The truth about recent incidents in Constantinople appears to he
coming out. The Sultan has been greatly impressed by the friendship of France for Russia, and has hastened to make friends with his enemy in the gate. That is to say, he has given Russia permanent permission to pass troops, and ships not being men-of-war, through the Dardanelles on their way to Vladivostock, without being detained. That is a privilege which Russia greatly wants, but which the rest of Europe oould not use if it had it. He has also dismissed his Ministry, which was supposed to be anti-Russian, either on account of that proclivity, or because he suspected the Grand Vizier, Kiamil Pasha, of a plot against the Throne. The Sultan is apt to believe in plots, the fate of his two predecessors having made a permanent impression on his mind, and he has arrested Kiamil Pasha. It is not probable, however, that he has changed his foreign policy, though he is for the moment sullen with England about Egypt ; and as, though a tervous hypochondriac, he is the keenest man in his dominions, and directs everything of importance himself, changes in the Turkish Ministry do not matter much. He loses Osman Ghazi, however, as his War Minister, and may feel that change, should the troops once more clamour for their pay.
