difficulty of building a more scientific and co- sake of which (theoretically) her existence is herent one out of the old materials; -a nat- defended. She holds her fief from the statesural but a most undeniable mistake. men of Europe by a tenure, the conditions of which, in the first hour of need, she is unable to fulfil !

What is wanted is a political arrangement and territorial distribution which shall be selfsupporting and enduring, because in harmony And how can it be otherwise, when we with the laws of justice and the ineradicable consider what her, composition is? She has sentiments and desires of the human mind four or five distinct races, not to say nations, not a system which, being unnatural, needs compressed, but not amalgamated or fused, to be forcibly and externally upheld. What beneath her sway. She rules not over loyal is needed in the south-east of Europe, is a citizens nor quiet subjects, but over subdued power which, being based upon equity, and insurgents. The only attached portions of sustained by affinities and voluntary adhesions, her dominions are Austria proper and the and secure in the affections of its citizens, Tyrol. The Sclaves distrust her; the Magwould be able to pursue a dignified and inde- yars and Italians detest her. It is so long pendent policy, to despise intrigue, to defy since Bohemia was annexed and its constituaggression, and to punish wrong; one which, tional rights suppressed, that some degree of having never been reduced to purchase for- acquiescence has been there at length secured. bearance or to bribe an accomplice, is under But Hungary, which furnishes the best porpo obligation to connive at crime. And tion of her armies, and Lombardy, which supwhat our statesmen accept in lieu of such a plies so considerable a portion of her revenue, power, and vainly dream can perform its both hate her with perfect hatred; and any functions and fill its place, is an empire exist-prospect of a cordial union, and of the strength ing only upon sufferance and by contrivance; arising therefrom, must be a mere chimera 80 whose continued vitality is a very master-long as her system of government remains piece of ingenuity and effort; full of sore unchanged, so long, in fact, as she insists upon places and vulnerable points; too much torn centralized government at all. Her empire, by internal dissensions to have either strength while it is upheld only by force, must be ever or courage for bold external action; conscious on the eve of dissolution; and only by force that its only policy is to play off its adver- can it be upheld, so long as she insists upon saries and rivals against each other, and that reigning despotically over hostile and foreign all its resources being barely adequate to com- nationalities. It is, therefore, manifestly and press and subdue the revolutionary elements logically impossible that the status quo of within, it cannot possibly pursue a daring Austria can ever do, or be, that for the sake course, or exercise a commanding influence in of which alone the other powers of Europe its international relations. Look at its pro- justify it and sustain it. So far, then, statesceedings and position now. It ought, if it men are wrong and patriots are right; and had been competent to discharge the obliga- this country and France, at this moment, in tions of a first-rate power- -a real puissance tacitly assuming and almost avowing that this in the European balance, either to have de- status quo is to be accepted and prolonged, clared for Russia, if it resolved to make the are placing themselves in a false and fettering cause of despotism prosper, and to have bar- position. gained for its own share of the spoil, or to While saying this, however, we are by no have flung its whole weight into the scale of means prepared at once, and by wholesale, to the allies, and thus have maintained the peace endorse the revolutionary demand for the of the world. It did, it dared to do, neither. ['emancipation of discontented nationalities It dared not irreconcilably alienate the Czar, wherever they exist under foreign sway; for because it remembered its obligations to him "nationality " is a somewhat vague term, and

in the suppression of Hungary, and because it some races are too small and feeble to render knew it was too weak and disunited to prevent an independent existence desirable or possible. him, in case of a rupture, from marching to All that we desire and demand, now that this Vienna. It dared not declare against the country is free to adopt sound principles, and western allies, lest they should let loose Italy to eschew false ones; now that the stubborn and Hungary upon the government. Austria hostility of Russia and the subtle infidelity of could not perform those very functions for the Austria have antied our hands; now that we

1

clearly understand from the latter power that chains, and laying down other impediments, to make it nearly impossible for the allies of Turkey to force their way up the narrow strait between the Seraglio point and Scutari. At Sebastopol she may accumulate (as she

she will not yield us that loyal aid in consid-
eration of which alone, our acquiescence in,
and adhesion to, her detestable status quo be-

came permissible or politic, is that we
should at once, and forever, shake ourselves has done) such vast materials of war, she

may there complete in silence, and at leisure, such enormous preparations for conquest, as would defy any resistance that Turkey could make, and might almost set at nought (as we have found to our cost) the most strenuous efforts of the Western Powers. In a word, it is now notorious that Sebastopol has not only been the great arsenal of Southern Russia, but the instrument to which she has always

free from all declarations in favor of "exist-
ing territorial and political arrangements,"
and should hold ourselves at liberty, if cir-
cumstances should render it desirable, to ac-
cept, to countenance, and even to further, any
modifications of these arrangements which
may seem more consonant to justice, more
likely to endure, and more fitted to attain the
great aim that statesmen and patriots ought
alike to have in view, viz. permanent peace looked for the accomplishment of her far-see-
and steady and illimitable progress. What ing projects of ambition and aggrandizement.
these modifications ought to be and may be, It is that without which she is powerless
will be determined by the fortunes of the war, with which she is irresistible. Place it in the
and the circumstances which may arise out hands of a neutral, or a rival, and Turkey is
of it, and the dangers which it may bring to safe from future seizure; restore it to Russia,
light. Every year that the strife continues and nothing but a European war, as sanguin-
will lead us to a clearer comprehension of the ary and as difficult as this, can rescue her vic-
deep-laid projects of Russia, and the extent tim. Restore the Crimea, and you make the
of her means and preparations for carrying contest perpetual, and nearly insure ultimate
them into effect, and the nature of the meas- failure. Russia needs the Crimea, and its..
ares which will be needed to counteract them. magnificent harbor, for no purposes of com-
At present two points only seem to us im- morce, for no peaceful ends, for no designs
perative and clear: The Crimca must, that she can avow. Sebastopol was a vast
under no circumstances and on no conditions, place of arms, and nothing more. She does
be restored to Russia; and her Trans-Cauca- not need it for the defence of her Euxine sea-
sian conquests must be wrested from her. board, — for who would ever dream of attack-
ing her in that quarter, or indeed in any
quarter, unless compelled to do so in self-de-
fence? She can only need it, and she has
only used it, for purposes of aggression and
of menace; if she refuses to resign it, that
refusal is an avowal that those purposes are
still uppermost in her thoughts. The sur-
render of Sebastopol is the only convincing
proof Russia can give us that she has aban-
doned her nefarious designs. Without this,
all her assurances are not worth one mo-
ment's attention.

To give back the Crimea, after we have wrenched it from the grasp of the aggressor, would be to announce to the world, either that we had never been in earnest in our purpose of restraining him, or that we are utterly blind as to the means of doing so. The Crimea commands both the Sea of Azoff and the Euxine. Sebastopol is the only harbor in that stormy and inclement ocean wherein a powerful navy can ride in safety. Whoever holds that, holds actual possession of all the bordering provinces, and can menace them or ravage them at pleasure. As long as Russia The idea entertained by some inconsiderate kept it, she could issue from it during the politicians of restoring it to her under certain fine weather, descend on the coast of Circas- conditions, scarcely needs discussion. A man, sia, Turkey, or Asia Minor, commit any de- whose passions are known to be violent, and vastation or foray that she pleased, and re- whose disposition is known to be aggressive, tire to her stronghold before tidings of her insists upon carrying about with him a deadexpedition had reached the Bosphorus. From ly weapon, with which he has already menit she could at any moment send forth a force aced or struck more than one unoffending sufficient to seize or to destroy Constanti- neighbor. After a hard struggle you wrench nople; and that once done, it would not be it from his grasp what should you think of difficult for her, by sinking vessels, fixing the sense of the bystander who advised you to

It

give it back to him on his promise that he equare mile over to her imbecile rule. would not use it? Would you not say he must not be assigned either to France or Eng was either a fool or an accomplice? What is land, or to any first-rate power, because this the object of the weapon to him if he is not would be a danger to Turkey only second to to use it? What security can he give you that that arising from Russian occupation, and he will not use it? Why should he insist upon because its possession would give an inadhaving it except because he intends to use it? missible predominance in those seas to any In like manner, if you give back to Russia a great nation. It must be in the hands of mighty arsenal within forty-eight hours' sail of some power which cannot use it amiss - which Constantinople of the inheritance of her no one fears- which has and can have no " gick man 99 -do you not surrender the whole sinister or dangerous designs. Sardinia is and consecration of the war? Was such a power. She has deserved well of the purpose not that purpose "to secure the integrity and allies. She has a gallant army- for its independence of the Ottoman empire?" And size about the best in Europe. She is essendo you dream that either can be secure for tially a commercial nation, and will develop one year, with "the standing menace "(as and protect the commerce of the Black Sea. Lord John Russell well called it) in the hands In her hands, Sebastopol may become a vast of their standing foe? And what would be emporium of industry and enterprise. She the worth of any security Russia could offer has an excellent constitution and a liberal in the way of promises or conditions? Sup- tariff. And, above all, she can have no pose she undertook only to keep four ships hopes or wishes of aggrandizement in that of war there. How can you prevent her quarter. She will hold the Crimea in trust building numbers at Nicolaief, and sending for the peace and interest of Europe. Assign them one by one, unarmed and uncommis- it to her under the guarantee of a general sioned, to Sebastopol, there to receive their European treaty; fortify for her the two armanent when needed? How prevent her great roads which connect it with Russia; gradually and secretly accumulating there mil- assist her for a term of years with a subsidy itary and naval stores to any amount? When equal to the expenses in which the possession these are ready, and her day is come, she will involve her, and the "Eastern Ques arms her ships, prepares her transports, stows away her matériel of war: your consul sends you word; you remonstrate; she makes futile excuses to obtain delay; and the whole work is completed before you can even begin to act. Suppose, in the same way, she engaged not to rebuild the fortifications: could you prevent her throwing up earth-works on one pretence or another, and proceeding with them so fast that by the time your correspondence on the subject had led you to prepare for action, they would be finished, and bristling with cannon, and ready to set you at defiance? Do not let us deceive ourselves. Russia will keep no self-restraining promise that we extort from her, except under compulsion; and how can we compel except by the menace or the actuality of war?

The Crimea, then, must never again be in Russian hands. But what are we to do with it? Only one thing can be done. It must not be given to Turkey, for we can have no security that she would be able to keep it against Russian arms, or diplomacy, or gold. Moreover, she governs so ill, that it would be questionable morality to give one additional

tion" will be settled in the most effective, enduring, and economical mode possible. Sardinia would be able to maintain the Crimea against a coup de main; against a deliberate and prolonged war, she would be backed by the common forces of all the parties to the general treaty of pacification.

Nearly the same remarks will apply to the necessity of driving Russia out of Georgia and Armenia - a task which we hope to see performed next summer by the English and Turks. Russia has no business south of the Caucasus, and can have no good object in being there. That vast chain of mountains, inhabited by untameable and warlike tribes of Mahometans, forms her natural boundary. She passed it, and desires to retain her acquisitions south of it, solely for purposes of further territorial aggrandizement or political influence. has two objects in clinging to her Trans-Caucasian possessions, the first to have a road to Constantinople from the east as well as from the north; the second, to get Persia into her power, or under her influence, and through Persia to act upon and stir up the nations that lie between her and our Indian Empire.

She

་

et

For years, almost for generations, the court | recompense the war.

That it would be a

of Teheran has been one of the silent battle- lasting peace we can scarcely anticipate; for
fields between Russia and Great Britain; and it would leave the deepest internal questions
according as the one or the other power pre- as unsettled as ever, and the great battle
vailed, has our north-western frontier in Hin- of European freedom would be still unfought.
dostan been tranquil or disturbed. To Rus-But at least it might be expected to end for
sian intrigue, and the necessity, imminent or an indefinite period wars of territorial aggran-
supposed, of counteracting it, we owe the dizement; and by weakening and baffling
Affghanistan war. As long as our inveterate and compelling to the work of development
rival remains in a position whence she can at home the encroaching and overbearing
harass and command Persia, our Asiatic pos- despotism of Russia, it would assuredly give
sessions can expect little repose. The inter-strength to the cause, and encouragement to
ests of Great Britain and of Turkey alike the champions of progress. Viewed in that
require that Russia should be driven back light, the present war-though waged with
across the Caucasian range.
one despot, against another, in behalf of a
These two modifications of the status quo third-may prove the first campaign of the
would, we incline to believe, give us a secure great contest of civilization and humanity
peace a peace which would justify and which ere long must be brought to issue.

AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS. - Mr. Cobden pro-dren, and to desert which is to throw away his ceeds to argue that the war cannot be popular, career. In England men of mature age can because only boys and not men are enlisted. scarcely even go into the army without leaving Were it popular, he says, grown and experi-occupations and engagements, more lucrative enced men would flock to our standards and en- and generally more attractive, and without ter the ranks. They do so in America. Even abandoning and violating habits which have bethe charity that "believeth all things can come a second nature. Men already settled in scarcely fancy that Mr. Cobden, in alleging life will not join the ranks in England except this parallel, for one moment thought it a fair the country be obviously in danger. In Amerone. Why do men flock in thousands to the ica they join from pure desire of change, passion ranks in America when a war breaks out or a for adventure, or prospect of gain. — Econofillibustering expedition is projected? For two mist, 10 November. reasons both well known to Mr. Cobden :Because these men, entirely independent of any consideration for the object of the war, are atTALKING AND READING.-Nothing is better tracted by the love of adventure and the hope than conversation as a corrective of self-sufficienof plunder; - and because the United States cy. In educated conversation a man soon finds contains many thousands of men leading the life his level. He learns more truly than from books, of hunters and pioneers, to whom war is scarce- in converse with living men, to estimate his powly a change of occupation and not at all a change ers modestly and justly. A book is passive: it of habit; thousands with no settled peaceful does not repel pretension; it does not rebuke calling; thousands to whose restless and adven- vanity. Indeed, reading and study become to If some perturous disposition a settled peaceful calling many but the nurture of conceit. speedily becomes wearisome, and who long for sons value themselves on the books they own, it war as bringing change and excitement; thou- is not surprising that others should value themsands who always live rifle on shoulder and axe selves on the books they read. As knowledge in hand, with no ties, with no wealth but their grows on the thoughts in books, so pedantry buffalo cloak and their ammunition, and accus- feeds on their words, and is proud, poor, lean, tomed from infancy to war with the wilderness and solitary. In conversation, a man is not long and its inhabitants. We have few or none such in discovering that he alone does not know everyhere. In England nearly every man has his thing, and that, though he were to die, wisdom trade or his handicraft, by which he earns his would not perish with him. The Yarwood bread, by which he supports his wife and chil- Papers.

From the Athenæum.

The Ballads of Ireland. Collected and Edited by Edward Hayes. 2 vols. Fullarton & Co.

MR. HAYES remarks, that the struggle between tongues and creeds in Ireland has "ceased only in our own times," and he appears to think that men have, in consequence, ample leisure to peruse the ballad literature of Erin's ever-continuing singing season. It is a pleasant idea, and we only regret that Mr. Hayes has not done all that might have been effected towards so pleasant a realization. In an epoch of reconciliation, however, he contrives to disturb harmony instead of promoting it, and after some unnecessary, because bitter, remarks in his Introduction, he "disclaims any intention of exciting animosity or old jealousies by them!" He looks a very mixed company in the face, professes to be the friend of all, offers to sing them songs that shall put them all in good humor, and then-with many that are pretty, many that are touching, and many that are spirited, a few that are witty, and an endless number that are dull,he gives his company a collection of ditties admirably calculated to set them by the ears. The Ephori cut two or three strings from the lyre in order to make it more simple, and they only rendered it tuneless. Mr. Hayes gives a score or two more of songs than prudence might have suggested, and, calculating upon a skrimmage" accordingly, tries to prove himself harmless by pleading innocency of purpose.

the Empire generally, a tuneful delight. The are out of place at a time when, as Mr. Hayes himself remarks, the tide of improve ment and social amelioration has set in.

Their day will come; and a century hence an English Princess Royal may sing them with as much spirit as accompanies the name of "Charlie" on the piano at Balmoral.

Of the ancient, but now harmless, polit ical ballads, Mr. Hayes pertinently remarks

that.

"There is one serious drawback observable in

the strains of these ancient bards, and a glance at the titles of their productions will render it apparent. Their sympathies were more factious than Irish, more clannish than national. Not that they loved Ireland less, but that they loved their Sept more. We have appeals to the O'Neils and the O'Donnels of the North, to the O'Briens and M'Carthys of the South, to the O'Moores and O'Byrnes of the East, to the O'Connors and O'Rourkes of the West; but, unfortunately, seldom an appeal to the spirit and energies of universal Ireland."

From an Editor who judges so correctly of the past we should have expected more discretion touching the ballad literature, that is, the political ballad literature of the present day. There is a difference between reading history and "living history, 38 Walpole called it. In the former, we are of no party; in the latter, we are full of party sympathies. We can sing of Mac Murragh with some degree of pity for his uncomfortable state

when the hand of Death found him, With his Maidens and Kerns and Fileas around him;

The Emerald garden set apart for Irishmen by
God;

He has been embarrassed by his materials, and, despising selection, he has published two volumes wherein there is much to offend, but we have no sympathy with the minstrel when he might have furnished one that would or admiration of his logic when in '48 he have been read by all parties with delight. sings the praises of that good King Louis " "The Ballads of Ireland" should not have the Fifteenth; be-rhymes us on this side of included those fiery rhymes of the politicians Ireland, in an exclusive Japanese sort of the water as "Sassenach serfs; describes of the "vitriol" school, which not very gently hint and do very seductively illustrate sentiment, as rebellion; nor even the very few and very vapid Orange lays which sing of glorious marches in measures that continually halt. or when, with a license that cannot be The songs, in fact, of certain modern authors, allowed even to poetry, America is emphatthat cannot be read but in connection with ically lauded because in that favored land, at events still recent, are not yet a part of the least, slavery cannot exist. How unfit some Literature of Ireland: they are still nothing of these lyric politicians were to lead a party more than the broken weapons which have is betrayed at page 31 of the first volume, in fallen from imprudent hands. Mr. Hayes, the memoir of one of the political minstrels, too, quite misjudges English readers when he who, like many another child of song, hopes that rhymes flung at their country in drank long and deeply," and who ended a an insulting tone can at all affect them. No" vagrant and dissipated" existence in one people read abuse of themselves or their of the public hospitals in Dublin. This uninstitutions with greater indifference than the happy poet's practice was as opposite to English. We have Irish readers chiefly in view; for them the songs of the Nation cannot yet be what the Scottish Jacobite lays have become for Scotland, and indeed for

precept as the Editor's own conclusions are wide of the truth, when he says of the journal in which the violent party-rhymes of the period found circulation, that

its