THE TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY. 
119 
when nations are ripe for them. Nevertheless the Emperor of China 
eventually found the Russians established at what is now a wretched 
townlet on the Amur river, Albazin by name. Though they numbered 
but 450 men, the ruler of the celestial Empire was a far-seeing monarch. 
He viewed with apprehension the approach of the Europeans by land, 
although, in what intercourse the Chinese had already had with them, 
the Russians were much preferred to those other white men who had 
come from over the sea and who, unlike the former, had often inter¬ 
fered in the affairs of the country. A Chinese force of 15,000 men, 
with 150 guns, was accordingly sent against Albazin. The result of 
the conflict, all the circumstances of the case considered, could not be 
doubtful. The Russians were beaten but, of course, by no means dis¬ 
graced and those prisoners, who were sent to Pekin, were very 
honourably treated. 
When Peter the Great came to the throne, he decided on opening 
definite relations with China and he, therefore, despatched a mission 
to Pekin, connected with trading purposes, in the year 1719. How 
the relative positions of the two Empires have been altered since 
that date, the map before you shows. 
One has so often read of the secret massing of relatively vast 
numbers of troops in Asiatic Russia, that it may be well to state the 
facts of the case : five years ago there were in Asiatic Russia, in round 
numbers, 100,000 soldiers, while to-day, after the acquisition of Port 
Arthur and Talienwan, the garrisons amount to 117,000 men. Nobody 
can suppose that these figures will not be eventually increased, but, 
on the other hand, nobody can truthfully assert that the establish¬ 
ments are anything but moderate, when all the circumstances of the 
case are taken into consideration. Let me add that Russia is sincerely 
desirous of peace. 
I have often wondered why the majority of people in this country, so 
so far at least, as I have been able to judge, have formed the entirely 
inadequate conception of the mighty Russian Empire which they appear 
to have conceived. We have many traits in common with its inhabi¬ 
tants. Centuries ago, and subsequently, intimate relations existed be¬ 
tween England and Russia and I venture to assert that, to-day, no 
foreigners are, personally, better esteemed there than we are. As 
regards myself, it would be impossible for me to speak in sufficiently 
cordial terms of the kindness, not only private but official, which I 
received during the five years spent by me in Russia, and upon which 
I shall always look back as having been one of the happiest periods 
of my life. Having travelled all over her dominions I can say that 
I speak with the authority of knowledge on these points. 
Time being limited I must now say a few words in conclusion. It 
is a universal law that <s the growth of a society as a whole takes 
place most over regions where the obstacles to be overcome are least.” 
Siberia, with its stupendous resources, affords an excellent demon¬ 
stration of the truth of this law. Its developement has now been 
commenced in earnest. “ Industrial progress, in common with progress 
at large, originally insensible in its rate, has become appreciable only 
