RUSSIA AND THE AFGHANS. 413 English to the Afghans are merely so much money thrown away. Owing to its natural position Afghanistan must inevitably take sides with a powerful army, which, advancing upon India, should reach Herat from the North-West." Woodfall & Kinder, Printers, Milford Lane, Strand, London, W.C, "Charles Marvin is the leading authority of the day on the Central Asian Question."-United Service Gazette, January 5th, 1884. "Since 1880, when he first essayed writing on the Central Asian Question, Charles Marvin has published 7 books and 4 pamphlets, consisting altogether of more than 2,500 pages, 50 illustrations, and 40 maps. After this, no one will be inclined to dispute that he has written more upon Central Asia than any person living."-Allen's Indian Mail, March 18, 1884. "Charles Marvin is the best English authority upon Central Asia."—Neue Freie Presse, March 12, 1884. "Charles Marvin calmly analyzes the Central Asian Question like a scientific observer, and always seeks to treat it from an objective standpoint. All his works are characterized by a rare impartiality. He is a voluminous writer and remarkable traveller."-Tiflis Kavkaz, February 12, 1884. "Charles Marvin is the authority in all matters bearing on the advance of Russia in Central Asia.”—Brighton Gazette, April 26, 1884. "A subject on which Charles Marvin is better qualified to write than any one in England."-Homeward Mail, April 28, 1884. "Charles Marvin is the first authority of the day on Central Asia.”—Berlin Zeitung, March 12, 1884. "There is no doubt that Charles Marvin is a great authority on Central Asia, and that his knowledge of the subject would put many so-called British statesmen to shame."-Figaro, March 8, 1884. "One of the best authorities on the Central Asian Question."-Morning Post, February 22, 1884. "The well-known writer upon Central Asia, and indisputably the first authority in England on all matters concerning the operations of Russia in that region."— Allgemeine Correspondenz, March 10, 1884. "At a meeting of the Portsmouth Working Men's Club, Feb. 29, 1884, a resoution was passed expressing hearty sympathy with Charles Marvin in his works and lectures on Central Asia, and trusting that he would be supported by Conservative working men throughout England."-Portsmouth Times, March 12, 1884. "Charles Marvin, more than any other Englishman, has persistently urged the adoption of a vigorous policy, with a view to averting the encroachments of Russia in Central Asia." Western Mail, March 8, 1884. "It is to be hoped that the energetic action of Charles Marvin may bear fruit. With an absence of self, he has rushed into the breach and brought before his countrymen the danger that hangs over our Indian Empire."-Public Opinion, February 29, 1884. With 22 Full Page Illustrations of Merv, the Turcoman Region, and the Atak and Tejend Oases, including a Double Page one of the Fortress of Merv, and Three Maps, one showing the projected Russian Railway to India. 8vo, 470 pages. Price 24s. OPINION OF THE "ACADEMY.' "The most important of a remarkable series of works on the Central Asian Question which during the last few years have issued from Mr. Marvin's pen." OPINION OF THE "UNITED SERVICE GAZETTE.” "By one of the higbest authorities on the subject." OPINION OF "THE MORNING POST." "Of the 470 pages composing the work, a good 400 are charged with fresh Russian facts and opinions, dealing with every aspect of the Russo-Indian Question, and these are copiously illustrated with Russian drawings, sketches, plans, and maps. Mr. O'Donovan, in his "Merv Oasis" gives no pictures of his travels; Mr. Marvin supplies the defect by accompanying his account of Lieut. Alikhanoff's journey to Merv in disguise, after O'Donovan's departure, with 20 illustrations of Merv, &c. The work is divided into four parts. One contains the facts dealing with the Russian position in Central Asia contained in a brochure by General Annenkoff, the designer of the railway to India. What the Russian General Staff thinks of the Afghan war and position in India occupies the second part; the author compressing into 100 pages all the opinions recently put forth in the history of the war, consisting of 819 pages, published by the Russian General Staff. This part will be read with interest by all who took part in the Afghan war. Succeeding this is an account of the adventures of two Russian officers at Merv, told in the graphic and romantic letters of one of them. Associated with this is Lessar's reports of his discoveries in Afghanistan, and a resumé of Russian exploration up to the present time. Finally, the fourth part contains a series of essays, crammed with the latest data, describing the actual condition of things in and beyond the Caspian. New Russian facts, fresh Russian opinions, and the original views of the author crowd so closely every page of the work, and are everywhere so interesting, that it is a bewildering task to make extracts from it." W. H. ALLEN & CO., 13, WATERLOO PLACE, S.W. EE |