plains, the rich lands of the Morea, capable of producing not only all the necessaries, but the luxuries of life, and which in ages past supported millions of civilized men, continue to be in a great measure neglected,--their vast resources left undeveloped; and notwithstanding they have been so many years independent, the two countries scarcely contain a population of two millions. Still, however trifling may be the population of these two petty states, the very fact of their being independent of the Ottoman Porte renders them the gathering points of all the Christian malcontents among the Sultan's subjects. The Servian frontier is only separated by Upper Moesia from the free state of Tchernegoria. Thessaly, Macedonia, and Epirus, whose inhabitants, Greeks and Slavon-Greeks, have only to form a junction with their brethren in faith, the Slavonians of the Servian race in Tchernegoria and Herzegowina, when they could completely isolate the only two provinces in European Turkey, Albania and Bosnia, where Islamism has taken a deep root. Again we have the numerous tribes of the Slavon-Bulgarians, to which we shall have occasion to refer hereafter, amounting to between four and five millions of Christians professing the Greek ritual, occupying those vast countries on the Lower Danube, the Black Sea, the Balkan, Thrace and part of Macedonia, who, however peaceful may be their general character, would find it their interest to join in any movement which might have for its object their emancipation from the rule of a Mahometan sovereign.

It must, therefore, be evident, that should these hitherto hostile races, Greek and Slavonian, form a union, to effect which M. Colletti, the late minister of King Otho, squandered the revenues of Greece, the rule of the Sultan must for ever cease in these provinces ; and that this will sooner or later be the result, if he continue to exercise his authority, alien as he is, over so many millions of his Christian subjects, there can be no question.

Although we may have censured the Servian for his want of industry and warlike propensities, we must attribute them to the natural result of a struggle for freedom which endured more than a quarter of a century, especially when we remember its glorious termination, their emancipation from Turkish thraldom, achieved by this gallant people single-handed, which would have been sufficient to turn the heads of even a more civilized people.

Perhaps there is not another instance on record of a people numbering less than a million, for so many years gallantly opposing a powerful empire, with all its vast resources and fanatic soldiery, especially when we remember that Servia does not present the same difficulties of access to an invading army as the neighbouring countries of Bosnia, Tchernegoria, Upper Moesia, and Albania, with their deep defiles and mountain passes, where a few hundred resolute men might dispute the march of an enemy. It is true there are impenetrable forests, well calculated to serve the purposes of defence, elevated plateaux as so many points of gathering, with

torrents and rivers such as the Morawa, the Drino, the Timok, and others of less note sufficiently wide to oppose a temporary check to the invader.

It is to be regretted, that the daring and almost fabulous deeds of these gallant Servians, related in the piesmas of their bards and poets, have not been chronicled by some pen worthy of recording them, lest time should sweep away the details of a contest in which the most unshaken constancy and courage triumphed over oppression and, wrong. In truth, the Servian race, wherever we find them in these provinces, in Austria or Hungary, possess many eminent virtues; and that they contain the elements, from which may one day arise a great nation, no traveller will deny who has studied without partiality or prejudice the character of the people.

Let us compare the social state of the inhabitants of this free principality with that of those of Modern Greece, which acquired its independence about the same time, and we shall find the balance entirely in favour of the Slavonian race. The Greek, from his position on the sea-coast, which brings him into immediate communication with the manners, customs, industry and intelligence of the great civilized world, might be expected to have risen rapidly in the scale of social improvement, yet such is not the case; in the sea-ports he is familiar with the vices of the lower class of the maritime population of Italy; while the traveller, who may venture to visit the interior of the country, is nearly certain to be waylaid by an army of brigands. Again, the hand

of the predatory Greek is raised alike against friend and foe, while that of the Servian is only directed against his hereditary enemy the Turk, and then never unless in fair and open fight.

In Servia, the traveller may journey from frontier to frontier, without meeting with the slightest molestation, and if he should solicit the hospitality of the people, he may depend on meeting in the poorest hut with a kind reception; and however primitive may be their habits, however defective their knowledge of the great European world, they know how to appreciate and practise those important social virtues-truth and honesty.

Without wishing to depreciate the character of the Greek for bravery and constancy of purpose in his protracted and arduous struggle for independence, or partiality to exalt that of the Servian, we cannot overlook many facts in the contemporary history of the two people. For instance, while Greece, by the magic of its classic name, excited the sympathy of every Christian state, inspired the pen of the scholar and the poet, drew to her aid the sword of many a valiant adventurer, and opened the purse of the most penurious; the Christians of Servia, unknown to the great world even by name, were carrying on a contest even more sanguinary. While the Greek possessed the privilege, whether in defeat or danger, of being able to take refuge in the ships of some neutral power, these poor Servians had no other means of providing for their safety than by flying to the deep gorge, the mountain plateau, and the dark forest. Add to which, they

were continually thwarted by the intrigues of Austria and Russia, according as circumstances or interest prompted these powers to flatter the Ottoman Porte. Still Servian perseverance, and an indomitable bravery surmounted every difficulty; while, on the other hand, it is universally admitted that Greece never would have been free but for the battle of Navarino.

There is a wide difference observable in the administration of the two countries-Greece and Servia. In the one, we see recklessness and extravagance; in the other, foresight, prudence and economy. The Servian achieved his independence by his own valour and at his own cost; while one portion of the population were engaged in warfare, the other toiled for their subsistence, consequently the country is not yet burdened with a national debt. The Prince of Servia occupies a mere cottage as his palace, and administers the revenue of the country in such a manner, that it amply suffices for the necessary expenses of the state. Here there is no costly government, no pompous court, no sinecure; the civil and military employés, however moderate may be their salaries, are regularly paid, and perform their respective duties as good citizens, conscientiously and strictly, and which is everywhere visible to the traveller in the harmony and good feeling manifested by the people towards their rulers.

On the other hand, let us look at Greece: her population does not exceed that of Servia; happy would she be if her expenses did not. There we