, 1877-08-18

OF tor the present by a statement of the
Russian Agency that the Prince had de-
clared II the meantime all mediation to be
impossible. According to a letter in the
Pohtiscde Correspondents from Bucharest,
the commYniqu6 of the Russian Agency
originated as follows Several days ago
a statement 10 a Vienna Journal, sent from
London, that Prince Bismarck wished to
negotiate between the belIigerents. was
transmitted to Bucharest. After inquiries
as to the truth Of this statement, NJ. de
Poggenphol, Director Of the Agsnce Russs,
Bucharest, was authorized to deny, by the
aforementioned communigu5, the desire
for mediation attributed to Prince Bis
marck. 1t scarcely, however, required
such a commNniqu6 to convince every one
that a politician so eminently practical as
the Prince, and better informed than any
one else OF Russian affairs, would be the
last man to waste his strength, which at
the opportune moment might be of deci-
sive weight. 1t looks, therefore, rather
rs if the con.muaique was meant to reassure
the Russian public, which from these
peace rumourS, might suspect that their
Government had lost heart in the struggle,
and would be Inclined for peace before the
failure of the Russian arms in Asia had
been more than counterbalanced by a
a brilliant success in Europe.
AS regards, however, concluding peace
as soon as a favourable opportunity offers,
both sides may we'll be credited with q
disposition to do so. However confident the
Russians might feel of successfully ending
what they have begun, the gradual mobil-
cation of almost all their army and the
large reinfoEcements pouring to The seat OF
war in Europe and Asia Indicate plainly
enough that they do not underrate the
task they have undertaken, and that they
are we'll aware The struggle will be a hard
one, and one in which the whole military
and political reputation of the Empire is.
at stake. To preserve this requires the tho
rough proslration Of Turkey, and with the
powers OF resistance already displayed by
that country such complete success is not
likely to be soon gained. In these circum-
stances, the disposition may well exist to
seiz3 any convenient opportunity to end
Lon0urably a struggle the Interior COM
plications Of which no one can ~toresee, and
the ~reaciioa from which on Russia hers Elf
cannot well be calculated. On the other
hand. the Turks themselves, notwlthStand-
ing the tcaacity they have sho Nh aud tie
bold front they still show, may be credited
with willingness to come 10 terms and
end a struggle which is simply ruinous to
them. All accounts from them are full
Of the misery and beggary produced by
the enormous e~xertions made, not only in
the countries which form the seat of war
aud its vicinity, but all over the Empire.
On the Mahommcdan population especial
ly. which has to leave house and home, the
strain is telling iearfuIly. Exhausted as
this population may be supposed to have
been by previous levies of men, fresh en-
rolments are being still made In all parts
OF Asia, so that it would almost seen as it
the time hadreturned when men migrated
from the East in nations. At home the
fields are deserted and uncultivated, so that
famine and oil it's c%oncomitant evils may
be 10 store. But more than this, in spite
OF the efforts made by the authorities, It Is
impossible to restrain excuses, and pre-
vent, rs it were, the loosening Of all bonds
which keep society together f; while in the
districts forming the actual scene OF
hostilities the whole struggle is more
aud more assuming the character of a
war of determination on both sides. The