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devotion shown by all classes, had convinced him of this, and had made even him ૧ "democrat."

His people had given him everything-money, transport, cattle, clothing, ammunition. Women had run into the street telling him how many sons they had given to him for his army.

Even his own table at Pirot was supplied by presents.

Neither his officers nor men had received any pay for two months, and the civil employés of the Government, such as Judges, had given up half their salaries. Every one was depriving himself of something. Even the Palace servants would not take this year their New Year's gifts.

He had now 10,000 carts and 20,000 oxen on the road from Eastern Roumelia (whence all forage and most other supplies have to be brought), all gratuitously given by their owners. His fighting strength was not weakened by having to send escorts for convoys, for on all this long line the columns were guarded by the drivers, and, even in the difficult defiles of the Dragoman Pass, in the deep snow, and on the slippery roads, by night and day, order was maintained better than could be done by any gendarmerie. As the men marched, in their desperate race from the Turkish frontier in Eastern Roumelia to the Servian frontier of Bulgaria, the people had flocked round them giving them shirts, and warm clothing, and money. People would be astounded to find how little this war had cost.

Of the Russian officers who, to the number of 200, had left his service just before the outbreak of the war, the Prince spoke in bitter tones.

He said that not only had they left, but they had taken their Serjeant-Majors, and all their books, especially those respecting mobilization, which had made it most difficult to communicate with the reserve men.

He said that the Russian officers had treated the Bulgarian officers as quite of an inferior race.

Receiving much higher pay, they had even at the mess-table not associated with the latter, but had dined apart.

They had insisted on the men speaking Russian, and the Prince added that when he himself spoke to the men in Bulgarian (which he is frequently in the habit of doing), they replied in Russian, but "That will not be the case any more now."

He seemed glad, indeed, to be rid of the malign influence of the Russian officers, and manifested openly, in some expressions he made use of to myself and two other members of the Commission, his contempt for the Russian character, which, whilst affecting friendship, frequently concealed enmity, and he compared it most dis- advantageously with that of the Bulgarians, who, he said, were "undemonstrative,

but true.'

At the time of this conversation concerning the Russian officers His Highness had been long engaged in speaking with Major-General Baron Kaulbars, who, during the whole time of our visit, affected the warmest friendship to the Prince, although but a few weeks ago he had spoken of His Highness to myself and others in the most disparaging tone possible.

The General had, perhaps, a personal reason for the hostility to the Prince, owing to the fact that his brother was Minister of War at Sophia, with whom the Prince had had difficulties.

That the Prince should have on that very evening (the last the Commission passed at Pirot) issued an order for the following day, of which he himself sent a copy to General Kaulbars, thanking the Russian instructors, was somewhat surprising to those who had heard His Highness' remarks; but the Commissioners were well aware of the General's frequent visits to the Prince, and felt sure that the former, who was in constant communication with the Czar, had been doing his utmost to induce the Prince to make a first step towards submission or reconciliation.

Madjid Pasha arrived before the Commission left. His Highness said that he had invited the Pasha to come to Pirot ** as his guest," and had given him one of his rooms. He added that Turkey, which had done nothing for him in the war, now wished to reap all the advantage.

I have, &c. (Signed) KEITH FRASER, Colonel,

Military Attaché.

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