128 NORTHERN EUSSIA. 



brought into harmony with the usages of other European 

 countries. Let us not forget at what a late period of his* 

 tory Russia has entered the European family of nations. 



The immense boundaries of Russia extend almost with 

 an unbroken stretch over a hundred degrees of longitude, 

 from the Baltic to the Rocky Mountains, and embrace 

 more than the half of the northern portion of the habitable 

 globe. They descend from the snows of the Arctic Ocean 

 to the burning steppes of Asia. She reigns supreme over 

 a vast and busy population, as well as over hordes of 

 roving barbarians. 



Her means of internal communication by her numerous 

 and gigantic rivers ; the facilities afforded by her plains 

 and forests for railways and telegraphs ; her immense 

 mineral riches and boundless plains of fertile soil ; her 

 unassailable military position when on the defensive ; 

 her almost unlimited command of men to supply her 

 armies ; the subtlety, perseverance, and governing power 

 of her officials ; and the hardihood of her people all 

 promise a future for Russia which, without affording any 

 great cause of alarm to Europe, affords great cause of 

 joyful anticipation to herself, and to all who wish 

 civilisation to supplant barbarianism. 



And if to this is added the hope of Christian truth 

 imbuing a Church whose authority is acknowledged by 

 eighty millions of the human race, we may well look 

 with profound interest on all that is taking place ic 

 Russia, and from our hearts wish her God-speed in the 

 course on which she has entered. 



