Stamped Edition, 6d.

ILLUSTRATED

THE

REGISTERED AT THE GENERAL POST-OFFICE FOR TRANSMISSION ABROAD.

No. 1527.-vol. LIV.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1869.

RUSSIA, CENTRAL ASIA, AND INDIA.

A revival of the great Central-Asian question, caused by the progress of Russian arms in Turkistan, bids fair to rival in magnitude, if not to eclipse, the famous Eastern question, which every now and then disturbs the equanimity of Europe. Anglo-Indian society has for a long time past kept a keen look-out on the proceedings of Russia within that wide stretch of territory which constitutes the mid-region of the continent of Asia, and between which and the north-western province of our Indian empire the mo untainous district of

WITH A SUPPLEMENT, FIVEPENCE

Afghanistan lies interposed. Every step made by Russia in advance, closely resembling, as it does, the manner of movement by which the old East India Company gradually got possession of the Indian peninsula, naturally points forward to a period when Russia and Anglo-India will confront each other; and the question of the day seems to be whether the Government of the Viceroy should make itself sure of Afghanistan, as a strong frontier barrier against encroachment, or whether it should quietly allow the Government of the Emperor to secure it for further Russian purposes. As usual, much may be said on both sides. In India, probably, what is called public opinion- which means the opinion of the official and European class— favours the practical solution of the question by a policy of anticipation. In England the balance of judgment decidedly inclines to a policy of waiting. We are not sorry that the return of Sir John Lawrence to this country has furnished that pre-eminent authority with a suitable occasion for declaring and defending his policy in regard to this matter. Probably there is no man living better qualified than he, whether by intimate knowledge of the subject, or by power of statesman-like forecast, or by fréede m

STRATED LONDON ONE NEW

LONDON S