XIV INTRODUCTION. 



in 1837, of Her Majesty Queen Victoria to the Throne, down to 

 the year 1887, wherein was commemorated the Jubilee of Her 

 memorable Reign ; also, " The Maritime Canal of Suez," being the 

 History of the Isthmus of the Suez Canal, from the earliest times, 

 down to the events of recent years, when its neutralisation was, 

 after prolonged negotiations, accomplished by the Great Maritime 

 Powers of Europe, by which it has become, for all time, a neutral 

 highway for all nations, whether in time of peace or of war. 



The subjects in this volume having reference more especially to 

 the present time, notwithstanding they may have some retrospective 

 record, are those of the States of Bulgaria, Servia, and Tonquin. 



Thechapter devoted to Bulgaria, under the title of "Russia, Turkey, 

 and Bulgaria," refers, in considerable detail, to the various interven- 

 tions of Russia, by force of arms, in the affairs of the Balkan States, 

 beginning with her first interference under the Empress Catherine II., 



1 768, to enable her to carry out the policy for the dismemberment 

 of Poland, down to her fifth, and, let us hope, the last, armed inter- 

 vention of Russia, in 1877, when, under the pretext of promoting 

 reforms, and ameliorating the condition of the Slavonic Christians 

 in the various Provinces, under the rule of the Sultan, she waged a 

 cruel and sanguinary war in the East. This chapter is especially 

 devoted to the advocacy of the freedom and independence of 

 Bulgaria, under the sanction and authority of the Congress and 

 Treaty of Berlin of 1878 ; the peaceful revolution in Roumelia, on 

 the i8th September, 1886, the result of which secured its union 

 with Bulgaria, under the rule of Prince Alexander, but, that, un- 

 fortunately, led to his deposition as Ruler of the United Provinces ; 

 the midnight seizure of Prince Alexander by the political emissaries 

 of Russia, and his banishment across the Danube into Russian 

 Territory; and, lastly, the subsequent events and chronic inter- 

 ference of Russia in Bulgaria, whose future safety and prosperity as 

 a free state is earnestly advocated. 



The chapter devoted to Servia, under the title of " Servia, Austria, 

 Turkey, and Russia," embraces its early history, from the time that 

 she freed herself from the supremacy of the Byzantine Empire, at 

 Constantinople, in the Xllth century, and secured her independence 

 under Steefan Nemanya, and became, in the XlVth century, a 

 powerful State under Stebfan-Dooshan, who assumed the Imperial 

 title of Czar. 



The subsequent events of Servian history are traced in 



