position of Sofia is of a commanding character, and that of its value the Congress were not aware, and that it was yielded to an imperious demand on the part of one of the Powers represented at the Congress.  My Lords, I can assure your Lordships that there is not a shadow of truth in the statement.  I shall show that when the Congress resolved to establish the line of the Balkans as the frontier of Turkey, they felt that there would have been no difficulty, as a matter of course, in Turkey retaining the possession of Sofia.  What happened was this.  The highest military authority of the Turks—­so I think I may describe him—­was one of the Plenipotentiaries at the Congress of the Porte—­I allude to Mehemet Ali Pasha.  Well, the moment the line of the Balkans was spoken of, he brought under the notice of his Colleagues at the Conference—­and especially, I may say, of the Plenipotentiaries of England—­his views on the subject; and, speaking as he did not only with military authority, but also with consummate acquaintance with all these localities, he said nothing could be more erroneous than the idea