difference of religion does not prevent him from showing them great kindness. As to the people, they are possessed of a superstitious faith, but they live on good terms with all Christian sects. Both merchants and people entertain a violent fanatical hatred against all Mussulmans, but particularly against the Turks. The upper classes are indifferent in matters of religion, but politics and national traditions have accustomed them to execrate all that is Mohammedan. All classes are unanimous in stigmatizing-cursing is the word-the cruelties of the Turks. The passions of the people are excited to a pitch I could not have suspected, and at this moment one might believe that every Russian is a fanatic, which is certainly not the fact, but the old hatred so strongly resembles fanaticism that one might mistake it. There is but one voice, one cry, 'We must succour the Christians, exterminate their barbarous oppressors, revenge religion and outraged humanity, finish with the Turks, and drive them out of Europe.' The army appears to experience even more violently than the people this paroxysm of anger. These soldiers, so mild in their relations with the people, have for some time past assumed a martial attitude; their features have become hardened and their eyes flash fire. One should see this metamorphosis to believe it. It is particularly at the camp of Krasnoe-Selo that the spirit of the army shows itself with the greatest energy. When the Emperor makes his appearance the acclamations, which were always warm and sincere, are now enthusiastically frantic, of which the meaning can escape nobody. The Emperor appears to be perfectly well satisfied with them, and the soldiers have received more presents than they had for a long time. The army appears to be convinced that they are on the eve of a war, and this feeling communicates an ardour which forms a strong contrast with that species of languor and carelessness which were remarked during the last three years. At Moscow it is still worse, and what is remarked here cannot bear a comparison with the demonstrations which have taken place in the old

capital of the empire. According to the best authenticated accounts we receive every day, the rage of the people there is unbounded. The orthodox population demand why troops are not already on their march against the miscreants-the infidels-who murder old men, women, and children, and who drink Christian blood. The people crowd their churches, and listen attentively to their Popes, whose sermons are allusions to the atrocities committed by the Turks, and who pray to God that His just anger may not fall on the heads of those cold and inhuman politicians who hear without shuddering the cries of the victims immolated by the Mussulman's cimeter, and who are not affected at seeing the palpitations of the smoking entrails of so many thousand Christians, their brothers in Jesus Christ. They say that holy Russia cannot long remain an accomplice to that cowardly indifference to that hideous egotism-that treason to the Christian religion. These sermons, sometimes eloquent, inflame the multitude, and excite them to a pitch which we in our sceptical societies of Western Europe can scarcely comprehend. Here the people believe firmly, and one must not offend their opinions, unless one wishes to degrade himself in their eyes. For these reasons the authorities at Moscow, either because they coincide in opinion with the people, or that they have received orders to that effect, will not interfere with these manifestations. The soldiers, who are to be seen in the churches mixed with the people, make the sign of the Cross when they hear of the acts of barbarity which the priest narrates from the pulpit, exclaiming at the same time, When is the holy war to be commenced?' Old men who recollect the excitement which existed in the year 1812, declare that the irritation was then less terrible and less implacable. A stranger who should be transported to the old capital, and who should see the effervescence which prevails there, would soon comprehend that when the religious passions of the Russians are once aroused they are really to be dreaded. Here in St. Petersburg the journalists use very strong

language. Some of them demand that Russia shall form an alliance with France-chastise the miscreants, and even declare war against the Powers who, under pretence of maintaining the pretended independence of the Ottoman empire, prevent justice from being executed. The censors, so difficult on other occasions, suffer everything to be said, and M. Westmann, the political director at the Foreign-office, was never so amiable. It is evident that he has received orders to act so."

The massacre at Damascus has been fearful. Damascus is alike one of the oldest and the most remarkable cities of the nations. It has remained the spectatress of the events, and scenes, and changes of four thousand years. It has formed a part of Babylon, Nineveh, Persia, Greece, and Rome. It prospered under each, and it survived them all. The Osmanlis, decrepit and dying, and guilty, are its present rulers. It is situated on the banks of the ancient Abana, which descends from the heights of Antilibanus, and flows eastward across the plain on which Damascus now stands. This river fills the intersecting canals, and supplies the fountains and adds beauty and fertility to the plains that stretch. away from the city. Minarets and domes and gilded crescents rise up from the city in great numbers. Gardens and orchards extend eastward on both sides of the Abana, or modern Barada, of the richest luxuriance. On the streets of this city may be seen specimens of every race-the Turkish effendi, the Damascus merchant, the Druse shah and the Kurdish shepherd, the Bedouin and the fierce Albanian. In its bazaars are displayed embroidered silks and scarfs and carpets, and inlaid ornaments from Persia, shawls from Cashmere, and weapons of war richly ornamented.

Here still exists "the street called Straight," referred to in Acts ix. 11. Here also is the very spot on which

St. Paul was let down in a basket in order to escape the fury of his enemies. The house of Ananias is now a chapel for the terra santa monks. The whole populatian of Damascus amounts to upwards of 150,000, of which 74,000 are Mahometans, 14,000 Christians of various confessions, 5,000 Jews, and the rest 'Druses— strangers, slaves, travellers. The Mahometans are licentious, sickly, short-lived, and intensely fanatical, spending their whole life in visiting the harem, the mosque, and the bath. Their conversation is filthy and impure, and it is so among males and females. There is neither justice nor truth among these hypocrites, fanatics, and sinners.

The Christians have been rapidly increasing in numbers, in wealth, and influence, having long enjoyed a substantial protection from the English Consul. There are two patriarchs, a Greek and a Greek Catholic-the latter aided by Russian contributions. Protestant missions have also been conducted for many years, not without success. The Jews in Damascus are very rich, and have hitherto enjoyed protection under European Consuls. It is easy to see what a fearful calamity the conniving, if not active, Moslems and mountain Druses have inflicted on the Christians of Damascus. Intoxicated with fanaticism and the love of plunder-thirsting to glorify the Prophet, and to enrich themselves-zealous for the Koran, and greedy of the riches of the industrious Christian population-they have massacred at least five hundred Christians, and enriched themselves with the spoils.

It does seem to us that, if our country so defer to the miserable and decrepit Moslem that he shall be trusted to avenge and punish this horrible outrage, or so to magnify the non-intervention policy that no active steps

shall be taken to bring the murderers to speedy and condign punishment, we shall have the Moslems rising wherever they have power, and exterminating Christians wherever they exist. We trust that a more intelligent, humane, and dutiful policy will prevail. We have paid more than enough in blood and treasure to maintain the Moslem in Constantinople. We expected that our Christian brethren under the Crescent would enjoy, if not consideration, at least impartial justice and ordinary protection. If the Turk be unable to restrain the ferocity of his race, it is time we undertook to supply his lack of power. If he aids or abets this new propagandism, it is our duty to treat such treachery as it deserves. We have to deal with no isolated and accidental quarrels. It is a passion that has been steadily fanned, and a policy which will be satiated with nothing short of the extermination of Christianity. That these events are subject to the cognizance of Him who sits above the floods, and will work out those great problems of which the East is soon to be the theatre, does not affect our national duty or responsibility. God will fulfil his prophecies. Let man listen to his divine precepts. Judea looms into view. The way of the kings of the East is being prepared, and Israel will soon have a home.

THE WEST.

The Western nations of Europe are still heaving like the sea, and cannot rest. Each seems preparing for a conflict it cannot define. Belgium, Prussia, France, Austria, England, and Russia stand armed. Trifles agitate cabinets; slight sparks kindle serious conflagrations; straws are invested with ominous and oracular significance, and the fears of statesmen are interpreted as prophecies of trouble. What is very remarkable, the Papacy is again the great dis