The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-09 00:00:00

sequences. But it is useless now to speculate
on the past. What is our present position •?
Have we an ally? Has Lord AIIMMDEEN sue-
ceeded in satisfying France, or in soothing
Russia? In attempting to secure present
peace for England, even by the sacrifice of our
future power, has he not in reality advanced
the prospect of a general war? But what is
he going to do ? What is his plan ? Has he
any ? A week ago we were told the Cabi-
net were united, and all was to be energy,
vigour, and success. It was even confidentially
intimated, under the rose, that the Russians
would not even cross the Prnth, or, at any rate,
not until the autumn, and before the autumn
a great deal would happen. The Russians
have already crossed the Pnith, as we said
they would. What are we to do now? Is the
Cabinet as united and energetic as last week ?
Now that the moment of decision has arrived,
it reaches us that, besides the principal fol-
lowers of Sir RossatT PEEL, Lord CLAmomos,
Lord Cram.tv.....x, the Duke of ARGYLL, and Sir
WILLIAM MOLIPAWORTII are of opinion that all
cants MU should be confined to the Cabinet.
War is only to rage in the council chamber of
Downing-street.
The last resolution of the Government, as it
reaches us, is most strange. While everybody
else is acting, they are. to take refuge in tem-
porising. They are to suggest to the Porte
and to St. Petersburg that the privileges de-
manded by the Czar for the Greek Christians
should be secured to Christians of all denomina-
tions in the Turkish dominions, under a treaty
of guarantee to which the great powers
shall be parties. This is, virtually, the propo-
sition made by the Turkish Minister to
MENSCHIKOFF on the eve of the Russian Prince
leaving Constantinople, and which he treated
with contempt.
The " great powers" will not combine to ex-
tricate England from its embarrassment. The
two " great powers" of Germany are against
England. Count Beam, the Prime Minister of
Austria, is most unfriendly to us, and is the
brother-in-law of the Russian. Minister, Count
Mcxsooune, with whom he acts in complete tic-
eordanee. These rumours and pntjeets may
amuse newspaper readers, excite I'llykneys,
and assist the Stock Exchange, but they will
not govern the world. If Lord A tiKKUEEN meant
to surrender at discretion he should have made
a grace of his feebleness, not a necessity. lie
should have pretended, from the first, to have
been the confiding ally of Russia, and not have
played the game of its unsuccessful opponent.
And Lord PAtamitsros—what will he do? lie
may lose office, but he may retain his reputa-
tion. Will he ? We live in an age of great
events and little men. The star 4.f England
pales : our country already begins to take its
position in the class of the Tyres and the.
Cartilages. It ceases to be imperial and eter-
nal, at least in thought. Sonic-thing ignomi-
nious is impending.
This last prgject Of our Government as-
sumes that the pretext of Russian invasion
is sincere. To temporise while others act
requires no great genius, and must end only
in humiliation and disaster. lie who gains
Time gains everything, but he who wastes
Time is an idiot.

AVE announced in our lust number that news
had arrived in St. Petersburg of the rejection of