596 Politics and Prospects of Russia. [T)ec. 



be produced in their habits^ as to verify my prediction. But, should 

 the present or a future sovereign be duly impressed with the importance 

 of the subject, it is impossible to say how soon suck an alteraiion might 

 be effected, particularly when we consider the acknowledged docility of 

 temper which all the common natives possess." 



We are to recollect that this intelligent observer's opinion was given 

 before the Turkish war ; that the weight of the Russian power is now 

 directed to the Mediterranean ; that a navy in the Black Sea is the 

 essential instrument of success ; and that the Sea of IMarmora is now 

 only a port of exercise for the fleets pouring from the great Russian 

 dock-yard of the Black Sea. 



Now let us see what Russia has actually gained in territory. The 

 principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia are, at this hour, in possession 

 of her troops, raising forces to be incorporated with those troops, paying 

 their revenues into the hands of her officers, and under a direct process 

 of separation from every former Turkish interest by the ejection of 

 every Turkish inhabitant within the eighteen months to come. Nothing 

 can be more complete than this possession. The future appointment of 

 hospodars, if it shall ever take place, will be merely the appointment of 

 Russian viceroys. The territory thus directly gained is great. The 

 two provinces are larger than the whole of England ! 



But their value is not to be measured by their size. The soil, 

 neglected as it has been by the Turks, is among the most fertile in the 

 world. The population, reduced to less than a million, is capable of 

 being raised to ten millions ! fully supplied with provisions. The 

 mountains also contain mines of great value. It would be ridiculous to 

 suppose that those countries will ever be restored to more than a nominal 

 independence. We have no security that even this nominal independence 

 will not be I'apidly merged in declared sovereignty. The Crimea, a few 

 years ago, was suffered to boast of this nominal independence. But its 

 boasting was brief. The Khan was stripped of his sceptre, and glad to 

 lay his calpac at the feet of Catherine. The Tartars of the Kuban were 

 indulged with the same boast, and found it equally short-lived. The 

 treaty of Kainardgi, in 1734, declared them imequivocally free, 

 unanswerable to any foreign power, and to be governed only by their 

 hereditary chieftains of the race of Gengis. Their freedom was scarcely 

 conceded when it was swept away at a stroke of the pen. Those pro- 

 vinces will be integral possessions of Russia, when she pleases, and 

 strong holds for her ambition in whatever line it may spread through 

 western Europe. For operations against the weakest part of the. 

 Austrian empire they form an incomparable base ; and they do more — 

 they command the Danube ; and, by the Danube, command a passage 

 through the heart of Europe, whether for trade or conquest, from 

 Ratisbon to Constantinople. 



The mind grows exhausted and the hand grows weary in following the 

 stupendous extent of power which Russia has already within her grasp, 

 and the still more stupendous extent which lies before her vision. Her 

 march into Asia JMinor has given her a fixture there which no retreat 

 of her troops will nullify. Slie already feels the boundless value of the 

 acquisition, and is craftily negociating for the possession of Trebizond. 

 If she withdraw her demand now, she will not be the less sure to gain 

 her point in another direction ; and her point is, the complete command 

 pf the southern shore of the Black Sea, and with it the complete com- 



