in support of their claims. Letters were read from the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Duke of Westminster, and Mr. W. E. Forster strongly favouring their cause, which was defended also by Dean Stanley, Lord Shaftesbury, and Lord Carnarvon, the latter of whom made a powerful speech on the right of a people which had kept its nationality through so many centuries of persecution to remain a nation. He believed the best way to resist Russia was to foster the Christian nations who objected to her sway, as well as to that of Turkey. The best of these in Asia were the Armenians. We fear the Armenians will get little. Though a brave race, who have pro- duced many considerable Generals, they have not risen against the Turks, or taken sufficient advantage of their exceptional position in Constantinople, where their numbers should have made them formidable. They have elected to serve, and will therefore be servants, if not to Turkey, then to some European Power. If they are, as they say, three millions, let them produce 30,000 soldiers—one corps d'arme'e—and they will be a nation.
