RUSSIA IN 1833. 425 



district of Serra Frio, in Brazil, and aware moreover of the exact 

 identity of the association of certain minerals all over the earth, ex- 

 pressed his conviction that the alluvial soil of the Oural chain would 

 be found to contain diamonds. The Russian government, in order to 

 ascertain this important fact, fitted out a scientific expedition, and the 

 result has proved the accuracy of the hypothesis diamonds have 

 been discovered of as pure a water as those of Brazil. Now, should 

 they be found as plentifully as in that country, we may readily sup- 

 pose that the Russian government will lose no time in rapidly deve- 

 loping this new source of riches, which would then enable it to carry 

 into execution those gigantic projects of ambition that have so long 

 been a constant source of anxiety to western Europe. 



The direction which the aggrandizing schemes of this power ap- 

 pear destined to follow is toward the southward and eastward. She 

 is already mistress of the entire navigation of the Black and Caspian 

 Seas. Two of the longest rivers of the empire discharge themselves 

 into the former, and an immense territory is thus immediately con- 

 nected with the basin of this sea. So great is the fertility of this 

 basin, that the productions of agriculture surpass in an almost tenfold 

 ratio the consumption. Some idea of the prosperity of these regions 

 may be formed by a brief survey of their statistics. In the space of 

 ten years only the population of Odessa increased from 5000 to 

 35,000 souls. Her present population exceeds 45,000; and in the 

 city there is a French, a Greek, and an Italian theatre, besides 

 schools of law, navigation, and commerce, and every other establish- 

 ment and institution that is to be found where civilization is at its 

 height 



But here a great political difficulty presents itself to our considera- 

 tion, the solution of which is intimately connected with the future 

 destinies both of Europe and Asia. The Turkish government is 

 master of the narrow channel that forms the communication between 

 the Euxine and the Mediterranean. It is true that by the treaty of 

 Adrianople the passage of the Dardanelles has been declared free^ 

 but this advantage is of a most precarious tenure, dependent as it is 

 on the " bon plaisir" of a barbarian state, the march of whose govern- 

 ment is directed rather by caprice than any fixed principle of action. 

 This inconvenience will be more severely felt as the population and 

 industry of the southern provinces increase, and their exports become 

 more varied and multiplied. The question is, whether the Russian 

 government will suffer the commerce of the southern parts of the 

 empire .to be dependent on barbarian caprice, or whether she will not 

 make this a pretext for at length realizing the ambitious projects of 

 the great Catherine. There is no marking the hour of such an event, 

 but that the prophecy current among the Byzantines, and which, sin- 

 gular enough, has been preserved by their Turkish conquerors, is 

 near the hour of its accomplishment, we firmly believe. 



The Cabinets of Europe may write the most skilful diplomatic 

 notes may set forth the most admirable principles on the balance of 

 power may even assume an imposing attitude ; but in vain will they 

 attempt to arrest the march of events when Russia shall have finally 

 matured her plans. 



M. M. No. 88. 



3A 



