If the integrity of the Sultan's dominions be formally secured, there is but
too much reason to fear that the Porte will give way to its natural indolence
and leave the firman of reform a lifeless paper, valuable only as a record of
sound principles.

LORD STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE, as Ambassador
in Constantinople, to Lord Clarendon, 3 Feb. 1856

Wherever Turkey is sufficiently predominant to be implicitly obeyed,
laziness, corruption, extravagance and penury mark his rule: and wherever
he is too feeble to exert more than a doubtful and nominal authority, the
system of government which prevails is that of the Arab robber and the
lawless Highland chief.

SIR HENRY BULWER, as Ambassador
in Constantinople, 24 April 1860

The open bribery and corruption, the invariable and unjust favour shown
to Mussulmans in all cases between Turks and Christians.

W. R. HOLMES, H.M. Consul at Sarajevo, 24 Feb. 1871

There are not a dozen Turks in the Empire who see the necessity of reform.
There is nobody to carry out reforms.

J. A. MACGAHAN, 10 Aug. 1876

This absolute want of statesmen is one of the worst symptoms of the
declining state of the Empire.

H. A. LAYARD, as Ambassador, 25 July 1877

THE unrest which the famous War Scare had provoked all over
Europe had scarcely died down when the Eastern Question once more
became acute and gave rise to yet another long and dangerous
international crisis. The original cause of the trouble was the rising
in Hercegovina; but this was of course merely symptomatic of the
untenable conditions which prevailed throughout the Ottoman
Empire, but especially in its European provinces. Since 1856 Turkey
had enjoyed a period of unusual internal calm. It is true that the
liquidation of the Roumanian question had lasted three years and
for a time endangered the peace of Europe, that the Lebanon
massacres of 1860 and the Cretan troubles of 1867 had led to partial
intervention, and that Turkey had twice been engaged in hostilities
with Montenegro. None the less, her new status as a member of the
Concert of Europe had given her relative freedom from interference,

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