The Portland daily press., 1880-12-06
Gladstone's Enchantress.
The Fair Nine. Novikoff, the Missionary
OF Philo-Slavism in England.
From the Hamburg orre,pondent1

From the Hamburg Core pondent.l
More than half century ago the large share
certain lady had in bringing about total
change In the sentiments of the London Cabi-
net, which till then had always been friendly
to the Turks, was common topic of remark
on the continent. In Europe at that time the
number of political newspapers and periodi-
Gals was probably not tenth of what it is in
our day, and the comparatively few political
papers oil that day were under restrictions and
bound by considerations that now seem ill.,
credible. But in the years from 1925 to 1884 it
would be difficult TO find anybody who had moi
heard of the Princess Dorothea L!even, and #
the skill and address with which that lady con-
trived to conciliate the sympathies of the Brit
lsh aristocracy Tor the cause of Greek indepen-
denc and thus 10 influence the attitude OF
the London Cabinet in this portion of its for
eign loIcy.
I day similar drama is being played-onI,
SO to speak, behind the scenes. Not, indeed,
iu the exclusive drawing rooms of the higher
nobility, but III sdonS more or less accessible to
the press-in fact, in the press itself.
womaI% skillful hand is performing delicate
political task, and the name of the performer
Is, nevertheless, known to very few people.
Have you never heard of Nine. Novikoff, the
Intimate friend of the Gladstone family Tn.
prophecies OF Phlo-Slavism of England,
the writer Of a number of art c,es advo
eating the Russo-Eng sh alliance winch a,,-
peaied III Frasers Magazine and other publi
Cations OF similar tendencies? This lady. tn.
vile OF Russian General and sister-iil-iaw oi
the husslan Ambassador in Constamtlnople,
(formery III Nienna) has claims to European
tflf fLs,S6 ri,
Princess Lleven. For a couple of years or 50
past Mne. Novikoff has been constantly to bs
found hanging Oh the skirts, so to speak OF
the pi esent British Premier-alwaSs i'll his
company or not far away. Mime. Noyikotf
has known how 10 play OH the religious side OF
Mr.: Gladstones Character, and TO inspire him
with warm Interest i'll the Greek church ami
IN the dream OF a future union between Amerl-
Can and U lenial Christianity. And 1t Is
mainly to the skill with which that Iady has
woik, On his feelings that the noted states
man b. lie es Ill the possibility of realizing "a
Balkan olavonlc cOnfederat. on, independent
alike of Russia and Austria 1t was on this
foundation, iald only after some years OF int-
maze Intercourse, that the federation project
was erected whereby 50 fancful a character
has been Impaired to the Gladstone policy.
1t Is, however, not only the leader OF the ad-
vanced Wings, but also numbers of Tie friends
and adherents OF Mr.. Gladstone, who have
been seduced by the siren songs of the lady
missionary of Pnilo Slavism. From her tbe,
have caught the warmth and religious enthu-
slasn ol her NJ ScOw friends for their religious
brethren in the East, and the political dis,llter-
este dness oi the Slavophi.s dwelling on th,
banks v1 The Moskva. Mime. NovIkuff's des-
criptiohs Of the true tendencies Of the Aksa
koH and hls friends were tempted with th.
most delicate tact To meet the prejudices and
pecaliarities OF British churchuien and sect.
rians AT the Same time, with Sir Charles
Dixie and other ecclesiastical people si.
showed herself tUuallv SkilIfuI aud
quent III the emploS ment of the laiiyuage .f
this worlu and oi their common poiitic,i
faith. During the whole of last winter ,h.
pen oil this taiented lady was actively engaged
IN The service Of the wings i'll their electisrsar
ing agitation. Thret -fourIhs Of the attacke
directed against The Beacousfeld eastern noicv
anu against the representations contained i,
the work entitled "Russia Before and f,ar
Tie war" are 10 be traced 10 this Iadys initia.
tive or to her influence, not to sneak of tha
numerous letters She addressed durino Clad
st"he elect, raj campaign to all the Journals
10 whose Columns she had access
Bu. IL was not only BRUSH. but likewise
Russian preJudices that Mme. Nuvikoff had to
ish against the Austro- German alliance was II,
succeed. The Muscuvlte of the penuina old
stamp had ION time immemorial been accus-
toned 10 loo. on all English political nartiss
IN The same light. He hates them ali. without
uis'inction. ferndious hereticaI Albion and
~, Wlfhnut
NJ Station aud without di i-crimination. These
husslan .lingoes, therefore, the lady had like
wise 10 viii over, and this she did by letters adj
dressed to The Moscow Gazette and other Rms
san s, papers. She taught them that not ali
ti, Dii.ohs heid the same views as Lord Beacons-
neId. She male them understand that even
beyond the German ocean there are still good
Christians to be found, and that even among
the heretics there were disinterested friends Of
ti Ihe orthodox church of the East, and that
De0nlA li,ybf h<.o ,,.l
won over to the good and common cause of
Russia. After the Euglish elections of April.
TINS year, the two ends of this net which had
oeeh woven with so much delicate address and
Industry were Carefully made fast upon the
pahhs oi tne Moskva aud of the Thames. The
only question now is how long this net will
mold and how long the English Slavophils
VINO have bee1 caught in il will deny their
true nature and char cter sufficiently to pre-
serve the credit and the confidence of their