THE EASTERN QUESTION AND THE WILL OF PETER THE GREAT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 69, 20 March 1873, Page 4

THE EASTERN QUESTION AND THE WILL OF PETER THE GREAT.

A copy of the will of Peter the Great (says the "Bristol Mercury") has lately been printed bj one of- our weekly contemporaries. In it the Russian monarch points out the course to be pursued by his successors for the extension of Europe. Nothing could have been more fortunate for a clear 'understanding of the present crisis in the Eastern question. That will throw a broad glare of light on the audacious conduct of tbe present Emperor of Sussia. It plucks aside the flimsy veil with which his pretensions ere covered, and sets before us in their true colors the real ground on which he has acted. After a careful persual of it, it appears very evident that he is endeavouring to car^y out the designs of his great predecessor. A few of the paragraphs are worth re-printing at this juncture. In clause nine he says : "Do all in ybur power to approach closely Constantinople aod India. Remember that he who rules over these countries is the real sovereign of the world. Keep up continued wars ; with Turkey and Persia. Establish dockyards in the Bed Sea. Gradually obtain tbe command of this sea as well as of the Baltic." In clause ten he says : — Carefully seek the alliance of Austria. Make her believe that you will second her in her projects for dominion over Germany, and secondly stir up the jealousy of other princes against her, and manage so that each be disposed to claim the assistance of Russia, and exercise over each a sort of protection which will lead the way to future dominion over them." These two clauses need no comment. In clause twelve he says:. " Above all; recall around you the schismatic Greeks who are spread over Hungary and Poland ; become their centres and support ; hold universal dominion over them by a kind of sacerdotarrule ;!by this ybu Will j ha Ye" many friends" among your enemies.", With such instructions to posterity, it is useless to affect ignorance as tdlheVfixed present and ulterior designs ■^Riissia *;uppn^ffikeyr^They unquestionably to dismemberment and ;aprjrppii^ • y- ;iyyy y