TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—In my letter which you were good enough to publish a week ago I expressed my gratitude for your leading article of the 2nd inst., which I have acknowledged also in our Russian Times (the well-known and influential Novoye Vremya). Your leading articles of subsequent dates have been equally excellent.

In that of yesterday you say that, if it be deemed necessary for the Balkan armies to enter Constantinople, that might be done through a chosen route. A useful suggestion, if it could be carried out. But at all events the moral satisfaction of some sort of an entry ought to be allowed. That this would be wise my past experience affords convincing proof. There are still many Russian patriots who, like myself, have never been able to efface from our minds and hearts our deep national grief when, on the eve of the expected entry into Constantinople, our victorious troops were, to the astonishment of the world, held back by a telegram from St. Petersburg. Thus did their subsequently bestowed medals, crosses, and stars lose, by that humiliation, much of their deserved importance.

Whereupon, exclaimed Bismarck, with an uncomplimentary emphasis, “Nein, mit den Leuten ist nichts anzufangen.” (No, there is no doing anything with these people!)

Yes, Foreign Offices, when relying, as they sometimes must, upon imperfectly informed agents, can become (as in this case) more foreign than national. What is taking place in Foreign Offices now, I wonder? Are they again considerately and delicately consulting how not to wound the refined feelings of the Turk? Better, far better, some new Bismarcks with less delicate fists.

But, in illustration of my point, may I recall a personal experience of that time? I was in Paris when General Grant, the American ex-President, called on me. Almost the first thing he asked me was:—“Can you explain why the Russians did not occupy Constantinople when it was so entirely in their hands?” I replied that, to our sorrow, our Government had telegraphed the order not to advance further. “Well,” replied Grant, “all I can say is, if I had been one of your generals, I would have put the telegram in my pocket and have opened it three days later in Constantinople.” The same day I dined at the house of M. Emile de Girardin, where, to some eminent guests, I repeated General Grant’s remark. “Quite, right,” they said, “for however little we liked the German promenade through Paris, we understood that the German Government could not deprive its troops of so legitimate a satisfaction.” Thus, Sir, as I hope you will agree, let not this hard-earned satisfaction be denied to the poor heroes who have at last fought their gallant way to the gate within (and not outside) which their final deliverance ought to be proclaimed.

Yours faithfully,

OLGA NOVIKOFF. née KIRÉEFF.

4, Brunswick-place, Regent's Park, Nov. 10.