[ 620 jj [Dec: 
AFFAIRS IN GENERAL- 
CoMMENTING upon matters which are yet in operation, every body, 
knows, is a hazardous undertaking: not so much, however, front the 
uncertainty. of human affairs—for we take them to have very little of the 
quality of uncertainty about them—but from defect of intelligence. A 
want of accuracy marks the communications of most men, and especially. 
their written communications on passing topics, even where there is no 
design in them to deceive, nor bias to mislead ;—but where the very 
object of the communicator is deception, the sources of uncertainty are 
of course multiplied, and no absolute trust can be placed in any thing 
but accomplished events. Yet people cannot always suspend their specu 
Jations and thoughts till the arrival of facts; nor need they. The more 
acute and sharp-sighted—the more vigilant at least—will sometimes 
pierce through the obstructing clouds, and let in rays of light, where 
others find nothing but fog and obscurity. The bulletins of the Russians 
are become as notorious as the far-famed Brussels Gazette of old; and 
the Turkish bulletins—a new feature, by the way, in Turkish affairs— 
on one occasion lately observed, “ The grand vizier is advancing towards 
Varna, and, in the mean while, the capidan pasha is amusing the Rus- 
sians with negotiations.” This was not simplicity, but rather deep duplt 
city. The Turks are supposed, like children and fools, to tell truth ; 
and, being aware of the general impression, take advantage of the preju- 
dice to amuse the world. One half of the statements and reports, again, 
which we find in the continental papers from Vienna, Berlin, and Hol- 
land, are the wily productions of interested persons—stock-jobbers and 
loan-mongers ;—or, if they be the collectings of news-purveyors, the 
managers of public prints must trust, for the most part, to they know 
not whom or what-—to vague rumours and flying reports; and, from 
their known cravings, are a thousand times more liable to be duped than 
any other class of men in the world. 
Though not essentially mistaken, last month, as to the check and 
retreat of the Russians, the fact is not yet true that they withdrew to 
the Danube, or but very partially true. Luckily for them—for the pre- 
servation of a remnant of credit—Varna has fallen into their hands, and 
enabled them to close a mortifying campaign with the capture of a 
fortress, never captured before, instead of an actual flight. Though 
checked and cut up, beyond all former experience in Turkish warfare, 
they have announced a succession of victories from beginning to end— 
have made a steady, though slow advance—and if not actually arrived at 
Constantinople, they are far on the road to it ; they can talk of modera- 
tion and love of peace—of their wish to bring the Turks. to reason, and 
the observance of treaties, being far stronger with them than the desire 
of conquests ; and, if the Turks are still obstinate, of inevitably reaching 
the capital in another campaign. This is all very well for bulletins and 
bravados ; but the conquest of Varna contributes nothing to their glory, 
and, we add, little to the accomplishment of their ultimate aims. Pos- 
session was gained by treachery, not by fighting ; and they have been 
unwise enough to blazon the means, and receive the traitor with honours. 
and distinctions at Odessa. The true course would have been to dismiss 
him quietly, and not lay bare what exposes their own nakedness: if 
they had not made a bridge to it with their gold, it is pretty obvious 
their iron shot would have made none. The emperor has returned te 
