anding claims. Among other favours, permission has been
granted to a Greek firm to construct a port at Tangier, the chief
seat of foreign trade in the Empire, which is a matter of national
importance, and there is every likelihood of equally valuable
concessions for the building of roads and bridges being made to
the same company.

"Our merchants will be rejoiced to learn that at last the
vexatious customs regulations, or rather the absence of them,
will be replaced by a regular tariff, which our minister has
practically only to draw up for it to be sanctioned by the
Moorish Government. The question of slavery, too, is under the
consideration of the Sultan with a view to its restriction, if
not to its abolition, a distinct and unexpected triumph for the
friends of universal freedom. There can be no question that, under
its present enlightened ruler, Morocco is at last on the high-road
to civilization.

"Only those who have had experience in dealing with
procrastinating politicians of the eastern school can appreciate
in any degree the consummate skill and patience which is requisite
to overcome the sinuosities of oriental minds, and it is only such
a signal victory as has just been won for Greece and for progress
in Morocco, as can enable us to realize the value to the State of
such diplomatists as His Excellency, Kyrios Mavrogordato."

This article had not appeared in print before affairs on the spot wore
a very different complexion. At the interview with the Minister for
the Interior a most elaborate customs tariff had been presented and
discussed, some trifling alterations being made, and the whole being
left to be submitted to the Sultan for his final approval, with the
assurance that this was only a matter of form. The Minister of Finance
had promised most blandly the payment of the damages demanded for the
murder of the Greek and for the thrashing of the Jew. It was true that
as yet no written document had been handed to the Greek Ambassador,
but then he had the word of the Ministers themselves, and promises
from the Sultan's lips as well. The only _fait accompli_ was the
despatch of a courier to Tangier with orders to deliver up the keys
of two specified properties to the Ambassador and his interpreter
respectively, a matter which, strange to say, found no place in the
messages to the Press, and in which the spontaneous pre