ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XL, Issue 197, 11 August 1876, Page 4

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

The following (says the Melbourne Argus) extract from a private letter received by the mail will be found in-j ; terestiog, as throwing light on the present feeling in England in reference to Russia:— • "I am told that at tbe present moment the feeling of the Ministers ie just! this — that they will stand no nonsense whatever from Russia. They almost desire war, and war now rather than later. In this they are most assuredly backed up by the national spirit. Never within my memory has the tone of the .*fool«ometers' been so bellicose. Very calmly, very little fuss, but a thorough Betting of the teeth, and n genuine determination that we will Bee tbis matter out. Now, lam sure that this is a good thing, and though it is well 'to check Russia, I don't think we ought to abow eagerness to fight. And tbis the rather because, if I am correctly informed, Germany has informally said:— " Don't be troubled about the triple alliance, Russia is no friend of ours. You must fight her one day; why not now? The opportunity was j never so iavorable. She ia nearly bank- ' rupt, her population is disaffected. Turkey has a little money for the time and much enthusiasm; the Czar himself is feeble and worn out. Strike, therer fore, and strike hard — we'll keep the ring; aud Russia, once beaten, will fall to pieces almost as rapidly as Turkey. She has even less to hold her together. If you wait, Buasia will get stronger, both in Europe and in Asia, whilst you will scarcely advance in power, and your possible ally will certainly retrograde.' That, as I read it, means that we are to fight a portion of Germany's battle for her, whilst she husbands her resources and comes in at the fitting time, gaining not only credit, but more solid advantages, by holding back. Austria cannot well move against us*— France dare not. So we should 4&QGermany no thanks for keeping tn,ose powers in check, and although it is satisfactory to find that she desires to cripple Russia even more than we do, and wishes nothing better than an alliance with ourselves, I am not inclined to jump at the bait. Furthermore, I fancy Gortahakoff appreciates most fully how completely bis whole scheme has had the bottom knocked out of it, and will in consequence avoid any occasion of offence. Already he has begun to give way, and nothing short of a rising would, I believe, force Russia to encounter us. ' England is a bull that fancies itself an ox,' you remember a French politican said. You acd I have always known that England is a bull indeed, with very well developed bones and muscles. Depend upon it, Russian statesmen know tbis well enough too. And we have ceased to believe even that we have lost our vigor. Such a change has taken place eince suggested the purchase of the Suez Canal shares, and we began to take our old place at the head of Europe. It makes one's heart leap to aee how a few resolute words and one resolute step have been the signal for our detractors to stand clear. I know bow you must have rtjoiced at the great news, and I most heartily shake hands with you across tbe sea. It is something to feel tbat the pride one always has in Eugland is justified in the face of the world. Yet if our rightful influeoce can be asserted and our interests maintained peacefully, I for one would gladly escape war. The three Imperial powers cannot, of course, maintain their alliance. They are like three ruffians who have stolen a bag of gold, and swear an eternal friendship, to be cemented with the spoil—each is afraid that the other two will combine to cut bin throat.