670 GLANCE AT THE GREAT POWERS. 



eyes to the danger of being turned in the South and East by Russia, 

 and to have in her rear that natural enemy whom she should always 

 look boldly in the face ? 



There can be no doubt that the late affair at Frankfort will 

 prove a fortunate event for the Autocrat. Only let Austria and 

 Prussia have once their attention concentrated upon Germany, and as 

 far as those two powers are concerned, he will have it all his own 

 way on the Bosphorus. We strongly suspect too., that the Russian 

 police had some hand in this matter ; nay, to go farther was the 

 motive principle of an entente that came so " apropos" to give a 

 prospect for the East to Russia, and one for Frankfort to the garrison 

 of Mayence, who were aware before-hand of the very hour their pre- 

 sence would be necessary? The sweets of the Austro-Prussian occupa- 

 tion are already felt in their full force in that free city. Nothing is heard 

 but the insolent " rver-da" of the Hungarian grenadiers, or Prussian 

 iihlons ; but what to the Germans must prove an intolerable tyranny, 

 is the ordonnance, forbidding any person to pass a sentinel with a 

 lighted pipe. Will they stand this? If so, they will stand any thing. 

 Is there not one among them, who, in the language of Beranger, will 

 exclaim, 



" Peuples 

 Formez une Sainte Alliance et dormez vous la main !" 



The consummate sagacity of Russian diplomacy has not on this 

 occasion belied itself; but on the other hand, the conduct of Metter- 

 nich is unaccountable. Terrified by a mere phantom of liberal 

 opinions, artfully conjured up by Russia, we find him moving the 

 armies of Austria upon the Tyrol and the Voralberg, when they 

 should be concentrating upon the Turkish frontier ; while Prussia, 

 with equal fatuity, is occupied with the re-organization of her univer- 

 sities the hot-bed, as she thinks, of revolutionary principles. 



On what part of the continent of Europe can the gaze of the 

 political philosopher rest with feelings of satisfaction? On every 

 side, he sees a conflict of interests and principles strife and debate. 

 But there is one country whose fate is nearly forgotten ; looked upon as 

 a worn out tradition, beautiful even in her desolation that country 

 is Italy. 



*' L'antica regina del universe." 



In the dominions of the King of Sardinia, a conspiracy with the 

 most extensive ramifications has been discovered; but these partial 

 movements rivet more firmly the chains of her oppressors; it is 

 only on a general and united effort, that the star of freedom will rise 

 on her benighted soil. But divided as she is by intrigue, prejudices, 

 and territorial interests, the centralization of Italy under one govern- 

 ment is a political Utopia. As it has ever been, her fate to the 

 end of the chapter will, we fear, be, in the language of her own 

 Felecaja, 



" Pugnar col braccio di Straniere gente 



Per servir sempre o venatrice o venta." 



r 



And now for Greece a kingdom engendered by European 



