The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-08
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE.


LONDON, august Is, 1853.
Nations do not love each other There are
no ties of the affections to bind them together
as with individuals; and the greatest services
when performed. fall almost instantly within
the rule which proscribes gratitude, and must
try the question Of today by the interests OF
to day, and all contingent relations by the cal.
culat,ons on the future. Ii is thus we find, al
u crisis like the present, that the events of the
past appear to have such slight and inmate
rial influence, and that, as regards the course
of things, the positions have very much resem-
bled those in country dance, where though
two partners lead off together in the fastest lock
there will be plenty of turnings round, crossing
hands, cutting shutting and even changing
partners, before any couple can get to the end,
or the figure be danced out into any degree OF
regularity and repose.
The march" Of affairs in the East has af-
forded as remarkable an example of this spe-
cies of gyration as is often witnessed where
such ponderous parties occupy the floor of the
political ball room. Russia had saved Austria
In Hungary, and Austria had not only little
business on hand in Italy, but a tiff with the
Porte on account of che asylum afforded to
Kossuth with, as alleged, the imperial diadem
in his yallse and his compatriot refugees-not
to mention the Montenegro dispute and abso.
lutte collision. Between Russia and Prussia
there existed the best understanding and Prus.
sian jealousies could be but in the least degree
excited by operations about the mouth of the
Danube and the Dardanelles. Above all, there
was strong impression that France and Eng
land could not coalesce for common object,
al L. Ia L.
tween two Governments whose views must soon-
er or later diverge, if not clash-whose national
enmity was the tradition of seven hundred
years, and whose systems represented the most
stringent despotism and the freest popular in.
stitutions. Surely the time was propitIous, and
M. Layalette's surreptitious move relative to
the Latin shrines in Palestine furnished the
opportunity for "agitating, agtating;" of
which the Emperor Nicholas speedily availed
himself
The most extraordinary feature in the sequel
is the proof it affords of the determined and
Interchangeable aggressive policy Of Russia
overriding all other considerations, and peril
ing the peace of Europe and the destinies of
the Empire, the moment speculative concur
renee Of circumstances seemed to open the way
to tho accomplishment of this vast ambition /;
for up to this period the world could not exhibit
an observer of treaties, conservator of peace,
land a stickler for the balance of power, more
Jealous and consistent than the Car IL must
therefore have been a deep concern to induce
him. as it were In moment of frenzy, to throw
all this eminent character to the winds, and
let loose the grand Muscovite secret that uni
versal dominion is in reality as much the de-
sign of the Russian Government as ever it was
of Timor Bey or Napoleon Bonaparte The
lesson is read to the whole continent-do not
deceive yourselves; the Bear must be muzzled,
or it will infallibly trample down the rights of
nations, and destroy the liberties Of every
people.
What but this stern conviction and prospect
of a common danger could have cooled down
the friendship Of Prussia, alarmed the fears and
concluded the gratitude of Austria, and made
France and England as one man, resolutc to
resist this insolent violation of every principle
of truth, justice, and honor-almost more dis
graced by the paltriness of its excuses, than by
the intrinsic infamy of its measures and aim
The eruption will, it now appears certain, be
salved over for the nonce, and things be ar
ranged to return pretty nearly to their former
condition. But will no securities be taken for
the future, and all left to chance and accident.
al contingencies 1t is clear that Russia can
not be trusted, whenever opportunity occurs to
tempt her on the same path again. independ-
emily of the evidence of the last six months, we
can cite the opinion of one of the most distin.
guished statesmen of the age, member of the
English Cabinet and one who has had the
greatest experience of diplomatic intercourse
with the Emperor Nicholas, and who declares
of that sovereign, personally, that during a
number of years he never had to treat with an
individual who so frankly, so consistently and
30 rcsolutely maintained the necessity for the
strict Observance of every engagement on which
the stability Of the European compact and the
continuance OF peace depended. He from his
knowledge Of human nature, could not conceive
the possibility Of the utter change which had
plunged the Car into the course 30 directly
and fatally opposite.
From such an authority, the highest that
could be appealed to, the enunciation of such
fact could not fail to give rise to curious re-
Elections. The supposition of an entire reyul-
sion of sentiments, and consequent adoption of
suicidal policy, could hardly meet the requi-
sites of the case. Whence, then, the reaction
We could but surmise one cause and it seems
to us to bear most forcibly on the late proceed.
ings, and on the conviction we must all feel
that the pursuit of Russian aggrandzement,
per faS ant nefas, does not depend upon the
idea or will of the ruler, but is constant to
be wrought out from o settled principle and
by an unseen power behind the throne and
far stronger than its occupant, no matter how
stern and determined his character may be.
And il this be the secret of an irresistible in
luence, it may be we'll worth our inquiry,
What are likely to be the results of the de-
al Tboft ka Il
GRAFTON of the four great Powers, in endeavor-
ing to make golden bridge for the retreat of
the Gar may have an important effect ON his
have gone back step without it, is not i'm
probable-but even with this smoothing of diff
iculties, we would not venture too sanguine
prophecy that the Russian sovereignty and en-
pre would not soon have reason to lament that
ever the bigoted and fanatic spirit OF blind
and fanatic religion was stirred from its inmost
depths to abet an atrocious political crime!
The Indian and Chinese news assumes more
definite form by every arrival The former has
been happily removed out of the atmosphere of
conjecture and censure, by the conclusion of
the war, after Burmese sort Of fashion, and
the proclamation of peace, with the annexa-
ton Of Pcgu, by the British commander, Prone
and Mead-day are ceded to the protecting out
posts Of the Peguan frontier, and the Irawaddy
has had its navigation thrown open to COM
mcrce, the obstruction Of which, even more
than deeds Of arms, appears to have led to the
consummation by all parties deyoutly to be
wished; for the invaders were suffering great
mortality from the diseases of the climate, and
the natives were pertaining from starvation,
their supplies Of rice being cut of by cur pos
session of the river
The Chinese intelligence serves to confirm
our preceding letter. The captors of Annoy
are described to belong to the Small knife So
ciety-a body or sect apparently different from
the now called Christian insurreotion under
Tien-Tai, who assumes TO have received a d.
vine mission. Nearly all the southern parts