substantial and enormous interests which we must guard and keep.  Therefore, when we find that the progress of Russia is a progress which, whatever may be the intentions of Russia, necessarily in that part of the world produces such a state of disorganization and want of confidence in the Porte, it comes to this—­that if we do not interfere in the vindication of our own interests, that part of Asia must become the victim of anarchy, and ultimately become part of the possessions of Russia.

Now, my Lords, I have ventured to review the chief points connected with the subject on which I wished to address you—­namely, what was the policy pursued by us, both at the Congress of Berlin and in the Convention of Constantinople.  I am told, indeed, that we have incurred an awful responsibility by the Convention into which we have entered.  My Lords, a prudent Minister certainly would not recklessly enter into any responsibility; but a Minister who is afraid to enter into responsibility is, to my mind, not a prudent Minister.  We do not, my Lords, wish to enter into any unnecessary responsibility; but there is one responsibility from which we certainly shrink; we shrink from the responsibility of handing to our successors a diminished or a weakened Empire.  Our opinion is that the course we have taken will arrest the great evils which are destroying Asia Minor and the equally rich countries beyond.  We see in the present state of affairs the Porte losing its influence over its subjects; we see a certainty, in our opinion, of increasing anarchy, of the dissolution of all those ties which, though feeble, yet still exist and which have kept society together in those countries.  We see the inevitable result of such a state of things, and we cannot blame Russia for availing herself of it.  But, yielding to Russia what she has obtained, we say to her—­’Thus far, and no farther.’  Asia is large enough for both of us.  There is no reason for these constant wars, or fears of wars, between Russia and England.  Before the circumstances which led to the recent disastrous war, when none of those events which we have seen agitating the world had occurred, and when we were speaking in ‘another place’ of the conduct of Russia in Central Asia, I vindicated that conduct, which I thought was unjustly attacked, and I said then, what I repeat now—­there is room enough for Russia and England in Asia.  But the room that we require we must secure.  We have, therefore, entered into an alliance—­defensive alliance—­with Turkey, to guard her against any further attack from Russia.  We believe that the result of this Convention will be order and tranquillity.  And then it will be for Europe—­for we ask no exclusive privileges or commercial advantages—­it will then be for Europe to assist England in availing ourselves of the wealth which has been so long neglected and undeveloped in regions once so fertile and so favoured.  We are told, as I have said before, that we are undertaking great responsibilities.