"the resentment of Russia against those less power"ful states, which should not have taken her side,

66

might have disastrous consequences on their "future state, without any continental government

66

being willing to defend them." The situation of Sweden gives room for reflection on these probabilities. As for Holland, the King is as stout a Russian as the Crown Prince of Prussia and the

kings of the south of Europe, but he is differently situated.

.UKASE RESPECTING THE ARMENIAN CHURCH.

AN Ukase has lately appeared in the various journals regarding the Armenian church. A few weeks ago the announcement was made from Constantinople that the Armenians of the Ottoman domiions had been placed under the religious supremacy of the Armenian Patriarch in the Russian dominions. The statement of such a fact would seem of itself calculated to call forth the indignant remonstrance of this country, and the no less indignant remonstrance of a national opposition, if we had one, against the Foreign Diplomacy which does not perceive such monstrous conspiracies as these, or the Foreign Policy which does not assume such an attitude as to prevent their success.

After every element of discord has been cast over those unhappy countries, and when they are reduced to a state of convulsion or desperation, we of course shall say-Such is the decree of Fate, and Russia inherits by Right Divine. We will return to the political use made by Russia of Eastern creeds in our next Number.

OBSERVATIONS

ON

AN INTERCEPTED CARICATURE.

Ir may puzzle the uninitiated to understand how Caricatures can insinuate themselves among solemn State Papers. We confess we ourselves are at a loss to account for the existence among Russian documents of a Caricature of such a character as that which accompanies this number.

There are several able caricaturists, (we mean using the pencil), in the diplomatic service of Russia, but we doubt that their talents would be employed precisely in the representation of such features as these of Russian power: we, therefore, suspect that this Caricature has been bought up, dreading its effect on the public feeling of England. Certainly, never in fewer lines has the state of Europe been epitomized. Hideous and humiliating representation!

VOL. III.NO. XXII.

R

There is but one point on which we feel inclined to criticise it. Louis Philippe dances with energy and zeal, but he deserves promotion. He ought not to be placed in the Russian dance below the old Emperor of Austria; but, on the other hand, his position is well chosen, as enabling him to win into graceful motion the reluctant attitude of his English ally.

Prince Metternich once, to his cost, indulged in satire of this kind against the Emperor of Russia and his Court when, at Paris in 1825, he was so unguarded as to allow to be seen there graphic sketches of his pen. They were communicated to the Russian Court, and produced the greatest indignation against the Chancellor of the Court and State. Who was guilty, it will be asked, of this violation of private confidence, of this sin against the political faith of this country, if not of France? Of course it will be said that it was the subservient cabinet of France. It was not. It was our gifted Canning! It was conceived by him to be a splendid hit at the system of the Holy Alliance. Such has been the lamentable policy of this country at all times, whether directed by a genius or an humbler mortal.

ARMENIAN CHURCH.

AT the moment when the British Parliament and the public journals were exulting over the triumph of British influence at St. Petersburg, and the satisfactory result of our Policy in the arrangement for the evacuation of Silistria, we observed, in the very same letter announcing this intelligence, that the Porte had consented that the ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the Armenian population should be transferred from the Patriarch of Constantinople to the Patriarch of Utchmiadzin, the religious capital of Armenia, and extorted from Persia during the last war. This statement excited no attention, did not elicit a single remark; its object, character, and consequences were as completely incomprehensible as if Russia had never interfered in Greece, because commanded to do so par toute sa religion.

The following extract, from the January number of the Foreign Quarterly Review, strikingly illustrates our argument.

"The most powerful lever which had been placed in the hands of Russia, and which was perhaps one of the original determining