in the dominions of the Sultan, I believe it would be of incalculable benefit.  Secondly, we thought it desirable that there should be instituted public assemblies, in which the popular element should be adequately represented, and that the business of those assemblies should be to levy and administer the local finances of the province.  And, thirdly, we thought it equally important that order should be maintained in this province, either by a gendarmerie of adequate force or by a local militia, in both cases the officers holding their commissions from the Sultan.  But the whole subject of the administration of Eastern Roumelia has been referred to an Imperial Commission at Constantinople, and this Commission, after making its investigations, will submit recommendations to the Sultan, who will issue Firmans to carry those recommendations into effect.  I may mention here—­as it may save time—­that in all the arrangements which have been made to improve the condition of the subject-races of Turkey in Europe, inquiry by local commissions in all cases where investigation may be necessary is contemplated.  Those commissions are to report their results to the Chief Commission; and, after the Firman of the Sultan has been issued, the changes will take place.  It is supposed that in the course of three months from the time of the ratification of the Treaty of Berlin, the principal arrangements may be effected.

My Lords, I may now state what has been effected by the Congress in respect of Bosnia—­that being a point on which I think considerable error prevails.  One of the most difficult matters we had to encounter in attempting what was the object of the Congress of Berlin—­namely, to re-establish the Sultan as a real and substantial authority—­was the condition of some of his distant provinces, and especially of Bosnia.  The state of Bosnia, and of those provinces and principalities contiguous to it, was one of chronic anarchy.  There is no language which can describe adequately the condition of that large portion of the Balkan peninsula occupied by Roumania, Servia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and other provinces.  Political intrigues, constant rivalries, a total absence of all public spirit, and of the pursuit of objects which patriotic minds would wish to accomplish, the hatred of races, the animosities of rival religions, and, above all, the absence of any controlling power that could keep these large districts in anything like order—­such were the sad truths, which no one who has investigated the subject could resist for a moment.  Hitherto—­at least until within the last two years—­Turkey had some semblance of authority which, though it was rarely adequate, and when adequate, was unwisely exercised, still was an authority to which the injured could appeal, and which sometimes might control violence.  But the Turkey of the present time was in no condition to exercise that authority.  I inquired into the matter of those most competent to give an opinion,