The Press.
London, England, 1855-12-15 00:00:00

soon " bring Russia to her knees," and enable
us to " dictate our own terms of peace," she
may equally err in relying on the fickleness
of our people, or the instability of our alliance
with France It is a remark of MACHIAVEL
that free States are more constant in their
policy and their alliances than despotisms. The
spirit of England has not changed since the last
great war. Let Russia rest assured of this, that
if another war of twenty years' duration be
necessary to the accomplishment of that
design on which the country has set its heart,
there is no party in the land that will
shrink from its prosecution or support. For
two centuries has England taken a leading
part in preserving the independence and free-
dom of Europe. She has been successful in
all her great objects, has closed her mighty
wars with an increase of power and reputation,
and has grown great by her sacrifices. It is
not now that she will abandon her ancient
policy. The statesmen of Russia will griev-
ously deceive themselves if they suppose that
the resolution of the British people will fail
them, or that the French alliance will be dis-
solved by accident. Both, we venture to say,
will last as long as the War shall be necessary.
But because we would not unnecessarily pro-
long it for a single hour, and because we
believe that little more is wanting to a just
and lasting peace than a sincere recognition
by Russia of the integrity of the Turkish
territory and of the sovereign rights of the
Porte, we watch with the greatest anxiety,
but strong hope, the negotiations now in
progress.

LORD JOHN RUSSELL.
THE memorable declaration of Mr. DISRAELI
that there was not a statesman in the Govern-
ment of Lord ADERDEEN who would not lose
character and reputation by the connection,
has long since become prediction fulfilled.
One by one, as by a kind of mysterious fatality,
did each realise the dire presages of the Con-
servative Leader. Circumstances which would
have made the fame of other men, proved to
them a cause of perplexity and a source of
disgrace. From events which seemed to
afford an appropriate arena for the display of
those administrative talents which they were
supposed to possess, and of which they spoke
themselves with such fluent complacency, they
derived their most bitter experiences. Their
very opportunities were their ruin.
But to no member of the Coalition has its
tenure of office been more disastrous than to
Lord JOHN RUSSELL. His case was peculiar.
Known as the Leader of the Whig party, who
had worked his way to that elevation by a long
and eventful apprenticeship, he occupied the
distinguished position of being one of the
foremost citizens of England. His Premier-
ship, although it had the effect of consider.
ably shaking public confidence in his ability,
involved him in no positive It
was to have been
of his Governmew
the colleagues he
ink;, and abandoned
would have done
for a season of the
and aspiration of his
a partial oblivion,

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