the tall deer as if he had been their father." that the most vulgar means of purchasing supIf Nicholas had an attachment for anything, port, in the press of that country, were openly it remains to be discovered. Some generous and unblushingly resorted to, and accordingly actions are not unjustly attributed to Paul, his nowhere had the Czar more fervent admirers father, madman as he was; but Nicholas dis- and advocates. dained even that display of clemency which Such was the state of opinion as to Nicholas in mere policy the wise ruler will occasionally when the revolutions of 1848 broke out; and affect, even to the diappointment of his desire we can all remember the shout of admiration for vengeance. Seldom, indeed, have sove- that arose as soon as his indisposition to enter reigns been known to aggravate a punishment the lists either against the socialists and demoimposed by a judicial tribunal. It is the at- crats of Paris, or against the debaters and agitribute of royalty to temper the rigor of the tators of Frankfort, became apparent. Not for law, never to aggravate its severity. Yet in a moment did the worshippers of Russian moda well-known instance, when the relatives of eration reflect that those communists and rea state prisoner condemned to Siberia pre-publicans of France and Germany were in fact sented a petition for mitigation of his punish- doing neither more nor less than the work of ment to the Emperor, the answer of Nicholas Nicholas himself. They were, at one and the was, "Let him go on foot." Incredible cruel- same time, pulling down existing governments, ty was thus added to the sentence upon one and declaring opinions incompatible with any who had been reared, like the young Prince other forms of government in the place of those Sangusko, in opulence and luxury. overthrown. "The West is tumbling to pieces," The wonderful diplomatic machinery of Rus--l'occident s'écroule, had long been a favorite sia owes probably but little to the genius of opinion in Russia, the democrats were everyNicholas. He found it already at its present where doing their best to show that it was well state of perfection, and it served him at every founded, and the Czar was lauded to the skies step of his career. The success which attended for quietly and complacently looking on. In the efforts of Russian agents, principally by one country only did he interfere, and in that means of the German press, to cast a veil over no revolution had occurred. He interfered in the harsher features of his character, as well as Hungary, not to put down anarchy, but to deover the hostile designs meditated by his gov-stroy a constitution eight centuries old. It was ernment against the tranquillity of Europe, great gain for him that Louis Blanc, Ledru Rolafford convincing proof of their admirable skill. lin, and Struve should pursue their course unThe indignation of the English Cabinet had been aroused by the war of 1828 and 1829 against Turkey, terminating in the Treaty of Adrianople; and Lord Aberdeen, though on terms of personal friendship with the Czar, had pointed out, in the strong and just language of the elaborate despatch lately published, not only the perilous consequences involved in that disastrous" treaty, but the gross want of good faith displayed by the Russian Government in extorting it, after a solemn disclaimer of all Great is the advantage to all the world that designs of territorial aggrandizement. Yet, this bubble at least should, before his death, notwithstanding the impression then produced, have been broken. If the fulness of all his and notwithstanding the cruelties of the Czar glory and ascendency and supposed moderain Poland after the war of 1830 and 1831, tion had attended Nicholas to his deathbed, the when children of tender age, under pretext of heritage left to his successor might have proved their being orphans and unprovided for, were indeed dangerous to Europe. But the dream torn by thousands from their mothers, and has been somewhat rudely interrupted which sent to colonize the interior of Siberia, or per-every Czar since Peter the Great had chersh miserably on the journey still the "mod-ished, and at the very time when all things eration and mildness of the Czar" were words pointed to its fulfilment. In his person, as we repeated so perseveringly and judiciously in have shown, the throne was occupied by a man the German papers, where no contradiction of daring equal to his ambition, as capable of was possible, that at last they produced their forming a design as crafty in concealing it, and effect. The classes among ourselves brought all whose thoughts and efforts had been dimost into contact with Russian diplomatists, rected to one great purpose during a long and soon began to adopt the same tone. Even prosperous reign. His army, his navy, his deEnglish journals, themselves deceived, uncon- fences, all left by his brother in a comparasciously deceived others, and helped to propa- tively disorganized state, he had brought to gate the same delusion. As for the journals high efficiency. He had reduced the German of America, we do not suppose any one doubts States to vassalage. He believed the estrange

1

molested; but it was greater still that one Batthyani should be sent to die in the fosse at Buda, and another in exile at Paris. He assisted Austria in "crushing," to use the words of Lord Palmerston," her own right arm," and rendering it powerless to bar his future progress to Constantinople. Nevertheless the cry still greeted him of praise for his moderation, his temper, his sagacity, his services to order and peace.

their discontents bitterly aggravated by the injury their estates would suffer from the loss of the English markets for their produce. Still, though the inability of Russia to cope with such a comform against her may be considered as certain, bination as justice and European policy would yet no one can pretend to assign distinct and definite bounds to war once rekindled in the present state of Europe. Fervently do we trust to be spared the experiment.

ment of England from France, to which he so and her nobles, already malcontent, would have actively contributed under the reign of the house of Orleans, not likely to suffer diminution from the policy of a Bonaparte. He selected a time when he thought this country the only Power left him to dread, and his first act flung all his advantages away. He had put faith in the assertion of Mr. Bright that "the British Lion was dying." He was rudely undeceived, and he lived to see even that very German Diet, that contemptible collection of German princes which had made him its Deity and Providence, fall from him as a broken reed. The issue was foretold in this journal six years ago, when as yet all tongues were praising him for his services to order and good government. So manifest, nevertheless, had his design become on the final submission of the Hungarians, that it was thus remarked upon by us in the summer of 1849:

He is removed from the

been spared us, we need not now discuss. The Whether or not that experiment might have impostor at last stood unmasked, and we "drifted" into war. scene while all is yet undecided; but whatever may remain to do, much has already been done, towards dispelling the gross illusion which made Russia the bugbear of the world. Her aggressive power has never existed in her own resources but in the weakness and disWhat the Autocrat wants is clear enough. It union of other nations, and the utmost craft is a quarrel by hook or by crook with Turkey, and daring of the most unscrupulous of her but that Turkey will be defended against aggres sovereigns has ended in an alliance against her sion it is impossible to doubt. Common pru which no man thought possible ten years ago. dence as well as justice enlists France and England in support of her against the arms of Russia, las is likely to have upon the war, we abstain Upon the influence which the death of NichoWe have always deprecated war; we have been at present from remarking. No one can fail reproached with being the pusillanimous advo- to see that, however pacifically disposed, Alexcates of peace at any price; but great as, in our ander will have a diflicult and dangerous part view, would be the calamity of a general war in to play, with a brother at the head of the inEurope, it would be preferable to the infamy and flamed war party. Supposing him peaceful, for the long train of perilous consequences which mere self-preservation he will have to pretend would follow the abandonment of Turkey to the to more warlike counsels than he entertains; gripe of Russia in this most iniquitous quarrel. he must affect, as already is evident from his That France and England combined would so far manifesto on his accession, the language held overmatch the power of Russia as to bring a war

if to arms the Czar should dare to have resource.

to a successful close, there can be no reasonable by his father; and the pretence will be quite doubt. Austria would probably be the unwilling as inconvenient to deal with as the reality. ally of Russia, but Austria would have enough But who in the present state of affairs, saving to do, and more than she could do, with Hunga- only and always Mr. Bright, can really think ry again in arms, and Italy again in revolt. Rus- a patched-up peace a thing to be desired? sia, too, would have work on her hands at home; |

BATTLE OF STONE FERRY. The few survivors stand on a red, writhing heap One of the best pictures in the collection is of wounded and of dead, their faces still towards Mr. M'Ian's Battle of Stone Ferry. With a little the foe,-staunch and at bay, but hedged in with more power of conveying variety of expression, pikes and scythes. In the rear, Indians, ghastly this excellent work would have taken a higher with the war-paint, are stealing round them; a standing. Of no national interest, like West's chief, crowned with a crimson crest, drawing an "Death of Wolfe," it is equally, perhaps more, arrow to the head. The white powdered wigs of romantic in the interest of its situation. It re- the slain, stiff and courtly, contrast hideously with presents a small detachment of Fraser's High- the unrestrained passion of the living. The sky, landers, who during the American War defended lurid and heavy, lends additional gloom to the themselves against two thousand armed insur- scene. The composition of the picture reflects gents. Only seven out of sixty men escaped to credit on the artist. The dead lie naturally, and the main body.-the rest, including all the of the drawing is throughout manful and honest. ficers, falling like the long haired Spartans at Mr. M'Ian should try Flodden or the combat of Thermopyla. To a Scotchman such heroism the clams at Perth, subjects equally worthy of must be dear; and Mr. M'Ian has painted it as his talent and his patriotism. We congratulate if he had just left the field. He has chosen the him on the skill with which he has treated the moment when a driving cloud of white smoke color of the plaid, not breaking it into spots and indicates the arrival of the reinforcement, whom patches, but maintaining its breadth and unity.the grim, unmoved piper, built up with slain, Athenæum on National Institute. reets with Hech, but ye've been long o' comin."|

66

From The Times, 24 March.
THE OSTEND CONFERENCE.

inet of Washington the result of their deliberations was dated from Aix-la-Chapelle, the 18th of October, 1854; and it contains the following extraordinary passage, which appears to us to deserve the utmost publicity, especially as two of the gentlemen who signed it are still accredited to the courts of England and France :

THE diplomacy of the United States of America is certainly a very singular profession. It combines with the utmost publicity the habitual pursuit of dishonorable objects by clandestine means, and, while it professes to rest, like all the institutions of the American "After we shall have offered Spain a price people, on the maxims of Washington, it de- for Cuba far beyond its present value, and scends to practices which Washington would this shall have been refused, it will then be have dealt with as he dealt with those of M. time to consider the question, Does Cuba, Genet and Major André. For certain pur- in the possession of Spain, seriously endanger poses, the diplomatic agents of the United our internal peace and the existence of our States are not ashamed deliberately to con- cherished Union? Should this question be spire, with a view, of course, to their national answered in the affirmative, then by every aggrandizement and their personal advantage. law, human and divine, we shall be justified But they conspire publicly; they lay before in wresting it from Spain, if we have the powCongress, and Congress prints for the benefit er; and this upon the very same principle of mankind, their solemn proofs and declara- that would justify an individual in tearing tions that they have conspired, are conspiring, down the burning house of his neighbor, if and will conspire; in so much that intentions there were no other means of preventing the which would set all Europe in a blaze if they flames from destroying his own home. were avowed by a member of the elder fami- "Under such circumstances, we ought neily of nations, and which would justify a dec-ther to count the cost nor regard the odds laration of war if they were seriously enter- which Spain might enlist against us. We fortained by the American government, are man- bear to enter into the question whether the ifested with perfect impunity by the agents present condition of the island would justify and representatives of that government on such a measure. We should, however, be recforeign missions. reant to our duty, be unworthy of our gallant forefathers, and commit base treason against our posterity, should we permit Cuba to be Africanized and become a second St. Domingo, with all its attendant horrors to the white race, and suffer the flames to extend to our own neighboring shores, seriously to endanger, or actually to consume, the fair fabric of our Union."

There was a time when American diplomacy was regarded as a plain, homespun, wholesome sort of service, which was held up to the imitation of this country by politicians of the school of Mr. Grote or the late Joseph Hume. American ministers were supposed to be wholly removed from the artifices of courts and the subtleties of diplomatic intercourse. Their instructions were to abstain from all According to this doctrine, it is obvious that those acts of interference which cause nine- no such thing as political right can exist in tenths of the troubles of mankind-to inain- the world; for the test applied to the conditain their own dignity without encroaching on tion of a foreign State and the sovereignty of the rights of others, and to rely on the grow- a foreign dependency is not whether the acing strength and prosperity of the American tual possessor is entitled to hold a thing, but people to secure for them the station they de- whether it suits the convenience of anybody served among the states of the world. These else to take it from him. It is an application simple maxims are, however, very much out of M. Louis Blanc's theory to the rights of of date. The representatives of the govern- nations, when he decreed from the Luxemment of President Pierce and his immediate bourg that the wages of mankind ought to be predecessors have brought with them to Eu- regulated, not by their earnings, but by their rope a different assortment of notions, and no wants. If my peace of mind is destroyed belater than last autumn a regular conference cause my neighbor overlooks my garden-if was held by these gentlemen in one of the my pretensions to success in life are opposed towns of Belgium to discuss and determine by a successful rival,—or if, in short, anything questions which, if they could be seriously re- occurs to infringe upon the golden rule of self, garded, might threaten the peace of the other" then, by every law, human and divine," achemisphere. This meeting was attended by cording to these modern interpreters of jusMr. Buchanan, the American minister in tice and policy, we are justified in wresting London, by Mr. Mason from Paris, and by the object of our aversion or our cupidity from Mr. Soulé from Madrid, and the chief topic its owner, if we have the power. The old under the consideration of these plenipotenti- definition of justice and the rights of property aries was the acquisition of Cuba. The des- was "Sic utere tuo ut alienum non lædas;' patch in which they communicated to the cab- but the modern instance of this ancient saw

is," Use other men's possessions so as to pre- avowed, it would be necessary for the United vent them from injuring yourself." We real- States to absorb, one by one, the islands which ly exaggerate nothing; irony and caricature stud the Caribbean Sea, to strip them of the would be out of place. This is the deliberate privileges of free men, which we have bestowopinion of the three principal Americans cho-ed on their black inhabitants, and to reduce sen and sent by the Government of Washing them once more to be an archipelago of slaves. ton to represent its principles and to uphold Do the American diplomatists who hold this its character in Europe, and we are bound to language suppose that the internal peace and suppose that they represent at least some existence of their justly cherished Union are considerable class of opinions in the United to be bought at such a price? They are States. strangely mistaken. The conflict with Spain If the existence of Cuba as a Spanish colo- which their designs on Cuba must occasion, ny can in any way affect the internal peace the coolness with France and England to and union of the American Republics,-above which it would give rise, the horrible scenes all, if the principles of emancipation, of inde- which must take place in the island itself bependence, and of human freedom from the fore the black population could be reduced to bondage of the planter and the scourge of absolute and passive obedience to the Amerslavery were ever to strike root in that soil, ican laws, are not the greatest perils which watered as it is with the blood of so many this policy would call into life. Far from millions of negroes, then, indeed, the duties being a cause of union and strength to the of these American patriots would become im- people of America, we are satisfied that a war perative, and they must hasten to impose on begun for so atrocious an object, defended by the inhabitants of Cuba a yoke far more oner- such arguments as these, and tending to such ous, as far as the black population is concern-fatal results, would be opposed by no inconed, than that of Catholic and Monarchical siderable part of the States. The freemen of Spain. So that the greater the progress of America would ask how long they are to enthe island, and the more it becomes assimi- dure the opprobrium and participate in the lated to the free West Indian colonies of this guilt of the slave-owners and slave States, country, the greater would be the inducement whose simplest notions of morality and duty to these American statesmen to extend their are tainted by the institution under which territories by invasion and by conquest. That they live; the hardy States of the Nor h would is precisely the argument by which the Czars not send down their forces to rivet fetters on of Russia justified their interference in Poland | the slaves of Cuba, and to place in the Senate in the last century, and their aggressions on of the Union the representatives of another Turkey in our own time-self-interest dis-slaveholding community; and the reaction guised under the plea of self-defence--ima- would extend with alarming violence against ginary dangers conjured up to palliate real the interests of the slave owners in the South. injustice a wrong to another described as a By the nature of things, that conflict would duty to posterity. These are the old sophisms be fought out not on the soil of Cuba-the by which attempts have ever been made to battle must be lost or won in the heart of the bring the excesses of rapacity and ambition United States. within the code of international morality. We trust, that in spite of the extravagant They are, in truth, no better than gross and conduct of many of the diplomatic agents palpable lies; they deceive no one, not even named by Mr. Pierce, their power is limited those by whom they are uttered; and we can and their influence on the decline. The late conceive nothing more worthy of a free people Congress has terminated its labors and its exthan to repudiate with the indignation they istence, and another Assembly, elected under deserve these maxims, which are fatal to the a new order of opinions, has succeeded to it. true dignity of the United States, because The members of this body are untried men, they are dishonest and untrue. Whatever and the principles of what is termed the may be the fate of Cuba, there is no reason Know-Nothing party" have not yet been that any change in its social condition (if, in-seen in action; but, so far as we are acquaintdeed, any such change is likely to take place)ed with them, we prefer them to the schemes should produce more powerful effects on the of those demagogues who sought to supply United States than the loss of St. Domingo their own internal weakness by foreign agitaby France, or the emancipation of the blacks of Jamaica by England.

To carry out the detestable principle now

tion; and we are not without hopes that the good sense of the nation may continue to hold in check the folly and violence of its rulers.

From The Economist, 10 March

THE EFFECT OF THE CZAR'S DEATH. THE death of Nicholas in this crisis of affairs is beyond doubt an event of the greatest moment. But it is of consequence that we should not exaggerate the influence it is likely to exert on the prospects of peace or war, nor mistake the direction and nature of that influence. Our great enemy is dead; but our cause is not therefore won; nor is it at all less important that we should win it.

The more thorough the despotism, the more will necessarily depend upon the personal character of the despot. Now, Nicholas was both a vigorous, a watchful, and a severe ruler. The relentless sternness with which he punished wherever he could detect, spread a wholesome terror through all classes, and kept in check, though it could not subdue, that corruption, peculation, and systematic deception which is the universal sin of Russian officials, whether civil or military, and which, far beyond any other cause, wastes the resources There can be no question, we think, that, and paralyzes the energies of that colossal up to a certain point, the removal of Nicholas Power. Such is the habitual and pervading is of good augury both to those who are anxious jobbery and robbery in all ranks both of the for peace and to those who look for the suc- army and the State, that nothing but dread cess of the Allies in war. It has occurred of the knout or of Siberia kept it within just at the critical moment when negotiations bounds. The knowledge that an acute, vigorare about to open in Vienna, and when active ous, and merciless chief has been replaced by operations are about to recommence in the a mild and easy-tempered one, will, we doubt Crimea. Let us consider, first, how it is like-not, give an instantaneous and incalculable ly to affect the progress of hostilities, and then spring to all the corrupt habits of the Emhow far and in what manner it is likely to ope- pire. The bonds of discipline will be relaxed. rate in bringing about a termination of this unhappy contest. Our own impression is, that it will prove wholly favorable to our arms, but not so favorable as is supposed to the success of our diplomacy.

The difference between the numerical force of armies on paper and armies in the field will again increase. The food, the arms, the clothing of the troops will again be bartered away by their colonels, their contractors, and Its first operation will be to startle, discour- their commissaries for private gain; and all age, and dismay the Russian forces at Sebas- those causes which have made Kussian armies topol. They looked upon the Czar with a so far less formidable in reality than in apsort of superstitious reverence. He was pearance will resume unlicensed sway. The feared, he was venerated, he was to a certain difference between Russia wielded by Nichextent loved. The army had vast confidence olas and by Alexander will probably be as in his genius, in his strong will, in his pervad-great as that between the French troops with ing vigilance. They did not conceive it pos- Napoleon or with Massena at their head. sible that their great Emperor and Idol could Then, the late Emperor was unquestionably be worsted if he really put forth his strength. a man of very superior powers of mind, if Something of this confidence, no doubt, was not of a commanding genius, and capable not felt in him as the Czar, the Head of the Church only to govern but to conquer; to combine, to as well as of the nation. But much, if not arrange, to control; to win campaigns as well most of it was due to his personal character, as battles; to form and conduct systems of his known vigor, his long success, his com- policy as well as detached operations. There manding presence. Only a small portion of is no reason to believe that the new Emperor it, therefore, can be transferred to his succes-inherits any large portion of his father's talAnd his successor is little known per- ent; he is sensible, well-informed, and wellsonally to the army; and where known, is meaning, and has the blessing of a wise and known only as an amiable but not very ener-admirable wife. He may make a good admingetic man. There is great probability, there-istrator and a beneficial and judicious soverfore, that the sudden death of Nicholas may eign; there is no reason to suppose that he be regarded by the army as a sort of declara- will be either an energetic general or a powtion of Heaven against them- for the Rus-erful despot. As far, therefore, as military sians are very prone to superstition; and if matters are concerned, we think the death of the allied forces seize the favorable moment Nicholas will prove "a heavy blow and a great and attack their enemy while the panic is still discouragement" to Russia. fresh upon them, it may be worth a reinforcement of 50,000 men.

sor.

It can scarcely fail, also, materially to diBut the death of Nicholas will not only dis-minish Russian influence in Germany and in hearten the Russian armies: it will seriously the Northern Courts. Nicholas exercised an impair the power of the Russian Empire.-almost unresisted sway over the minor GerThat State had vast resources; but the effects man Courts, and one not much less decided producible by these depended entirely upon over Sweden and Denmark; but it was an inthe energy of the arm that wielded them.-fluence fully more personal than dynastic