, 1876-07-05

The language of the ST. Petersburg press is
still very excited, ministerial papers leading
the van, and SURPRISING even the Slavophil and
more independent journals. One specimen
from the Gozos will suffice :-
"England's idea of ACHE wing victory without
powder and shot is simply ridiculous. Or is
England bent upon war with Russia In such
a case England had better look out for more
useful allies than Spain, who really is not an
adversary worthy Of our notice but times
have changed since 1853. France, who saved
England in the Crimean War, now ranks fore
most among her adveTsaries. We shall throt-
tie Turkey before the eyes Of England. I'm
less Russia is opposed by other Powers than
Spain and Great Britain she will not allow the
rebellion In the Balkan Peninsula to be put
down"
The ST. Petersburg Herald declares that
there is every prospect of Russia not being d.
verted from her chosen path by Great Britain.
The basis of the policy Of Servia seems to
be that that country, far from having any inter
est in severing the bond existing between her
and Turkey, had on the contrary every interest
In making it stronger and more durable. But
this can only be the case if the evils of malad-
ministrati0n in the neighbouring Turkish Pro-
vinGes of SOlaVOnio tongue DO removed and the
national aspirations Of the South SolaVOnio
race are satisfied. According to this programme
this would be quite easy If the Sultan decided
TO intrust the Government Of these PROVINCES
to Servia. Turkey, far from losing anything
by this arrangement, would be, it is argued,
q clear gamer by 1t. The integrity Of her
territory would be insured. There would be
an end 10 those chronic disturbances which are
such a strain on the resources of Turkey aud
such q danger to her position in Europe. Ser
via would, in proportion to her increase of
territory, pay O. larger tribute, and thus
what is now o source of expenditure would
become q source Of revenue. Time after
time this project has been brought forward
directly or indirectly, without, however, find.
ing much encouragement either in Constan-
tinOple or elsewhere. 1t is not likely that this
project will find more favour now than it has
found before. On the contrary, no moment
could have been worse chosen than the present.
Difficult as 1t was at oil times to make the
Turks accept a solution by which they would
have to give up the full sovereignty over a
considerable portion Of their European posses
8iOns, and to abandon several hundred thousand
Of Mah0medans to their fate, it is more than
ever out Of the question now, when this is to
be proposed, so to say, at the point of the
b%ayOnet. Yet at the point to which things
have come in Servia, it seems difficult to see
how the Prince and his Government can 60
back without being able to show to the nation
some S0rG OF result ODldIuou lOI INC uhdHClai
sacrifices made, the effects Of which Servia is
likely TO feel for years 10 come.
According to accounts from Widdin, the
band of 200 men who, having taken forcible
possession of the Danube Steam Navigation
Company's steamer Thadenrthy, forced the
captain to land them below LON Palauka,
have gone up TO Berkovaton, on the
north slopes of the Balkan, where q pass leads
over to Prot and Sofia, where already another
body of Insurgents was assembled. Their
arms, though of different patterns, are Of
modern construction, and they seem to have
plenty of ammunitiOn, as they can afford ball
practice for their recruits. They are drilling
diligently, and, unless disturbed By the Turks.
do not mean to stir until the Festival of st.
Peter and st. Paul, at the end Of this month,
when they expect q general rising to com
mence north Of the Balkan. They have regular
communications with the Central Committee Of
Bucharest, from which they receive almost
daily their instructions. The Committee has
began to publish a paper-N0gG Bulgaria
which demands for Bulgaria national autonomy
such as Roumania and SerYia have, and pleads
that only the Revolution can bring freedom to
the peoples of Turkey. In Widdin itself and
the neighbourhoOd all is quiet. The works of
the fortress have been attended to, the garrison
has been placed on a war footing, the powder
magazines are filed, and both military and
civil authorities are on their guard. AS regards
the latter, they have more especially their eye