totally misapprehended the reason why the Congress had met together, and what were its objects and character.  The Greek representatives, evidently, had not in any way relinquished what they call their great idea—­and your Lordships well know that it is one that has no limit which does not reach as far as Constantinople.  But they did mention at the Congress, as a practical people, and feeling that they had no chance of obtaining at that moment all they desired—­that they were willing to accept as an instalment the two large provinces of Epirus and Thessaly, and the island of Crete.  It was quite evident to the Congress, that the representatives of Greece utterly misunderstood the objects of our labours—­that we were not there to partition Turkey, and give them their share of Turkey, but for a very contrary purpose—­as far as we could to re-establish the dominion of the Sultan on a rational basis, to condense and concentrate his authority, and to take the opportunity—­of which we have largely availed ourselves—­of improving the condition of his subjects.  I trust, therefore, when I have pointed out to your Lordships this cardinal error in the views of Greece, that your Lordships will feel that the charge made against the Congress has no substantial foundation.  But the interests of Greece were not neglected, and least of all by Her Majesty’s Government.  Before the Congress of Berlin, believing that there was an opportunity of which considerable advantage might be made for Greece without deviating into partition, we applied to the Porte to consider the long-vexed question of the boundaries of the two States.  The boundaries of Greece have always been inadequate and inconvenient; they are so formed as to offer a premium to brigandage—­which is the curse of both countries, and has led to misunderstanding and violent intercourse between the inhabitants of both.  Now, when some redistribution—­and a considerable redistribution—­of territories was about to take place—­now, we thought, was the opportunity for Greece to urge her claim; and that claim we were ready to support, and to reconcile the Porte to viewing it in a large and liberal manner.  And I am bound to say that the manner in which our overtures were received by the Porte was encouraging, and more than encouraging.  For a long period Her Majesty’s Government have urged upon both countries, and especially upon Greece, the advantage of a good understanding between them.  We urged that it was only by union between Turks and Greeks that any reaction could be obtained against that overpowering Slav interest which was then exercising such power in the Peninsula, and which had led to this fatal and disastrous war.  More than this, on more than one occasion—­I may say, on many occasions—­we have been the means of preventing serious misunderstandings between Turkey and Greece, and on every occasion we have received from both States an acknowledgement of our good offices.  We were, therefore, in a position