The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-19 00:00:00

THE STATE OF EUROPE.

A new pamphlet, Etat de l'Europe a la: fin de
1860 (" The State of Europe at the Close of 1.860"),
has just appeared—n'ot this time, however, from.
the miscellaneous press of Dentu, which seems to
look more to quantity than to quality. These
pamphlets threaten to become a plague ; they have
long been a nuisance. The Etat de l'Europe to
which I now allude presents a more recherche ap-
pearance than the majority of those that preceded
it. It is superior in type and accessory ornaments ;
its lie2t green colour is a relief to the eye, so long
wearied with the dirty white envelope of the semi-
official or ebi-disant semi-official productions ; and,
lastly, it issues from the printing-office of Arnyot.
The writer (the pamphlet is anonymous,' takes
rather a gloomy view of the state of affairs, and is
puzzled to know how they will end. His views
may be gathered from fhe preface :
" The Revolution has fixed a date fatal to Europe, the let;
of March. It defies it on every field of battle—not only in
Italy, and jn Venetia, but in Hungary, Poland, Croatia,
Herzegovina, Moldavia, and Wallachia. It does not con-
ceal its designs ; legions are recruiting—armies are form-
ing ; it holds its public congresses and its solemn inter-
views in the island of Caprera.
" We cannot but recognise the audacity of its deeds and
the extent of its plans. It throws down tie glove to the
Cabinets with an energy it would be difficult to deny, and
which we ought even to admire in a certain point of view.
" Will Europe accept the challenge ? Will traditional
Royalty, the aristocracy, this noble and great family of the
Middle Ages, feel their danger? Such is the question the
solution of which is necessary, and which cannot be post-
poned.
"We have been told that a compromise is possible. Let
Austria yield, let her sell even Venetia, and all will be
settled. I say no I The struggle is on a stage more vast,
the question is otherwise imposing and important. Do we
not see by a certain uneasiness that weighty interests and
a.
supreme crisis are at stake ?
" And what is this new public law which proposes in coin
promise the sale of provinces and of peoples ?
" Why, after selling Venetia, should not Austria be
asked to sell Hungary and Croatia?
"Why should not Russia sell Poland in order to make
her railroad shares rise, and give greater value to her
roubles ? _ _

" Of what value is dignity, or honour, or tradition when
credit is in question ? Sell even the tomb of your fathers,
your escocheon, your old armour, to *make a rise of three
francs, and improve reports.
"Well, then, supposing this baseness accomplished, the
question would not be over; it would hardly be a halt in the
vast movement which is yreparing. The Revolution wants
to remodel the map of Europe; it would not accept, in solu-
tion, even the principle of the purchase of Venetia—this
recurrence to the Middle Ages, when the seigneurs sold
liberty to the communes. If Venetia has a right to her
independence, why force her to buy it ?
"Austria on her part may lose Venetia by the fate of
arms, as she has lost Lombardy. 11l fortune has never die-
honoured a Cabinet or a people; but the day she accepts
that policy of purchase and sale she is disgraced in the eyes
of history, and the question will not be more advanced.
" The year which has just closed is remarkable for two
' important things in a diplomatic point of view.
" It has been a period of agitation and preparation.
" The agitation hasbeen everywhere profound—the pages
of Congress have been torn—hereditary and traditions/
rights destroyed ; defection has received praise, and has been
sometimes raised to a principle ; the geography of treaties
has been singularly modified.
"The revolutionary element is the principle of that se'
tation. It is in veiin that it disguises itself under various
forms—it reveals itself Everywhere. It is impossible either.
to disdain or to disguise it. It lives in the new sYstem "
education and civilization—in the materialism
ofefi sijetihenacet .t]
in the equalizing civil law ; it runs on the railway-1
strikes like the flash of electricity.
"Itis a severe trial for traditional as violent as it IS
contest which is about to conaniAnt4. h dei •
stic of the
decisive ; and this is why the other
year that finishes is preparation.
" Arms are manufactured on both sides ; the spirit of
revolution reveals itself proudly. A certain audacity reigns
which braves all respect for acquired right—for all tradi.
tional possession. The Hungarian legions fraternize with
the Italian and Polish legions. An adventurous breeze
comes from the island of Caprera which will blow a tempest
from the Adriatic to the Vistula.
it is the importance of this strange struggle that the
author of the present paper wishes to point out. He hete
neither the pretension to advise nor to teach ; he has cast w
glance on the year which closed ; he has been enabled to
foresee the necessary facts of the year which commences.
That is his entire work. If he has attempted to indicate
the bases of a transformation and of a solution it is because
they are indispensable, and that we may arrive at them.
God wills not that human difficulties shall be prolonged in-
defmitely. The 19th century has need of its Congress of
Westphalia."

MILITARY TRAINING AT COMMERCIAL SCHOOLS.
—While wandering the other day in Essex over the richly
wooded and lofty country near Buckhurst-hill, we suddenly
came upon some 50 boys in the full enjoyment of military
drill. We learned that twice a week, with their vegetable
leather gaiters, and otherwise accoutred, they start from as
academy near Woodford, officered by Mr. Hopkins, the
principal, and their French and German masters, for a five
or more miles march out to some one of the many of the
lovely and picturesque spots around. A hardy, handsome,
and firmly-knit little band was this, and while ferocious
appetites thus acquired were subdued upon their return
with ample and healthful food, we could not marvel at
hearing that the doctor and his phial crew had been wholly
expelled the school. The love of such training is clearly
natural to us, and the results, under judicious management,
are a lengthened draught upon life when thus drawn esci
accepted at so early a date.—United Service Gazette.