duced and passed the Naval Defences Bill, authorizing an expenditure of £21,500,000 on the Navy by constructing eight first and two second-class battle-ships, nine firstclass and thirty-three smaller cruisers, and eighteen torpedo gun-boats. This surely implies that England is determined to prevent Russian encroachments both at Constantinople and in the Mediterranean.

Reviewing the above, the following things seem plainly revealed, viz., that Russia has in the majority of cases assumed an offensive policy while England has maintained a defensive one with regard to Eastern Europe.

Pitt started a splendid scheme of resistance against Russia; Canning worked upon it, and developed the European Concert scheme with regard to Turkey; Palmerston improved, expanded, and eventually completed a perfectly harmonious unison; while Beaconsfield composed and worked variations upon the original strain of the Concert. Surely the example of such noble and great statesmen is worthy of veneration both in the present and the future.

IX.

CENTRAL ASIA.

Rise of British power in India—Rivalry of France--Aims of Napoleon-Russian influence in Central Asia—Its great extension after the Crimean War-And after the Berlin Congress — Possible points of attack on India-Constantinople the real aim of Russia's Asiatic policy-Recent Russian annexations and railways in Central Asia-Reaction of Asiatic movements on the Balkan question-Dangerous condition of Austria— Possible future Russian advances in Asia-England's true policy the construction of a speedy route to India by railway from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf-Alliance of England, France, Turkey, Austria, and Italy would effectively thwart Russian schemes.

I Do not mean to detain my readers for any length of time upon this tedious subject which has been so often discussed. I shall sketch the policy of England and Russia in the region in question. However, it must not be forgotten that the subject is important, as it leads up to the great Pacific Question which will occupy European attention for many years to come.

The foundation of the British Empire in India dates from the Battle of Plassey, June 23, 1757, and Clive's Second Governorship of the East India Company established the India administration on a firm basis.

Warren Hastings improved and properly organized the foundation laid by Clive, and Lord Cornwallis consolidated Bengal and the other chief states, and rendered them fairly secure.

Lord Wellesley was the first who felt fully convinced that England should be the permanent predominant Power in India, and he carried out this policy by extensive subsidiary alliances with native princes by which. the states were placed under British protection.

It is said that this policy was suggested by "the great events that were taking place in Europe, where French ideas and French arms under the genius of Bonaparte were reducing kingdoms and states to provinces of an Empire."

I

Lord Minto first opened relations with the I Carlo's "British India,” p. 59.

He was

Punjaub, Afghanistan, and Persia. succeeded by Lord Moira, who saw that the British frontiers in India could never be secured till the natural barrier of the Himalayas and the sea were reached; while Lord Dalhousie proved a faithful follower and improver of this policy, and at last made India a completely organized state.

England's Opponents in British India.

The Portuguese ascendency in India was of short duration. It was followed by a keen rivalry between the English and French, the former eventually obtaining the precedence. This was owing to the naval superiority of the English in Indian seas, under the wise guidance of Chatham, supported by the skilful military and civil administration of Clive and Hastings.

In 1797-1798 Napoleon threatened to invade India from the north; first he threatened an attack from the Deccan, then in the latter part of the year he concluded an alliance with several Asiatic princes pre

paratory to another attack from the same quarter.

The Marquis Wellesley was at once sent. out and landed in Madras, April 26, 1798. Affairs seemed critical. Napoleon was preparing for a great invasion of Egypt prior to a descent on India. Tippoo Sultan, in India, was raising troops, disciplined under French management, and strengthened by French help, commanded by Raymond. Rao Sindia (the Mahratta ruler), the Peshawar (Governor of Poonah), the Ameer of Afghanistan, and Holkar were all hostile. to English interests in India, and threatened to plunge everything into war with the assistance of the French.

Wellesley plainly saw that a defensive. policy was the best. Accordingly he made an alliance with some of the Mahratta powers to frustrate a French invasion from the north. He also strongly urged the English Home Government to take possession of the Cape of Good Hope, and the Isles of France and Bourbon, in order to cut off the sea route to India from France. This