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But if, as Earl Russell affirms,

Poles in the ancient kingdom are given up to | a position which, disguise it as we may, has the mercy of the czar, to the ruffian who is something of humiliation for a Government deporting the nobles of Lithuania, or the in- whose pride is at least equal to that of any cendiaries who are calling up peasants to Government in the world? By all reports, it massacre landlords in Volhynia. Congress-is arming to meet any possible eventuality, Poland will still remain united to Russia, repairing Cronstadt, replenishing arsenals, and the czar will still retain his indefinite ordering masses of troops into the provinces powers as king. Not one guarantee for per- most exposed to attack by sea. Strengthened sonal freedom is so much as suggested. Po- by the adhesion of the people, who, however land will still be occupied by Russian troops, discontented, are not unpatriotic, it may rewhose excesses are protected by the law which fuse point blank, and how will the Foreign exempts soldiers from courts of justice, while Office stand then? If it has decided on war, the children of Poland are still condemned to it may, indeed, escape ridicule, for it can serve at the furthest extremities of the em- plead the otherwise blameable moderation of pire. That the Russians will employ every its own proposals, and the contrast between power reserved as an instrument of terror is its gentle speech and its tremendous action certain, and there is nothing in the six points will certainly not diminish the dignity of its to prevent their sending all Polish regiments attitude. to do duty on the Amoor. The only guarantee worth a straw, the cantonment of the national army within the national boundary, is carefully omitted, and Poland is left dependent on a power which to her has always been treacherous, and which will feel, that its promises bave this time been extorted by the menace of force. No free press is demanded; it is as easy to punish complaint as crime; and the instant the paper is signed the government may commence with impunity to violate its provisions. What is to prevent it, except just such an insurrection as these proposals are intended to pacify, or just such an intervention of the West as Earl Russell hopes to avert? The treaty proposed is, in fact, a mere repetition of that which was signed at Vienna, and the breach of which has for thirty-three years kept Europe on the verge of a general war.

Take, on the other hand, the far more probable supposition that the czar rejects or evades the principal propositions. It will be exceedingly difficult, if he means to retain his autocratic power, to accept them even in seeming. The ruling classes of Russia, which include, be it remembered, the officers of the army, have reached that political stage at which the spectacle of a free Government in one-third of the empire-constructed by the sovereign who refuses free Government in the other two-thirds-would stimulate them to frenzy. The existing order of society could not endure a twelvemonth under such a pressure, and the dynasty would lose as much from its diplomatic defeat as it could fear to lose from war. Why, then should it accept

it has determined under all circumstances to avoid war, it will stand convicted of having attempted interference without the power of securing respect, and must either proceed to the extremities which it has repudiated in advance, or submit to leave the affair, and with it Europe, to the will of its great ally. For, it must be remembered, the ministry is not alone in this matter. If England, having joined France in a specific demand, retreats from enforcing that demand, Napoleon may well refuse to be dragged back by Earl Russell, or to encounter the ridicule which is so fatal in France. He is not bound to acknowledge that his despatches were only words, or to assume that when England demarded fulfilment of a treaty, she meant it should not be fulfilled. Is the Government prepared either to sacrifice the alliance which, while it lasts, keeps the ocean clear and limits the area of almost any disturbance, or to allow Napoleon to do the whole work and to fix on his own reward? To go forward with France was wise, if we were going forward to the end; but to go forward, and then desert her at a point where no critic among us can blame the emperor for advancing, and so sacrifice our own honor, the future of Poland, and the French alliance in one triumphant blunder;—this certainly is no evidence of high diplomatic skill.

We confess to a growing conviction that this question is leading to war, and that England, with all her efforts, may be unable to keep out of the fray. Napoleon has other interests than ours, and is liable to a pressure no government in England can feel. It is

easy for us to recede, for at the worst, there | ernments are usually prepared to accept, and is nothing at stake but a ministry; but it is for us as for Napoleon the alternative of com- . not so easy for him, who, if, once he incurs pelling respect by force seems most unpleascontempt, loses the hope of maintaining his antly near. There may be ways of escape, dynasty. France has been highly excited by but the preparation of armies in Russia and the continuance of the struggle, and will not batteries of artillery in Paris, the hush which hear without anger that diplomacy has only prevails on the continent, and the silence ensucceeded in displaying its own impotence to forced on the House of Commons, the frightassist the one friend for whom France cares. fully vague and wide projects which the AusNapoleon is not the kind of despot who can trian press is discussing, and the strained despise a national emotion, and his only door expectation which is beginning to manifest of escape is to throw the responsibility wholly itself among the best informed politicians of on his "selfish" ally. There is not a doubt Europe, are all symptoms which of late years that he will, if he decides on inaction, take have only preceded storms. We have no this course, indeed, he takes it now, and the dread of a war to realize such an object, but result of three months diplomacy will then we protest against a diplomacy which, if it be the irritation of Russia, the discredit of succeeds, is only to secure to a fraction of the Whig ministry, the execution of Poland, Poland a trumpery shred of freedom, and the alienation of Napoleon, and the mingled which, if it fails, will re-open all those vast contempt and distrust of the liberal classes sources of disturbance which the peace of of France. Those are not results which Gov- Paris was said to have closed.

on Arthur Hallam, very nicely written, and one on words set to music, which shows humor and literary skill. The grandeur of the youthful editors is rather amusing. Of one essay which they decline, they say, "of this effusion they will say no more than that its want of the poetic element disqualified it at once from appearance in our pages." The editors are classical, but, as Mr. Pecksniff puts it, "pagan, we regret to say." They announce for July the appearance of certain papers, not "D. V.," nor even "Deo volente," but "Diis volentibus." We trust the divinities invoked may prove propitious, as the lads really show a good share of literary capacity.-Spectator.

THE second session of the International Association for the Promotion of Social Science is to be held at Ghent, in the third week in September, between Monday, 14th, and Saturday, 19th, inclusive. Ghent is already preparing a series of fêtes, "which promise to surpass in historical exhibitions anything hitherto attempted of the sort." Among the questions to be discussed by the members of the International Association there are many on which the comparison of the continental with the English view will be peculiarly interesting, as, for example, "How can imprisonment pending trial be best preserved from abuse?" "Ought the State to preserve to itself certain monopolies, like the telegraph, railways, etc., and work them as a source of revenue?" "Within what limits should the rights of visit, capture, and blockade in time of war be restricted, in order to reconcile the interests of Journal of Horticulture of last week is the folAMONG the answers to correspondents in the belligerents with those of neutrals?" On such questions as these,and there are many such, Paralyzed;" from which it would appear that lowing, under the heading "Cochin-China Cocks foreigners may be of far more use to Englishmen poultry-medicine is not yet quite in a state of than Englishmen to each other. And the discussion, therefore, in Ghent in September will, it certainty. "The usual cause of these birds losmay be hoped, greatly widen the field and deepen blood-vessel on the brain. This generally is ocing the use of their legs is the rupture of a small the interest of the English Social Science Associ-casioned by the birds being too fat. A tableation's discussions to be held in Edinburgh between the 7th and 14th of the following month, October. Spectator.

THE Eton boys have re-established a magazine, called Etonensia, and their first number is a very creditable performance. There is an essay

spoonful of castor oil, and a diet of soft food, chiefly boiled potatoes, abundance of lettuce leaves, and freedom from excitement, whether from fright or other cause, is the best treatment; but it requires perseverance, and there is no certainty of success." This is a rather hopeless look-out for the paralyzed Cochin-Chinas.Reader.

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POETRY.-Festal Bells, 194. In Resurrectione Domini, 194. Cross begins to Bend," 194. Unusual Days, 194.

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SHORT ARTICLES.-The Life of William Chillingworth, 203. Rayons et Reflets, 212. A Cradle from Pompeii, 212. Natural Phenomena, 214.

PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY BY

LITTELL, SON & CO., BOSTON.

For Six Dollars a year, in advance, remitted directly to the Publishers, the LIVING AGE will be punctually forwarded free of postage.

Complete sets of the First Series, in thirty-six volumes, and of the Second Series, in twenty volumes, handsomely bound, packed in neat boxes, and delivered in all the principal cities, free of expense of freight, are for sale at two dollars a volume.

ANY VOLUME may be had separately, at two dollars, bound, or a dollar and a half in numbers.

ANY NUMBER may be had for 13 cents; and it is well worth while for subscribers or purchasers to complete any broken volumes they may have, and thus greatly enhance their value.

FESTAL BELLS.

BY SARAH WARNER BROOKS.

RING blithely, festal bells! ring in the day
That weary ages-toiling through the past-
Wrought out, when the slow shadows crept away,
And Liberty's young morning broke at last!
Ring sadly, sadly, festal bells! and low-
For, out on yonder arid field of strife,
Morn, weeping, marks with mournful flow

The heart-tide well from many a costly life! And slowly, slowly filming with a dreamless rest, Eyes dark with tenderness and hope and trust, Dear locks, that dainty-fingered love caressed, Matted and torn, and trampled in the crimsoned dust!

And many a blood-red blade shall smite to-day,

Brave tender hearts of mother, maid, and wife With the slow, inward wounds that bleed alwayStaunched but with green leaves from the "Tree of Life."

Ring grandly! since the stars together sang
Glad matins on Creation's natal day,
Never, such broad eternal issues hung

For God's fair earth, upon the doubtful fray!

To lose, is to go back with brazen shame
To old-time twilight, drear and dim-
To forge anew, in Liberty's sweet name,
Letters for white-robed Freedom's every limb!

To win, is to wipe out a loathful stain

From the fair garments of a peerless land, And speed her, purged and cleansed and "born again,'

Adown the gazing ages, free and grand! Ring festal bells-in sooth, ring in the dayThe day a groaning nation waits to see; When right and justice all our land shall sway; Ring in the tardy "year of jubilee ! " -Providence Journal.

IN RESURRECTIONE DOMINI.
(From the Latin of Peter the Venerable.)
HUSH, Magdalena, hush thy wailing,
And bid those streaming eyes be clear,
At Simon's feast thy tears prevailing,

Left thee no cause for weeping here:
A thousand notes of love are blending,
A thousand heavenly joys descending-
Let glad hosannas ring!

Here, Magdalena, smiles become thee,
Unveil the light of that pure brow,
The threatening anguish is passed from thee,
A glorious dawn is flashing now:
Christ hath the captive world set free,
And over death won victory-
Let glad hosannas ring!
Join, Magdalena, join our choirs,

Christ cometh from his gloomy cave,
The appointed day of grief expires,

He comes, the conqueror of the grave.

Whom dying thy hot tears bedewed,
Him rising hail with rapturous mood-
Let glad hosannas ring!

Lift, Magdalena, lift thy face,

All speechless, to thy new-born Lord, Adore that brow's benignant grace,

And be the fivefold wounds adored; On him like glistening pearls they shine, The jewels of the life divineLet glad hosannas ring!

Liye Magdalena, life is well,

Thy sun again mounts high in heaven; Let all thy veins with rapture swell,

That He the might of death hath riven; Past are thy pains and sorrows stern, Now let thy joyous love return, And glad hosannas ring!

-Spectator.

"MIDNIGHT IS PAST-THE CROSS BEGINS TO BEND.

"Midnight is past-the Cross begins to bend !" So sings the sailor on the Southern sea, Longing for darkness and the night to end,

And letting such old signs his Fancy please!

The night-watch, that began in storm and gloom, Wearied his soul-its dull hours dragging byHe smiles in seeing black clouds lift-make room, For this sweet writing of the stars, on high ! And so I think, through all our ranks to-day, Look, answers look, and friend speaks quick to friend,

Soldier to soldier, brother to brother, say,

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UNUSUAL DAYS. (29 FEB.)

THERE come unusual days, which, on life's plain,
Stand out for memory's gaze; days of rare joy,
Or startling incident, or unhoped gain,
Alas! too oft of more than wonted pain,

Or woe that breaks the heart; such days destroy

The sameness of life's course; and add one more
To the year's units, heaping thence our store
Of good or evil: ne'er can we maintain
The calendar unbroken, but must meet

The change that is corrective: Lord, when thou
Putt's in my time a day, as thou dost now,
Unknow in other years, grant, I entreat,
Such grace illume it, that, whate'er its phase,
It add to holiness, and lengthen praise.

-Time's Treasure.

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