RHODES: THE " AlJBERGE DE FRANCE."
[To rem Elana or ass ..Sreeraroa."1 SIR,—It is noteworthy that when Rhodes passed, eighteen months or so ago, back from the Turk to the Christian, scarce a comment was made on the recovery of the island which, in the fifteenth century, was the bulwark of Christendom. After the siege of 1480 the Pope conferred on the Grand Master, d'Aubusson, the title of "Bendier de la Chretiente." Times have changed. The Pope at the Vatican no longer confers titles of honour on the servants of the Quirinal or of any other seat of temporal power. Curious it is that France should be the first to reclaim the property of its " Knights of Rhodes "—France, which in 1792 confiscated the vast posses. sions of the Hospitallers of the three "Leagues " of Provence, Auvergne, and France; and in 1798 commissioned Napoleon to seize Malta. It is, however, charming to see the some- what chastened Republicanism of to-day atoning for the atrocities of the age of " Liberte, egalite, et fraternite," and recovering an architectural gem of the fifteenth century which was so staunchly defended by the Knights of Provence, Auvergne, and France in 1480 and 1522. If "La Gioconda" appeals to the artistic sense of the French nation, Rhodes recalls memories of daring, courage, and unflinching fortitude which are of priceless value. Nor were the other "Langues," Italian, English, German, and Spanish, behindhand in their devotion to their Order. Each " League " had its " Auberge," in other words, its headquarters, in Rhodes ; and to-day there seems to be nothing to prevent Italy, England, Germany, and Spain following the example of France and recovering possession of the buildings which severally pertain to them. It is, however, a grievous thing to reflect that it was the disunion of Christendom which lost Rhodes to the Knights in 1522; and, if anything, the disunion is more pronounced. Will the Moslem League recover Rhodes, while the Great Powers disagree, as Turkey regained Adrianople at the expense of the Balkan Allies P—I am, Sir, &c.,
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