430 RUSSIA, AS IT REALLY IS. 



But we shairvery probably be told that what we have advanced is 

 mere nonsense, since Russia, notwithstanding our little dread of her 

 military and diplomatical power, is at present in a position easily 

 to effect the submission of the whole of the Ottoman and Persian 

 dominions, and that then its supremacy over all the European states 

 will soon be realized. To these specious suggestions we could 

 answer by saying that, although we admit that the Russians by cun- 

 ning and diplomatic 'intrigues may continue to dictate some partial 

 measures to the Grand Seignior and to the Persian Schah, it would 

 be very difficult and almost impossible for them to conquer entirely 

 the Turks and the Persians. However, for the sake of showing that 

 the arguments of the Russian alarmists are not so impregnable as they 

 think, we will grant that Russia in course of time, nay, within a few 

 years from the present day, either by conquest or by any other means, 

 will become the absolute mistress both of Turkey and Persia. What 

 then ? Will any man of sound sense, acquainted with the internal 

 state and with the finances of the Russian empire, be so silly as to be 

 lieve that Russia could then attain to universal supremacy ? But we 

 will go still further by allowing to Russia the conquest of Norway and 

 Denmark, thus giving her the command of the Dardanelles and the 

 Sound. Even then, we are convinced, that Russia would not be bet- 

 ter situated nor stronger than it is at present, while En gland and France 

 alone are enjoying the blessings of liberal institutions, and making 

 great progress towards general civilization, industry, and commerce. 

 In fact, the English and French navy, backed by the wealth of their 

 nations, would very soon put an end to the universal supremacy of the 

 Russian Czar, without even attempting either to foment the insurrec- 

 tion of the numerous dissatisfied and oppressed Russian provinces, or 

 to attack her frontiers by land. 



As for Russia ever being able to exercise its absolute brutal supre- 

 macy over the whole west and south of Europe, we boldly say, that 

 it is utterly impossible; nay, we assert also with confidence, that 

 were the Russian autocrat to lose by some means or other the exist- 

 ing friendly interested alliance and support of his powerful neigh- 

 bours, ^the despots of Austria and Prussia, his northern European 

 dominions would be soon reduced to the size which they possessed 

 when Catherine II. succeeded to her mysteriously murdered husband, 

 and very probably to a smaller size. Besides we think that if Russia 



