The New York herald., 1873-12-06
RUSSIA IN ASIA.
"An Englishman" Gives His
Opinion on the Subject.
THE BASIS OF ENGLISH POWER.

Central Asia narrating the progress OF Russian
power towards Khiva. i happen to know some
thing OF the questions involved in these campaigns
and hope you will allow me to communicate some
views to the HERALD that may not be altogether
unworthy OF interest at this time. Every now and
then. perhaps once in 20 years or So an ignorant
young Englishman with an active mind, in British
India looks about for means OF distinguishing him.
self. The thing before him Is NOT an easy thing to
DO for he has many competitors, educated by high
PRESSURE on the competitive system, who have
active minds also. But commonly the difference
existing between him and them Is nis:-The highly
educated Englishmen are more or less throttled
by their education, and cannot move freely
by reason OF the chain and collar which
learning has fastened around their necks. But the
Englishman who has merely an active mind, and
is senderly held by his teachers which are, posi-
bly,, penny papers, can dance about in all the des0
sate freedom Of the wild ass The only subject Of
consideration for him is the manner and direction
in which he shall begin his jig Indian finance
NJ dreary ground to dance upon. The Temples,
the Laings, the Hoggs and the permanent persons,
upon whom has descended The mantle Of the late
Mr. Wilson, halter and politician, will promptly
warn HIM or from trespassing upon preserves
which are their private property. Sanitary ques-
tiOns used up, too, and besdes they belong
exclusively to Lord Derby. Indian government
might be an attractive subject, but every one who
is well informed must be aware that IL has been
appropriated by Sir John Kaye What on EARTH
therefore, is an active minded young man to do for
reputation? Suppose he has a 90 in at Russia
Few people know much about Russia Russia mas
no friends, and may be, therefore, scolded safely
II the active minded young man makes few blun-
ders In his politics or geography he VIII not be
found out BY all means let him have a go in at
Russia.
Then out comes hot-pressed book, in which the
active minded young man has the talk all to him.
sell, and lthe Lord be praised y he makes the hair
Of all the old English ladies' retired from British
Indian domestic service at boarding houses in
Bath or Chcltenham to stand upon an end.
"Russia,n says the active minded young man,
having had private consultation with dictionaries,
'ls mighty Power, astute, unsuitable, patient,
res0lute That vast Empire, which stretches" &C.,
&c. And then, after the inevitable passage about
Peter the Great, Potemkin and the Empress Catha-
rine British Indian mankind is informed that
"Russa'' viii be in Calcutta within 20 years
unless he, the active minded young man, is imme-
diately elevated to post Of authority and emOlu-
ment Nine times out OF ten the British Indians
who feel nervous anxiety about their hold upon
Indian things which do not belong to them, get
frightened and give the active minded young man
the emOlument of which he Is in search Sir John
Kaye AMI many other distinguished Anglo Indians
rose into celebrity tina way, and 1t has several ad
vantages. A dig at Russia makes all the military
men cock their ears They know that il a Russian
panic sets in, there will be special military mis-
SONS to Persia, Herat Cabool and Candahar.
Then there will be frontier commissions, secret
agencies and all sorts of appointments, which
offer honest means OIL advancement to the British
soldier who has friends in council. Likewise the
Tl0hfH Hnp ba Co IA hon lar
tradel would not be sorry to see an indian SIX
per cent loan III the market, and to gather renown
and profits together before the expiration OF h,s
term OF Ofice. The hot-pressed book OF the active
minded young man is a success because 1t suits
the secret wishes OF the whole community OF which
he is MEMBER for If "Russia" is really coming to
Calcdtta it is high time for Calcutta TO take pre-
cautionary measures not unconnected with rupees
and brevet rank.
The English newspapers which have the largest
Indian Circulati0n-the Pau Mall Gazette the
Standard and, a long way behind, the Times, take
up the Russian subject, review the active minded
young mans book and publish leading articles
upon it. The Indian ONCE, with the Duke OF
Argyll tmuch occupied by the genealogy OF the
CampDells at It's head, and the War once, pre-
sided over by that famous hero. Mr.. Cardwell, now
feel strong interest in the business, and pres
emily a Moscow tea dealer is discovered in Cash
mere suspected to be a spy OF the st. Petersburg
Cabinet, and the snug nest Of elderly gentlemen
who compose the Royal Asatc Society and the
Oriental Club decide which OF them shall go out as
commander-in-chief OF the reiniorcements about
10 be despatched against mud village in the
Punjab, where a row has been stirred up Mean
time the Cabinet OF st. Petersburg is chiefly
occupied in procaiming the excellence or
Adelina Patti, and has no more thought OF
British India than OF Utopia The Ministers
are generally brilliant, talkative men, who
have acquired all they know care Of states
manshIp from voltaire's novels. They drink
good deal OF tea, in tumbers. with rum and
lemon in 1t, so that it is rather punch than tea,
and they pay visits to each others wives from
morning to night. The Court, indeed, is very
august assembly. The Czar plays cards in his
shirt sleeves with few cheerful friends, and drinks
champagne seated astradde on chair. The
Empress takes tea and talk with the superior
clergy. But neither OF them trouble themselves
much respecting exploded schemes Of antiquated
statecraft No Minister or courtier. no Russian
human being has anything to gain by war in the
East, and therefore the minds OF none of them are
concerned with 1t. Prince Gortschakon is truly
magnioquent parsonage, who uses long and sono-
words but nothing comes, or is intended TO
come, Of them. There is. too, an elderly gentle
woman knOWH az tne countess AnUOlnette, wnO Is
fond playing at female politics. When she and the
select society round the Empress tea table think
inat 1t would enliven them to do something an ami
mated conversation takes place, with chorus OF
bishops and archbishops, exaltlng tire orthodox
faith, and there IS Khvan expedition, or an in
teresting despatch affecting the patriarchate OF
Jerusalem s sent of to disturb the OF General
IQnatef at Constantinople.
None OF these august persons know anything
abcnt British India, except in vague manner,
such as that in which they know about twoheadcd
hobgoblins. But a quiet observer, who may be met
with occasionally altogether out of the oficial
hunt win smile II the notion Of Russian conquest
10 mentioned in his presence. RUSSIA" he will or
may say ''s too large already. Her Baltic prov.
inces, her Polish provinces are dscontentcd and
she VIII have hard task to protect herself against
war with Germany and revolution in Poland. Her
H. l IN LIZ