The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-11-13 00:00:00

frontiers to the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf.
The other countries of Europe might stand by and bear
witness to such aggression on the part of Russia ; indeed
it might in certain respects bring advantage to some of
them, as the position of western Russia would be con-
siderably changed, by the diversion of so important a
power from that portion of the empire toward the south
and east. But England, for her own security and self-
defence, must of necessity carry on the war to the knife;
for the question at issue involves the security of her pos-
sessions in the East Indies ; this momentous question fills
the back-ground of the picture. ' We have mentioned a
second barrier to the advance of Russia southward,—the
mountaineers of the Caucasus for half a century they
have fought for the freedom of? their hearths and homes;
and who can regard without interest and admiration the
heroic struggle they have maintained ?
At the present moment we may probably be entering
on a great political crisis in the world's history, one
which may entail an entire change in all the political and
social relations of Asia. The war for the conquest and
possession of the Caucasian provinces will probably de-
cide, whether this change will be effected rapidly by
external causes, or gradually by internal development.
Such events as are now passing give rise to many great
questions, inviting speculation as to their probable solu-
tion ; hut the ways of Providence are often inscrutable to
our weak sight, and the issues of the future are lost in
obscurity.
If England can succeed in rekindling the fanatical
zeal of Islamism, now almost expiring,—ln raising the
standard of the Faith, in the person of Schamyl and the
principles of Muridism,—in effecting the union of Sunnites
and Shiites, Turks and Persians,--if a large English
army were to advance from the East Indies and cross
the Persain Gulf, whilst a French army landing in Asia
Minor were to appear simultaneously on the theatre of war,
forming a nucleus for the military organization of the un-
disciplined Mohammedan masses, —Russia would unques-
tionably be placed in a very perilous position. But the
question is beset with difficulties of extraordinary moment.
It is not an easy matter to plant, to form, and to main-
tain a European army there.
On the other hand, supposing the Russians to come off
conquerors, and to compel the remains of the European
armies to evacuate the country, what power could in such
a case arrest their victorious advance ? Unchecked, they
would take possession of the entire countries as far as the
Persian Galf and the Mediterranean; and, for her own
defence, and security against any renewed attack on that
side, Russia, would be compelled to annihilate the two
great Mahommedan powers ; in which event possibly
some temporary satrapies, as Khiva and Bokhara, might
be formed. But Russia, once planted on the Mediterra-
nean, would rule Egypt with an iron hand. This indeed
would be the knell of England's power.

These commentaries on the aspect of affairs are
entitled to profound attention and respect, not
merely from those to whose guidance is intrusted
the present prosperity and future integrity of the
British Empire, but from thinking men of every
class and occupation. It is no mere question of
passing Cabinet policy—it is one of vital import
to the nation in all its multiform and complicated
interests. Without committing ourselves, in any
way, to a recognition of the principles of a war of
policy, apart from one of right included in the
Baron's arguments, as stated above, it can be no
hazardous course to inculcate a careful under-
standing of the case which he is putting.
The little book presented to the public by the
Baron contains much interesting information rela-
tive to the obdurate and gallant resistance offered
by .the Caucasians to Russian aggression, and,
of course, treats largely of the exploits of Schamyl.
Of the rise of Muridism, the peculiar sect by-
which the Schamyl war is carried on, and the
leading features and animating principles of which
are intense and unconquerable hatred of Russia,
and ceaseless resistance to Russian sway, he treats
largely, showing that it has become, whatever