Greatness of the Struggle-Interests involved.

243

that the present war with Russia is likely to be the parallel to the great wars of our forefathers with Spain under Philip II., and with France under Louis XIV. One power has become monstrously inordinate, menacing the independence of all its neighbours. How to impose safe and reasonable limits on that power has come to be the great question, to which all other questions should be for the time subordinate. Philip and Louis disdained the thought of concession. Not a few of their possessions had been ill-gained, and were as ill-used, but their honour, as they said, was involved in retaining possession of them to the last acre. This high talk, however, availed little. The allies of those days took it at its proper value. They made the enemy disgorge province after province, and in the end reduced his domains to comparatively harmless limits. It remains to be seen whether the allies of our day are men of the same metal; or whether it be indeed true, that the enervating influences of a long peace have disqualified us for the work which Providence would seem to have assigned to our hands. The past, however, gives us every reason to hope for the future. For aught we know, before this day six months Poland may be in revolt from end to end; or the fate of the army under Prince Gortschakoff may have given a new aspect to the whole question. One of the most trustworthy of our journals says:

'Whatever may be the indirect attempts made to terminate hostilities, there will not be the least cessation on the part of our English Government of the, we may say, gigantic preparations now on foot for the ensuing campaign. If the Emperor of Russia could be brought to a full appreciation of those preparations, we should indeed have hopes of peace. We some time ago showed that with the spring of 1856 England would be represented in the Crimea by an army of more than 70,000 fighting men, in admirable condition; and we believe that estimate will turn out to be a good deal too moderate. She will be represented in the Baltic by a fleet of not far short of 250 vessels, of which by far the greater portion are being specially constructed for the service required of them. We are no longer experimentalizing. We are no longer apprentices in the art of war; and in 1856, for the first time in this conflict, will the strong right hand of England be raised to strike with her own proper vigour. Our allies are acting as becomes the greatness of the contest. As far as human calculations go, we see nothing but— we say it deliberately-appalling disasters to Russia. It is entirely for Russia to avoid or invite these disasters.'-Globe, Dec. 7.

One thing at least should be certain-cost what it may, Great Britain must come forth from this trial of her strength with her prestige untarnished. The hundred millions of the human race who depend on us for their comparative safety and happiness

To

must see no reason to suspect that the time for such dependence has passed away, or is likely to pass away. If war for the space of a generation were needed to prevent such a calamity to the race, we should say-on the ground of humanity-let that war come. With the good help of our righteous God this Old England of ours shall ride out the storm, and be still herself. She has more of human happiness entrusted to her keeping than any power on earth; and with all her faults, there is more of good for the world in her influence, than in the influence of any other power under heaven. If men will ask the foolish question-what is to become of England? we answer, she is to be Old England still, brave as ever, and strong as ever, over east and west, north and south. The Christian leaven lodged in her heart will still be as the salt, conserving social health and political greatness. secure this great end, to guard the mighty interests involved in it, and to save Europe herself from a threatened serfdomthis is the object of the present struggle. And most Christian is the sympathy which Christian men have shown towards this object. They deplore the suffering inflicted, but they cannot be insensible to the suffering which has been prevented, and could be prevented only by such means-nor to the happiness which such means only can ensure. Most humane and Christian do we deem the stand made in those Eastern lands. What we here write, we write under the eye of that All-seeing One from whom the sacred name we bear has come, and in full prospect of the retributions he will dispense to every one of us. To Him we offer our own daily prayer, that the right in this most righteous cause may prevail. To our soldiers, as pledged to resist the oppressions with which Europe has been menaced by Russia, we would say, in the language of the devout and eloquent Robert Hall, addressed to men armed for the protection of the liberty of nations when menaced by France: It remains with you to 'decide whether that freedom, at whose voice the kingdoms of Europe awoke from the sleep of ages, to run a career of virtuous ' emulation in everything great and good; the freedom which dispelled the mists of superstition, and invited the nations to behold their God; whose magic touch kindled the rays of 'genius, the enthusiasm of poetry, and the flame of eloquence; the freedom which poured into our lap opulence and arts, and embellished life with innumerable institutions and im'provements, till it became a theatre of wonders; it is for you 'to decide whether this freedom shall yet survive, or be covered 'with a funeral pall, and wrapt in eternal gloom. I cannot but 'imagine the virtuous heroes, legislators, and patriots, of every age and country, are bending from their elevated seats to

'witness this contest, as if they were incapable, until it be 'brought to a favourable issue, of enjoying their eternal repose. Enjoy that repose, illustrious immortals! Your mantle fell when you ascended; and thousands, inflamed with your spirit, and impatient to tread in your steps, are ready to swear by Him that sitteth upon the throne, and liveth for ever and ever, they 'will protect freedom in her last asylum, and never desert that cause which you sustained by your labours, and cemented with your blood. And thou, sole Ruler among the children of men, to whom the shields of the earth belong, gird on thy sword, thou 'Most Mighty, go forth with our hosts in the day of battle! Impart, in addition to their hereditary valour, that confidence of success which springs from thy presence! Pour into their hearts 'the spirit of departed heroes! Inspire them with thine own; and while led by thine hand, and fighting under thy banner, 'open thou their eyes to behold in every valley, and every plain, 'what the prophet beheld by the same illumination-chariots ' of fire and horses of fire! Then shall the strong men be as 'tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn ' together, and none shall quench them.'*

* Works. Vol. I. Sentiments proper to the Present Crisis.

OUR EPILOGUE

ON

AFFAIRS.

THE great fact in continental politics during the last quarter, apart from the war, is the Concordat between Rome and Austria. The meddling and rule of a foreign priest to which the house of Hapsburg has submitted, is such as our own Plantagenets would have spurned four centuries since. So slow-so very slow is society in developing its supposed law of progress. But empires have two stages of weakness-before they reach their greatness, and when they have outlived it.

Cardinal Wiseman has been described by a very sober journalist as a great bruiser.' His Eminence has been attempting to bruise Lord John Russell for presuming to speak of the church of Rome as a persecuting church; and, Samson like, to bruise a host of enemies besides for presuming to censure this Concordat. One line would suffice to say-all penalty on opinion is unreasonable and unjust. Will the church of Rome say that? Will the Cardinal himself say that? Never. As to the Concordat, the Cardinal would no doubt be pleased to see a similar compact made with England, and our relations with the Papacy more such as they were in the times of King John than such as they are at present.

In the coming session our pro-Russian orators are likely to be the great talkers. But our Government must deal with such talking more thoroughly than heretofore. The nation may see through its sophistries and fallacies at a glance, but they expect to see that the Government, and the Parliament generally, are not less awake. The truly earnest man cannot be a silent man. When we have called to mind the host of things which might have been said, and ought to have been said, in reply to such oratory, but which were not said, our vexation, we must confess, has been deep, and our patience sorely tried.

While we write, the news comes of the fall of Kars. In our last number (261, 262) we pointed to the probability of this event, and to the uses which Russia would not fail to make of it. Deeply do we regret that our impression has proved to be prophetic. But it is climate and famine, not Russian skill or courage, that has triumphed. Proposals of peace, it seems, have gone to St. Petersburg. When we know what they are, we may find occasion for saying what we think of them. Amidst the din of war, the English Nonconformists are meditating a spirited campaign in the field of domestic politics. Measures will be taken, it appears, to strengthen liberal constituencies; to put an end to church-rates; to further University Reform; and to deal with the question of religious endowments as affecting Ireland on a broad and general basis.

OUR EPILOGUE

ON

BOOKS.

LITERATURE.

Two Summer Cruises with the Baltic Fleet, 1854-5, being the Log of the Pet Yacht. By the REV. ROBERT E. HUGHES, M.A., Fellow of Magdalen College, Cambridge. Smith, Elder, and Co.-Mr. Hughes is, it appears, a clergyman and an M.A. of Cambridge, and on the 14th of July, 1854, he sailed in the Pet from Lowestoft, we believe in his native county, for the Baltic; the Pet he describes as of eight tons, about as long as a moderate sized drawing-room, and scarcely so wide as a four-post bed. People told him he would be drowned, caught by the Russians, hanged as a spy, or otherwise come to an untimely end; but the reverend reefer and steerer could see no reason why the seas should roll more heavily, or the gales blow more violently in the tideless Baltic than they do in the chops of the Channel or the Irish Sea; and as the Pet had carried Mr. Hughes in safety round the English coasts, he determined to trust to Providence and to go out to see the battle. Two seamen were accordingly shipped at Southampton; one, William Shelley, a smart sailor-like fellow, who could heave the lead, and reef and steer; the other, Ned Dawson, who could neither read nor write, to whom the compass was a mystery, and the chart an unknown land, but who was bold and hardy, and loved a timely joke. The cabin of the eight-ton yacht was ten feet long, and fitted with every possible locker and cupboard. Rolls of charts, spy glasses, and twenty pet volumes were not wanting, and these luxuries were shared by Mr. Hughes with a younger brother, who had never been to sea before, so that they were four souls in all, two officers and two men. At length Mr. Hughes was fairly off, and his first land-fall was the hill of Camperdown, off which Admiral Duncan defeated De Winter, and captured nine of his line-of-battle ships and a brace of frigates. The uninteresting coast of Friesland, from the Texel to the Jahde, is described in a short sketchy manner by our cruiser, who appears to have his weather eye open to all within his horizon. On Tuesday, the 18th July, Mr. Hughes reached the mouth of the Eider, and proceeded with a fine fair wind flying up to Tonning. The English are a great nation," said the pilot who boarded the Pet off Tonning- I have seen many Englishmen, and the great Mr. Pitt.'

'The deuce you have,' said the men of the Pet; 'why he has been dead these fifty years.' 'Not a bit of it,' said the Pilot; I did pilot