The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-09 00:00:00

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MON WATIE AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tato poo—Morolor. 116.31..--Afternoon. Mehl.
Trooonotr—ificoolso. 41t. 46.135.

LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 9.

Tux face of foreign affairs is still overcast by
grave uncertainties. The final intentions of the
Northern Aggressor, and the aeteal position of the
Allied Powers, who have sought to interpose for the
preservation of peace, are alike the subjects of con-
flicting rumour. The steamer that arrived at Mar-
seilles on the 6th inst., had brought intelligence that
the• British Fleet was still lingering at Malta,
on the 2nd, instead of being on its way to the
month of the Dardanelles, where its timely presence
might have exercised a salutary influence over the
rapacious counsels of the Muscovite. The people of
this country, who pay millions a year for the mainte-
nance of a Mediterranean squadron, naturally feel dis-

posed to ask, what is the use of that costly
pageant, if upon an occasion when it could serve
a very useful purpose it is ordered to float idly
in the harbour of Viletta ? We hope that
the event may not prove that the policy of
forbearance on the part of the British Government
has not been carried too far. The presence of the
French fleet in the Dardanelles, although hitherto
unsupported there, may possibly have sufficed to
deter the invader from making any sudden attempt
upon Constantinople ; and if such should be the ow.
the resources of aggression will probably be concen-
trated upon the invasion and occupation of Moldavia
and Wallachia, two important provinces of the
Ottoman Empire.
On the other hand it is stated, on the authority of
accounts from Berlin, that not only has Prince
Ma:womerr been received by his imperial master
with ostentatious marks of approval, but that an
ultimatum has bean sent to Constantinople, requiring
unconditional submission of the Porte within
eight days, but intimating that in case of refusal
the Russian armies will instantly cross the Pruth•
It is further stated that the cabinet of St. Peters-
burg have intimated—by anticipation we presume
—their unwillingness to accept the joint mediation
of the Four Powers.

While Europe thus awaits in anxious suspense the
intelligence by which it is possible that her future
tranquillity may be determined, it can hardly be
deemed irrelevant or inopportune to ask—on what
does the decision of a question so momentous depend ?
Of the merits of the quarrel between the SULTAN and
the CZAR most people are already sufficiently aware
Our own opinions on the subject, coinciding as they do
with thes►of nearly the-entire press- of Stance and

England, needs no recapitulation here. But, be
the merits of the dispute what they may, it is
surely worth inquiring at such a moment on whose
will rests the decision of the consequences that are to
ensue upon the abrupt termination of their diplo•
matic discussions? Who is to say whether or no a
collision of empires shall begin ?
The decision rests confessedly with one man : and
it is to this obvious but too often neglected fact that
we desire to point attention. It is a fact more preg-
nant with political teaching than most others that
we are aware of. It is in every sense a great and
gloomy truth which ought never to be suffered to
paps from the memories of men. There are amongst
us some short-sighted people, who perpetually ask,
what matters it to us who governs foreign stain, or
what is the form of their government? Let such
idolaters of a delusive isolation consider well what
difference it may really make to the peaceful
traders and industrious tax-payers of this and many
other countries that the Turkish question, as it is called,
awaits its solution at this moment at the hands of a
single individual drunk with irresponsible power,
instead of abiding the deliberative decision of a
constitutional council, responsible to a constitutional
legislature. So long u the colossal might of an
empire thus governed remains in quiescence, it is
easy to say, what affair is it of ours how the quiescence
is secured? But the case is perilously altered when
the huge mass is liable to be convulsed into
action, and when that action may be directed to
purposes of aggression and spoliation. In a word,