RUSSIA, AS IT REALLY IS. 431 



atone were in course of time to undertake a war of conquest either 

 against Austria, or against Prussia, its armies would find it a very 

 difficult task to obtain any substantial advantage over either of them, 

 if they would not be completely beaten; and every sensible man, 

 who has any knowledge of the Austrian and Prussian military re- 

 sources, organization, and discipline, and of their facility of being 

 able to concentrate on a given point within a short period of time 

 large corps of troops, will easily be of our opinion. 



With regard to the fear entertained by some that Russia when 

 once possessed of Turkey and Persia will certainly invade and con- 

 quer the Anglo-Indian dominions, we must say that those who gravely 

 listen to such rumours are either out of their senses or know very 

 little of the obstacles which lie between Persia and Hindostan; ob- 

 stacles which the Russians could never overcome unless an extraor- 

 dinary change takes place both in their financial and military re- 

 sources, because we have already demonstrated how precarious has 

 always been their situation whenever they have been engaged in a 

 long war. To conquer Hindostan through Persia, the Russians must 

 necessarily employ numerous military forces, which would be com- 

 pelled to march during at least twelve months through the barbarous 

 and poor tribes of Afghanistan, across deserted and sterile lands, and 

 over high mountains where there is not the smallest hope of finding 

 the means of providing for the wants of a great invading army, which 

 after all its sufferings would at its arrival on the frontiers of Hindos- 

 tan find a strong and well-disciplined Anglo-Indian army prepared 

 to annihilate" the weary and famishing invaders. Away then with 

 those dreaming alarmists to whom alone Russia owes her present 

 supposed greatness, and her future universal supremacy. 



We conclude by remarking with Machiavelli, that the real power 

 of an empire does not consist either in its territorial extent or in 

 the number of its inhabitants, but on its wealth, civilization, and 

 commerce ; and, above all, on the compactness of its resources, and 

 homogeneity of its inhabitants. Instead, therefore, of our having any 

 real apprehension from the past aggrandisement and encroachments 

 of the Russian empire, we foresee in consequence of them the seeds of 

 the future dissolution of the Muscovite despotism, which, we affirm 

 with gratitude and pleasure, cannnot continue as it is, so long as civil- 

 ization is rapidly progressing throughout Europe and on the Amer- 

 can continent. 



