The Press.
London, England, 1855-10-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

the incursions of the Northern barbarians,
and, without even once surrendering their
own independence, have alike withstood suc-
cessfully Persian, Byzantine, Turk, and Rus-
sian iu atttempts at conquest or subjugation.
For half a century now they have fought more
or less successfully against Russia's best gene-
generals and finest troops, and at this moment
their fate and freedom seem about to be deter-
mined, either by their obstinate enemy being
driven back across the mountain ranges, or else
by the defeat of the Turks, and the ultimate sub-
jugation of the whole country to Russia. With
regard to the success of Russia, Baron Hax
thausen believes that it would seriously involve
the security of England's Indian empire, and
maintains that it is requisite for us now to carry
on war to the knife in simple sell defence :

If England can succeed in rekindling the fanatical zeal
of Islamism, now almost expiring--in 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 Persian
Gulf, whilst a French army landing in Asia Minor were to
appear simultaneously on the theatre of war, forming a
nucleus for the military organisation of the undisciplined
Mohammedan masses—Russia would unquestionably 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 maintain a Euro-
pean army there.
The last sentence is just the argument
which destroys the Baron's own hypo-
thesis of Russia reaching India through
Persia. How far the three separate national
groups of the Caucasus—the mountaineers
and the eastern and western races—would be
affected by the defeat of Russia and the suc-
cess of the Turks, does not appear very clear.
The tribes have no unanimity among themselves,
and no particular sympathy with the Turks ;
on the contrary, showing rather a preference
for Russia, which of late years has sought to
pacify the people by avoiding all severe mea-
sures, opening markets, and introducing
civilisation—thus seeking, and on the whole
successfully, to win the people over and ac-
complish her ends by peaceable rather than
by warlike means.

To understand aright the political position of these
countries (remarks Baron Liaxthausen), the relations
existing among the various races inhabiting them, political,
social, and religions, require to be studied. Viewing them
collectively, we have here three separate national groups,
which from time immemorial have dwelt side by side, yet
separate and distinct—the mountaineers of the Caucasus,
the western races, and the eastern races.
The first of these races, sithout entertaining any sym-
pathy for Turks, Persians, or Europeans, cherish a grow-
ing hostility, a deep-rooted hatred toward Russia : all they
demand is to remain independent, with full freedom of ac-
tion : they require the former powers to secure their free-
dom, but without at all being willing to unite with them.
They are for the greater part Mohammedans, and have
recently found a great political and religious centre, a hero,
around whom they gather.
The western nations, Georgia and Armenia, are
Christian, for the most part connected with the Russian
Church. At no period, either in ancient or modern times,
have they had any political, national, or religious connec-
tion with the Eastern Caucasians. They have a profound
aversion to the Persians and Turks, and will always sup-
port Russia against those powers. The Armenians are
decidedly attached to Russia ; but although this feeling
may not universally prevail among the Georgian nobles, it
is very questionable whether any influence or power from
Western Europe could ever succeed in shaking their
fidelity. Their old men still remember the events of
11300, how barbarously the Turks and Persians treated the
Georgians, extorting a tribute of boys and girls from them,
and forcibly compelling them to embrace Islamism.

The eastern side, inhabited by Tatar and Persian races,
all of the Mohammedan faith, are inimical to the Russians,
notwithstanding the mild treatment they have received.
Russia can expect little aid from these peoples ; but
whether they will, on the other hand, rise and take a
decided part against Russia, and openly join the Turks
and Persians, is quite another question. With the latter
people they have no sympathy; they are ignorant of the
feeling of independence, and have for centuries been ac-
customed to foreign rule.

Hence it does not appear clear that the rule
of the Turks, in Georgia or Armenia at least,
would be acknowledged very readily :

Can it be imagined (asks the author) that these
Christian lands, after having been freed from the Moham-
medan yoke for half a century, and placed under a Ch►le-
tien Government, shouli be again subjected to the misera-
ble rule of Persia and Turkey, and given up to the cruelty
and extortion of pachas and girders?
With the defeat of the Russians, the real poli-
tical problem will arise ; and from the intricate
difficulties of the question Baron Hazthausen
supposes it not improbable that the Western
powers will shrink; for, as to erecting new

SATURDAY,

kingdoms, Mohammedan, Koordish, Chadteo-
Syrian, Persian, or Tatar, he declares there
would be no power to support them, and
finally, from the utter want of unanimity among
the various tribes, and their deep-rooted reli-
gious antipathies between one another, inclines
to the belief that, in spite of any efforts of
Turkey or the Western powers, Russia will
either continue to hold or ultimately obtain
possession of these fair provinces :

There exists no national feeling or bond, no common
historical tie, among these races, although they speak the
same language ; and, wanting these, any such combina-
tions would inevitably result in anarchy, as soon as the
European powers had withdrawn their control. The only
Christian nation which is really capable of a social or-
ganisation, Armenia, is too weak to assume an indepen-
dent political position : it would at once reunite with
Russia, with which country it has deep-rooted political and
religious sympathies and relations. As soon as any dis-
turbance or embarrassment in Europe and America were
to check the power and energy of France and England,
all these countries would again be thrown into the arms of
Russia. It is not improbable that the Western powers,
shrinking before such momentous consequences, will ab-
stain from entering upon this new theatre of war, or
setting the avalanche in motion, which it would be im-
possible to arrest in its course. Russia, on her side,
clearly shrinks from pushing these fearful questions to an
issue. She carried on the war very feebly in 1854, remain-
ing on the defensive, and making little use even of the
victories she obtained, The Western powers likewise may
be averse to drive Russia into a more serious war, seeing
that, even in the event of her entire defeat, such victory
could only displace her for the moment from her present
advantageous position. Should however the storm which
is gathering be for a time averted, it can be only for a
short time. The life and vigour of the Mohammedan
nations Persia and Turkey is almost extinct, and where is
the power to resuscitate them?

The last chapters of this little book contain
a most interesting account of the life and
deeds of Schamyl. To heroic personal bravery.
and astute generalship this extraordinary man
adds still higher talents for organisation and
administration. Since he has governed the
Caucasus he has instituted a regular legisla•
tion, an admirable military constitution, and
a system of government complete in itself;
but it is doubtful, observes Baron Hax-
thausen, whether Schamyl desires any ill.
liance with the Turks. Since the breaking
out of this war ho has been greatly assisted
by supplies and ammunition from Constanti-
nople ; and it is quite clear, adds the Baron,
that at the present moment " the Russians
" have lost all their influence, and that
" Schamyl is the acknowledged head of all the
" inhabitants of the Caucasus ":

The Circassians gladly accept the supplies of ammuni-
tion, salt, &c., from Constantinople and the Western powers ;
but any inference from this that they would welcome an
alliance with the Turks and the Western powers, is quite
erroneous : they by no means desire the vicinity of the
latter, which they would regard as equally obnoxious and
fatal to them with that of the Russians. Indeed, they
might probably in the end agree even better with the
Russians. Whether Schamyl himself would consent to a
cooperation with the Western powers appears, from his
character, very problematical : he desires to rule, but un-
doubtedly not to be subject to the Sultan. Whether one
of the many emissaries sent to him through Circassia has
really ever reached him is very doubtful : they have gene-
rally been taken prisoners, robbed, nay murdered, by the
Circassians.

The results of Omer Pacha's campaign next
year in Asia Minor will be eagerly anticipated.
If he be fortunate, and drive the Russians
across the mountain range of the limit of
Europe and Asia, and the Turkish Govern-
meat desire to hold whatever he may re-
conquer for them, they must submit to copy
the system which Russia adopted to gain
her ends. Good government, just taxation,
and liberal measures will now alone retain
any of these provinces.
Mr. Taylor's translation of the book is free
and clear, and the book itself, though only to
be regarded as a supplement to Baron Hax-
thausen's larger work on Transcaucasia, and
consisting only of 130 pages, is a oonsomme full
of information upon a subject at all times
peculiarly interesting, but at this moment of
more than ordinary import. We have only
one fault to find—the usual one with most
geographical and descriptive writers on un-
known countries—the want of a map. At this
moment, too, when so much attention is
centred upon the coasts and countries of the
Caucasus, the omission is particularly felt.

Le Cheval de Guerre. By General Daumas.

Paris : Hachette et Cie.
CAVALRY have had to play but an insignificant
part in the war thus far ; but, as the theatre