Friday, 25 October 2013

"JET SAM" 1876 Henry Vale Leathem.

The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser
21 July 1876


So Old England has ' bluffed ' the united navies of the world over the Eastern question, and by pure bounce, for if there is a row Turkey will be alone to blame and must certainly suffer most.

The merest pin Prick has caused the Russian bladder to collapse — the escaping odour by no means reminds one of ' Araby the blest, Abdul Aziz has taken refuge in the proud man's last resource — a determined but not undignified suicide.

Poor beggar, what was he to do? 2000 wives— out of work — no screw; and on the other hand an escape from contumely, a knowledge of the ' great secret’.

Every Turk, of course, expects admittance to the [Turkish] Paradise, but the general belief that a drawn sword is the orthodox weapon — not a scissors.-.

The trouble, however, is not all over yet.

Russia has still twenty-three ironclads and war-ships 'adjacent''
Britain has now twenty-five, including the Achilles and Rupert, two of the most powerfully clad and armed ships in the world, and despite the speech of Disraeli, here is something 'behind the scenes,' which I opine will prove the hoisting of the Crescent, and the inevitable Holy War.


Gortschakoff’s two months' armistice is merely the calm before the storm, and Russia- may require yet another beating at la Crimea before she ‘bites the dust’.

What was her policy in the matter of Poland, and where is the Kingdom' of Poland now on the map of Europe? Well, well, did Campbell sing that —

                  ‘Hope for a season bade the world farewell,
                   And Freedom shrieked as Kosciusko fell.'

By-the-bye, could the vultures seen in the spirit-picture which I sent you last week possibly have been circling over the 118 ruined villages and the 100,000 persons who had no roof to cover them?

Quien sabe?

I still hold that the only solution of the Eastern difficulty is the removal of the Turks into Asia, but more anon.


I am pushed for time, and you no doubt are pushed for room ; besides the Suez and 'Frisco mails will be due before your next issue, the Darwin cable is officially promised in a day or two, and the Ly-ee-Moon dispatches should arrive next week; so, there's trouble for both you and me in store.

Oh! It’s a lively game this newspaper correspondence                                                                                                           

                                                                                                “JETSAM”

(As will be seen elsewhere the mails mentioned have arrived together, and the news confirms the views now stated. — Ed.]


Screw = Money or credit.

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