.

Sometime perhaps and we would fain sideration which has lately been obtruded hope at no very distant day-we may have into the Eastern question, with an intention reached such a point of enlightenment that which is but too manifest. We are reminded the dissentients in every land and from every ostentatiously that the Russians are Chriscreed shall by common consent be placed tians, and that the Turks are "Unbelievers." under the ægis of the joint civilization of the We cannot do better than refer to the answer world; when religious persecution shall be which this reminder recently received in one held a crime against humanity, and like pi- of the few publications that has been uniracy, cognizable by the universal law of na- formly consistent on this subject. Such tions; when interposition to prevent any language (it was said)-especially when man from being molested for his creed shall taken in relation to the inference it is be a recognised right, provided for by treaty meant to suggest-can scarcely be regretted and sanctioned by the general conscience of or deprecated too earnestly. We know by the world-just as remonstrance against long and sad experience that few things can unnatural and horrible barbarities might be be more disastrous than the introduction of now. But till we have reached this point, religious animosities into political discusand till we are prepared to carry out in all sions. That religious principles should precountries the same just and humane princi- side over all our deliberations, and that reple, we can admit no religious plea for Rus- ligious sentiment should pervade and imbue sian interference with the subject of Turkey the mind of every statesman as of every that would be denied and resented if put citizen, is a maxim which cannot be too forward by Spain on behalf of Irish Catho- strongly stated or too rigidly adhered to; lies, or by England on behalf of Tuscan but that sectarian sympathies or antipathies Protestants. should be permitted thus to influence our Nor can we allow any weight to a con- national actions or our foreign policy, is a proposition which cannot for one moment of revealed religion; the other is the worship of a be defended. It is long since these considerIn the official Church of Russia the Czar is ations have guided either our wars or our 'vicegerent of God on earth,' and as such is the object diplomacy; and to put them forward now the vitals of the Russian empire is religious dissent, is to risk throwing us back whole centuries originating in this sacrilege. The Non-Conformists in civilization. There is nothing which so maintain the original faith, such as it was when the effectually clouds the judgment, heats the

man.

of FAITH and WORSHIP. The disease that preys on

Russian Church was in communion with that of

Constantinople. The only name they give them- passions, disturbs the vision, and perverts selves is that of Old Believers (in Russian, Staro- the morality of men and nations, as the invistzé); they are therefore identified with the 12,000,- troduction of sympathies and antipathies of 000, or 13,000,000, of Christian subjects of the Porte of creed into discussions which ought to be in Europe; they are objects of the most bitter persecu decided on the broad grounds of justice, and tions on the part of the Russian Government; and

the familiar term which they apply to the Emperor the simple dictates of duty and of honour. is Antichrist.' Were there no Mussulmans in It is difficult enough even now to see clearly Europe, and were Russia free to extend her dominion what ought to be our course in the present to the Ionian Sea, we should find her at once engaged

Russia in the South and West.

in the most furious of religious wars with old subjects accumulation of confusions: if we once allow and new, amounting to 20,000,000."-Progress of the recollection that our allies are Mahometans, and that our enemies call themselves If any one desires to know how invariably "the Christians, to enter on the stage, it will soon protection of their brethren in the faith" has been made the pretext for Russian encroachments on the become impossible to see our way at all. liberties of neighbouring States, we recommend him In the first place, it is not true, in the to read the "Declaration" of Catherine II. to the sense in which it is ordinarily alleged, that Diet of Poland, (20th April, 1766,) on behalf of the the Russians are our fellow-Christians, and Greeks in that Catholic Kingdom,-and the Report of the Diet on the seditious movements which Russia that the Turks are Unbelievers." Both, had excited there in 1789. And if any one wants according to our view of their creed, are information as to the treatment which Roman Catho-"mis-believers." We very much question lic dissenters meet with from the Greek Church,

from that same tolerant Emperor who now interferes whether, if the matter were truly underto protect his co-religionists from the intolerance of stood, we should not find that English Prothe Mussulman, he may hear of something to his testants, and Scotch Protestants still more, advantage by perusing (in the valuable "Recueil have at least as much sympathy of faith and des Documens") the "Allocution" of Pope Gregory in the Secret Conclave, 22d July, 1842, and the feeling with the Mahometan monotheist as Petition of the "Non-united Greeks" of the province with the benighted votaries of the Russian of Uszacs, in 1835, remonstrating against the cruelties Church. The Turks pray to God only— to which, as Dissenters, they were subjected. He "the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and Ja will find enough to convince him that Christians of any non-conforming denomination are safer in life, cob;" the Russians pray to a host of saints limb, liberty, and property, under the Infidel Sultan who are an abomination in our eyes. The than under either Czar, Emperor, or Grand Duke. foundation and first point of all three com

munions-the Mahometan, the Oriental every year; how the Greek and Latin Christian, and our own-are indentical. We Christians fight round the very sepulchre of all believe in one God, and in Moses, their professed Lord and common Saviour, David, and Jesus Christ as his inspired pro- till blood flows in torrents on the sacred phets; the last we, in common with the floor; and how the astonished and disgusted Greek, regard as our Divine Saviour. Both Ottomans have to provide a regular police Russian and Turk go further: the latter add for the occasion, to compose the feuds of the Mahomet-the former add St. Nicholas, St."True Believers," and to separate the infuCatherine, and an interminable calendar of riated Christian combatants. canonised priests and worthies. It is sad Less than any other country can England and unsatisfactory to be called upon thus to listen to any pretexts based on the alleged cast the balance between two false and faulty incongruity of a Sovereign of one religion theologies; but we will appeal to any earn- holding dominion over subjects of a differest Protestant who has lived in Turkey, ent faith. She, while Protestant, governs whether he did not feel as much prompt and millions of Catholics, thousands of Greek natural religious sympathy with the follower Christians, millions of Mahometans, Hinof Mahomet, whose simple faith is compris- doos, Buddhists, and heathens; - and ed in two formulas-prayer to God and promptly and haughtily would she resent charity to man; who never fails night or the interference of any sympathising Potenmorning, at business or at meals, when the tate, and loudly would she declaim against Muezzin sounds the hour for his devotions; the insolence of any foreigners, who should who never passes a mendicant without be- intimate that she did not govern all these stowing alms upon him "for the love of miscellaneous religionists justly, or that God," however poor he be himself,may there was any unfitness in her holding sovas with the so-called Christian of the Orien-ereignty over them. No! Do not let us tal Church, whose whole religion is a mass of fasts and superstitious ceremonies, who is enslaved by a priest almost as ignorant as himself, who knows little of his Saviour, and less even of his God.

tolerate in the case of others what we would not tolerate in our own. Let us sympathise with and uphold Christianity in every land and by every lawful and wise means within our power; but let it be the Christianity In the second place, in the affair immedi- which is in truth and not in form-the ately under discussion, it is the Turk who Christianity which obeys the precepts of has acted like a good Christian, and the Rus-Christ, not that which only names his name sian who has acted like a rapacious infidel. -the Christianity which does justice and And how can a potentate claim our sympa- loves mercy and repels crime,-not that thy on the ground of a common creed, while which makes its profession a mere cloak trampling under foot every commandment and screen for deeds which bespeak a very of that creed, and acting in the most flagrant different inspiration, and should be called contravention of its spirit? "By their fruits by quite another name. ye shall know them." And we have the highest authority for embracing in the closest bonds of fraternity those of every nation who "walk humbly" in the presence of God, and "do justly" in the face of man, and for refusing to recognise as Christians all those, whatever may be their profession or their name, who are "oppressors, extortioners, unjust." "In that day many shall say, Lord, Lord, have we not preached in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity." Nor is the present the only instance in which, in the Ottoman dominions, heathen crimes are perpetrated by nominal Christians, and Christian duties are reserved for the practice of the "Unbeliever." No one who has been at Jerusalem at Easter, or has read the accounts of those who have, can fail to be aware of the scandalous scenes transacted there nearly

VOL. XX.

20

Apart from the religious allegation, there is assuredly no point in which the lands now under the sovereignty of the Sultan would benefit by the overthrow of his dominion, if either Russia or Austria are-as they would be-his successors. As assuredly there is no desire among the dwellers in those lands for such a change. Any such wish which may once have existed from time to time, when fomented by the intrigues of the sleepless aggressor, has long since disappeared before the improvements. in the Ottoman Government, and a fuller acquaintance with the detestable realities of Russian rule. What indeed is there in the relative systems of the several candidates for empire, that should incline the balance against the actual possessors? We are not going to paint Mahometan sway in any very glowing or attractive colours. It is ignor ant, semi-barbarous, often locally and individually oppressive. Justice is weak, slow, often unattainable, frequently attainable only

render impossible all real enlightenment or lofty culture, to retain, in a word, their wretched people in that low and level condition of mediocrity and torpor which alone is compatible with a leaden autocracy like theirs.

through bribery or menace. There is little, Oriental ignorance is bad enough, but the attempt to develop enterprise or stimulate barbarism of soi-disant civilisation is far industry, little respect for the pursuits of heavier and more fatal, because more penecommerce, little reverence for the arts of trating, more subtle, immeasurably more peace. But the Ottoman Government has powerful, beyond calculation more hopeless one great merit, great enough to counter- and incurable. The first may retire before balance many faults: it governs very little. the gradual influence of contact with EuroIt seldom interferes with the plans or pur- pean art and knowledge; the latter will give suits of its subjects. A wicked or rapacious way before nothing short of a bloody and Pacha, in the remoter provinces more espe- unsparing revolution. The Turks do not cially, will often oppress and extortionize hinder the culture and enlightenment of individuals among those subject to him, but, their people; there is nothing to prevent on the whole, the people are left pretty much the Greek and Sclavonian subjects of the to themselves, so long as they pay their Sultan from becoming so prosperous, so taxes, and conform to the law. In no coun- well-educated, so civilised, in short, that no try in Europe, except perhaps Switzerland barbarous government could wrong them and England, are municipal institutions so or keep them down, or could remain barreal or so effective as in Turkey. They barous when their influence was brought to more nearly resemble those which we found bear upon it. But Austria and Russia, as existing in India. The tax to be paid by is too well known, deliberately and on syseach district or village is fixed, but its ap- tem employ all the resistless enginery of portionment is left to the inhabitants them- Church and State to repress mental develselves. The leaden, penetrating, omnipre-opment, to crush intellectual freedom, to sent centralisation of Russia and Austria is unknown. The Turks are not like the Germans, Italians, and Muscovites, ground down under the heavy burden of a vast army of officials. There is individual tyranny and injustice, but tyranny and injustice are not systematised. Robbers abound,—both au- The European subjects of the Porte know thorized and amateur ones, and the govern- this well. They are aware that under the nent is generally too feeble effectually to Sultan they enjoy a substantial freedom put down either, but the latter class abounds which it would be madness to hope for almost unchecked both in Italy and Greece; under either Emperor or Czar. If they wish and the whole bureaucracy of Russia con- to travel for improvement, or for commerce, sists of the former. Then the administra-or for pleasure, they have not as in Russia tion of Turkey is now fairly embarked on to ask formal leave from the sovereign, and a career of earnest improvement,-which pay besides, a large sum yearly for the percertainly cannot be said of either of her greedy neighbours. No! her government unquestionably is bad, we admit; but the deadening, benumbing, iron rule of Austria would be far worse. And who that has read in De Custine, Oliphant, or the "British Resident in the Frontier lands," the picture of Muscovite administration in the unhappy territories subject to its sway, the corruption, the oppression, the insolence, the severity, the stupidity, which blight their happiness and annul their resources,-who that has seen even a small portion of the pervading espionage, the brutal despotism, the imbecile cruelty, the incurable narrowness, with which Austria treads down all the nobler life and all the healthier energies of Gallicia, Bohemia, Lombardy, and Hungary, would for the wealth of worlds lay upon their conscience the sin of bringing fresh millions under such ruinous and besotted sway? God forbid that England should aid such consumma tion, even by a word. The barbarism of

mission. If they wish to read and learn, they do not find themselves thwarted and fettered as in Austria, by orders at the custom-house to prohibit the entry of all books fitted to stimulate inquiry, or cultivate genius, or excite ambition, or reward labour. There is no Index Expurgatorius in Turkey. The Sultan never confiscated a treatise on astronomy or politics, like the Pope of Rome, or shut up a Protestant school like the King of Naples, or imprisoned a Christian for reading the Gospel of St. John, like the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Is it a sway like that, like the one which has paralysed Italy, and crushed Hungary, and desolated Gallicia, and depopulated the Crimea and the country of the Cossacks, and ruined Bessarabia, and trampled upon Poland, that we would extend over the fertile and sunny lands which lie between the Danube and the Archipelago, and for which so glorious a future may be anticipated? The inhabitants of those lands dread and deprecate any such transfer, as the worst of threatened

evils. For they know full-well that, if it the latter. Our exports of British produce was become needful for their progress or to the Adriatic ports of Austria, (the only their comfort to shake off the Mussulman ones she has), were not published separately dominion, they could do so without much from those of the rest of Italy till 1846, difficulty, as soon as wealth and civilization when they reached £721,981;-in_1852, had made them powerful; but that, if once were £674,423. Our exports to Russia, incorporated either with Austrian or Musco- on an average of 1840 and 1841, were vite territory, they must write over the £1,605,000; in 1852, they had fallen to mausoleum of their hopes the despairing £1,099,917. Our exports to the Turkish words which Dante saw emblazoned over the gate of Hell,—

"Lasciate ogni Speranza, o voi ch' entrate."

dominions, including of course Moldavia and Wallachia, have in the same period been steadily increasing. In 1840, they were £1,440,592; £1,440,592; in 1851, £3,548,959;- in 1852, £3,816,580. They are now double Of late years the inhabitants of Moldavia those to Austria and Russia together. Nor and Wallachia have had abundant opportu- does it affect the matter one iota, that a nities of contrasting the two Sceptres. The great portion of this is a mere transit trade: Principalities have been often occupied by Austria and Russia do not even allow us the armies and officials of both governments, this; and it matters nothing to us what sometimes separately, sometimes conjointly; countries ultimately consume our produce, and the impression left has been most pain- provided it be allowed to reach those counful and decisive. The Turks have behaved tries without difficulty. well, and paid for everything they wanted, The country which debouches by Odessa, though in their own territory. The Russians finds a formidable rival in that which dehave been insolent and oppressive, and have bouches through the Danube. Bulgaria and lived at free quarters, though in a foreign land. Wallachia (not to speak of Hungary) proEvery administrative or material improve- duce just the same articles of commerce as ment planned in those provinces has origi- the southern provinces of Russia-hides, talnated with the Ottomans, and been thwarted low, wool, hemp, and above all, grain of by the Muscovites. Hence the former have every description. "Every ton exported always been welcomed as liberators, and the from the Danube was, therefore, a ton less latter received as enemies. Every thing that exported from Odessa or Riga." It became, jealousy and stupidity combined could do to in consequence, an object of great importance injure those districts, to impede their pros- to Russia, not only to obtain an influence perity and prevent their tranquillity, has over the Danubian Principalities, so as to been done by the agents of the Czar. His quash and impede their industry by every usual good policy has here abandoned him; means in her power, but also to obtain the and the result is that a degree of hatred has entire control of the navigation of the great been generated in the minds of all classes European river. This she effected by a there, which-if ever unfortunately those treaty with Turkey in 1829-permitted by provinces should be incorporated with Austria and England-which surrendered to Russia will make them as difficult to govern her the delta of the Danube in sovereignty, as Poland, and will probably compel and authorized her, on sanitary pretexts, to Nicholas to make them a desert in order to establish a quarantine on all vessels entering keep them in peace. that river, as well as on all communications To obtain an idea of what Turkey and between the two banks. How we ever Europe in general might look for from such tolerated such an encroachment is inconceiva transference as has been suggested, let us able. What has resulted from our stustate a few facts regarding the commerce of pidity, is at length beginning to be underthe States in question, and regarding that of stood. Russia has made use of her power, as the Danube in particular. The tariff of it might have been foreseen she would, to imTurkey is notoriously the most liberal in pede the commerce of the Danube as much the world; those of Russia and Austria no- as possible by harassing and costly regulatoriously the most oppressive and prohibit- tions, and every species of petty and disory. Turkey admits every article of import honest vexation, and not content with this, at a duty of three per cent.; Russia and has actually permitted and aided the gradual Austria (besides a number of internal impe-filling up of the mouth of the river, which the diments) charge duties varying from five per Turks always kept open, so that the depth of cent to sixty. The consequence has been a the water, which used always to be sixteen feet, great and steady increase of our commerce has now dwindled to eleven feet. This is be with the former country, and as great and yond question; it has been more than once steady a diminution of our commerce with stated and proved: it was admitted hy Lord

Palmerston in the House of Commons in July [countrymen should still be advocates for last, and the mean motive of it was not de- surrendering Turkish provinces to Russian nied; it is done in direct infraction of the possession, or even to Russian "protection" treaty which bound Russia to keep the and control, we can only say that we think mouth of the Danube in its former navigable Nicholas ought, in mere common decency of condition-an obligation which she verbally gratitude, to present them with the order of admits; it is continued purposely and sys- St. Catherine. tematically in defiance of frequent represen

tation and remonstrance; and no decided We cannot wonder at the nervous anxiety steps have been taken to compel a perfor- exhibited by all the Great Powers of Westmance of contract, or to retrace a fatal con- ern Europe to prevent the dispute between cession. In fact, painful as it is to say so, Russia and Turkey from culminating in a the destruction of the navigation of the war, nor their desire, on almost any terms, Danube, has been steadily aimed at by to hush up and terminate that war now that Russia, and passively connived at by Eng. it has actually broken out. There are strongland. Russia has not only established her er motives for this anxiety than even dislike quarantine establishments at its mouth; she of the disturbance of prosperity, or dread of intercepts all vessels-ours among the rest the horrors of a sanguinary campaign. -and sends them to perform quarantine at Statesmen of every nation are too well Odessa (!); she even is allowed to levy dues aware that a prolonged contest can scarcely and charges in London and Liverpool be confined to two belligerents alone, and amounting to nearly £100 a cargo on all that it must open questions and risk eventuvessels proceeding to the Danube, which alities, neither of which they are prepared may wish to avoid this detention. The na- to face. The motives of their present zeal ture of the difficulties she throws in the way are partly humanity, partly laziness, partly of our commerce with the Danubian Pro- timidity, and partly perplexity. These vinces in order to divert it to her own considerations have unfortunately proved dominions, may be gathered from the follow-stronger than love of justice, or that wisdom ing statement of a London broker published which looks to future tranquillity rather in the "Progress of Russia in the South and than to present truce-which is less anxious West:"for an immediate armistice than for an enduring peace. They led to our earnest advice to "Galatz and Ibrail (Turkish) on the Danube Turkey not to declare war. They led to are free ports. At Odessa there are great in- the hurried, clumsy, and discreditable conveniences from quarantine, heavy charges, Vienna Note, and to the indecent violence uncertainty and venality, and your business is

not discharged without some payments, as bribes, with which some of our influential writers which a master must know how to manage; urged its submissive acceptance by the nevertheless we can take charters from Odessa at Porte. We can not wonder at this feeling: from 10s. 6d. to 3s. a quarter less than from the few ports on the Danube. These additional charges are incurred partly from the state of the river, partly from the state of the climate, and from Russia. The lighterage is effected under contract with Russian boats, so that at times they charge what they like, and vessels are exposed to

the eventualities of the present position of affairs are undoubtedly serious and complicated enough; and it is not surprising that statesmen who cannot see their way through them, who have not nerve to look them in the face, and who are not clear as to the line great risks. The climate in autumn is so bad of policy which they ought, or may wish, that great expense is incurred for medical aid; to pursue when these eventualities arise,a vessel recently came home, having lost all her crew except two. The other charges are for quarantine, which is vexatious, and in the last degree hampering."*

If after considering these facts, any of our

should endeavour to stave them off by every means in their power. Still, this is not wisdom; it is not duty; it is at best but the weak craft of the procrastinator, or the craven manoeuvre of the ostrich. Sooner or later these embarrassing questions must be This way in which the pretext under which met and understood, and our maxims of Russia has established her quarantine and contingent conduct with regard to them decided and impediments, as really regarded by herself, may be made known. Let us intimate, as briefly as learned from the following statement of Mr. Urqu- we can, a few of the possibilities which seem hart, which we presume may be relied upon. I visited Silistria when occupied by the Russians; "looming in the future." 'Travellers' had to perform fifteen days' quaran- several contingencies to be considered. tine; but Russians were liable to infection only on a In the first place, the four Great Powers graduated scale; ten days for a private, five for a captain; a field officer had three; a superior officer may, as was a month ago said to be the none. Foreign despatches were fumigated with much case, combine cordially and honestly to comcare; Russian despatches were utterly neglected." pel Russia to desist from her pretensions,

There are four