RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.

Thames Star, Issue 2519, 1 February 1877, Page 2

RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.

"An Englishman resident in Russia for thirty years" writes;' under-'tlafe Moscow, November. 5-17—"A great change has come over the country; the Press has been let loose unmuzzled,' and whatever regrets one had formerly with respect to the said Press and its freedom, they have certainly vanished in face of ■the* present' phenomenon.. .You "wduld have thought that charity or reforms should begin at home. Nothing of the kind. We desire that Turkey should be free, that the Christians should have a representative form of government, but we desire nothing of the kind ourselves* The people here are much excited. Press and pulpits are crying, 'Down with the Turk." Within the last fortnight the Russo-Servian Army has got thrashed, and there is a very bitter feeling here against the Servians for their share of the business. The Emperor was here' fast' week. You will have seen his speech and his opinion of the. Servians. The more intelligent Russians are amused at his saying, that Turkey bad 'submitted' to his wishet. He was here three days, and spent the whole time in looking at his soldiers. There is no. Champ de Mars in Moscow, but there is a large square of ground ; opposite the theatre and on it at the end is the vegetable market. This was converted into a review ground. The apple carts and cabbage vendors were put to flight by the garrison of Moscow, who were then inspected by His Majesty. Business here is at a standstill nearly. Discount at the.bank on the moat approved security is done at eight per cent., ordinary discount ranges from ten to twelve. Failures are the order of the day, and it seems to make no impression on the Government. From the foregoing. you ■ may gather that we English are not just now in good odour. There is a wonderful feeling here that England has thwarted Russia' in something, and brought about the,ruin of some grand scheme, qf which one knows nothing. ' It is evident now that they thought the proper time had come for finishing Turkey, but how England has prevented the collapse I do not understand. The Russian .papers say. that England has found the Turks money, clothes, guns, ammunition, and officers, bribed the Servians to run away from the field of battle, and many, hundred more awful ihings, to prevent Russia ruining Turkey." Another English 'resident, in , Moscow, the Rev R. G. Penny, the English chaplain, writes in the contrary sense j —"I bave sometimes heard it asserted that clergymen should not meddle with politics, but the - gravity -of " the present crisis will, I hope, be accepted as a' sufficient excuse for breaking what may be considered, in ordinary circumstances, a salutary rule for clerical guidance. Having resided upwards of ten years in the heart of European Russia, and coming, as I do, in daily contact with Russians of every class, I enjoy a very fair opportunity of ascertaining the course of Russian opinion. I cannot view; without the gravest apprehension the possibility of England drifting into a war of which no man can foresee the end, without lifting up my voice, however humble . and insignificant that voice may be, to

protest against the mistaken view which my fellow countrymen entertain respecting the designs of Russia in the East. Two conflicting feelings appear at the present to be agitating the popular mind at home. One is, naturally, the indignation justly called forth by the atrocities recently committed by the Turks. The other (and, I fear, an eren stronger feeling than the first) is the dread of Russian designs upon Constantinople. Now, among the Russians themselves, public opinion is everywhere divided on the question of peace or mir. The war party may be the more clamorous, but, with the Emperor's known wish for peace, it has yet to be proved whether it be the more influential. God grant that it may not! Bat on one point Russians are absolutely unanimous. I have not met with a single Russian yet who regards the supposed designs of the Imperial Government upon Constantinople as anything but an absurdity, foolishly believed in by credulous Englishmen, but only too well calculated to hamper our policy, and to prevent the possibility of any good understanding between the two Empires who are chiefly interested in the T Eastern Question. I only ask, is it possible that the Russians are nothing better than a nation of liars ? The possession of Constantinople is a thing which, as they with one voice declare, they neither dream of nor desire. Are we, then, seriously to believe that every Russian one meets is either blind to the real policy of his Imperial Master or deliberately pledged to the elaborate concealment of a deep-laid plain? I, who have lived so long among them, can never bring, myself to think so. Once disabuse the mind of the English people and of English statesmen of this worn-out theory of Russian ambition, and the great obstacle to the settlement of the Eastern question is removed. The: famous Dr. Arnold taught the Rugby boys to be truthful and chivalrous by believing their word and trusting to their honour. The same principle, I maintain, may be applied to nations. A policy of suspicion never has answered, and never will. Only let England learn to trust Russia as she should do, and the peace of Europe will be assured."