Alsace and Lorraine in spite of every- would feel a permanent hostility to France. thing the French could do to prevent Well as Strasburg was defended, the most them. But they would lose all hope of trustworthy reports show that every day getting their war expenses repaid, while it becomes more and more contented with the sum of these expenses would be being reunited to Germany. Strasburg is greatly increased. To ask for too much for many reasons an instance exceptionally territory, therefore, means for Germany to favourable to Germany, but the argument incur an avoidable outlay of so many mil- from the presumed hostility of the populalions of money that we have no means of tion seems really an argument as to the estimating their amount. There is, too, a quantity of territory to be ceded. With political danger in annexing to Germany Strasburg, and a small portion of territory a population that is hostile to it. But along the border, given to Germany, it is very difficult to say how far the popu- there might be no hostility at all. With lation of Lorraine and Alsace is hostile to too much exacted there might be a popuGermany now, and still more is it difficult lation incorporated in Germany which to say whether this hostility would last. would be permanently French. Metz, Of course there can be no doubt that again, is not necessary to protect GerFrench Lorraine would be permanently many so much as to weaken France; and hostile, but it would be difficult to prove although Count Bismark may begin by to a German that this would be the case asking for Metz, it by no means follows with German Lorraine and Alsace. All that he could not be induced to recognize the parallels of Ireland, Poland, and Ve- the distinction. The key to peace is for netia appear irrelevant. It is more to the France to become aware that Strasburg purpose to ask whether, if France were and some further indefinite quantity of strong enough to take and keep, and shield territory must be given up, and then, with from the dangers of future wars, our Chan- the assistance of friendly Powers like Engnel Islands whether we believe that, land, to get Germany to discuss fairly how loyal as they now are to the Crown, they much that further quantity is to be.

A STORY Comes across the sea, from one of the numerous light-ships that define our coast, which is highly curious if the inference from the facts be correctly drawn. A light-keeper relating his experience of the common tendency of sea birds to dash towards the lanthorns and set-out of a low creature's cognizance. Flies, birds, tle upon the rigging of light-vessels, adds that he has noticed the birds remain on the ship if the night has been cloudy, but take their departure as soon as the stars have become visible. Hence he infers that the birds are enabled to shape their course for land by the stars, thus proving themselves astronomers by instinct. Strange if true and it may be true, for animals have powers of observation of which we have small conception. But we rather suspect that the bird eyeing a star, flies towards it as towards a terrestrial light, ignorant of its distance. They who have studied the seemingly mad flight of winged things against lamps and bright windows, are pretty confident that the light is rushed at as an aperture of escape from darkness. The tendency of animate things is to seek light spaces; and when we see a bird or a moth dash at a flame, we may be sure from the very force and rapidity of its motion, that it regards the bright spot as a hole or window, through which it can dart into some space more brilliantly illuminated than that in which it is flying. Put a few flies into a bottle, and lay it

uncorked with the bottom towards a source of
light; the flies will crowd to the lightward end
and never attempt to escape by the open neck.
Turn the glass prison neck to light, and the
flies will escape directly. Glass is a substance

and animals dash stunningly against windows,
because they know not of the invisible barrier.
Lighthouse-keepers see birds maimed and killed
by the force with which they come against the
lanthorns. In all such cases the behaviour of
the animal shows that it mistakes the light for
a hole. And we can easily conceive a night
bird rising after rest upon a ship and directing
its flight in the direction of a star.
We com-
mend this subject to the study of naturalists; if
examination should confirm the old light-ship
keeper's notion that sea birds are guided by the
stars, all the more interesting will the study be-
come.
Gentleman's Magazine.

SINCE Mr. Howlett wrote his paper lately read before the British Association, another synodal revolution of the sun has again manifested a marvellous display of spots in the same regions of the northern hemisphere.

Athenæum.

From The Examiner.
RUSSIA'S OPPORTUNITY.

gone. Europe has stood by and seen France ridden down; Europe still stands looking on, watching the work of decimation and destruction as it is daily rendered more complete. Europe must, therefore, take the consequences-not the aggrandizement of Prussia alone, but the reversal of the sentence of Sebastopol, and the reestablishment of Muscovite dominion on the Lower Danube and the Dardanelles.

Power, with whom alone till now she condescended to be matched or measured, WE shall not have long to wait for the has for the time being ceased to exist. European consequences of the ruin and Another, possibly a greater, has suddenly partition of France. The power of the started into colossal development; but the West to hold in check the ambitious instincts and the interests of Prussia can schemes of the two great military States never be antagonistic in the same sense or of Central and Eastern Europe has been to the same extent as the instincts or insuddenly paralyzed, and the minor States terests of France; and a thousand conof the Continent, both North and South, siderations of neighbourship, trade, and lie at their mercy. While the issue of the dynasty make Russia and Prussia naturally campaign on the Moselle was doubtful, sincere allies. Each, if it cannot give, can Russia pretended to be asleep. Her Gov-guarantee the other all it wants; and there ernment would do, and her journalists is comparatively little either covets which would say, nothing. For family reasons, the other would quarrel about. Give and her diplomacy was actively and success- take is the obvious policy of St. Petersfully exerted to prevent the Danes from burg and Berlin. Russia will readily ascommitting themselves to open sympathy sent, therefore, to France being despoiled with France. But not even for form's of Alsace and Lorraine, Prussia not objectsake could the Czar be persuaded to articu-ing to the realization of the Empress late audibly a word on behalf of Belgium. Catherine's dream. The power of veto is If Uncle William found it necessary to infringe the neutrality of Luxembourg or Brabant, Alexander II., like a good nephew, would not interfere to prevent him. The turn of subsequent events took Russia doubtless by surprise, and found her unprepared. Her war department, long the paradise of jobbing and malversation of all kinds, had not even made up its mind about the pattern of the improved musket to be supplied to the army; her commissariat was on a peace footing, and her military chest was well nigh empty. The first impulses of jealousy at German success were appeased by exultation at the humiliation of the victor of Malakoff; and second thoughts inspired the policy of going in with the winner, exulting with the fortunate, and conferring decorations on the princely leaders of the conquering host. Still, it is certain that Prince Gortschakoff no more anticipated the collapse of the French Empire, and the capture of the French army and its chief, than certain diplomatists and Ministers nearer home; and until within the last few weeks there was consequently no need to note particularly the speech or writing of the classes who, for the most part, have lain politically dormant in the dominions of the Czar during the last ten years. But the catastrophe of Sedan has waked up Russia as by the stroke of a talisman. The change wrought in her position is palpable, tangible, incontrovertible. The great military

It may not come to-morrow, or the day after, but it will assuredly come; and then, what shall we have to show for the forty millions of money borrowed for the Crimean expedition, and for which we levy taxes to pay an interest of three per cent.? It was voted a glorious expenditure at the time; and what Lord Palmerston would say or do were he here to be consulted on the matter, we do not undertake to tell. But he and Napoleon III. are equally silent now; and we, who paid the money and shed the blood, ask, but ask in vain, what will it avail a twelvemonth hence? Russia's opportunity is come at last. Baron Brunnow and Count Ignatieff may deny it, feign not to see it; like admirable actors, may mildly laugh at it. They are very wise to do so, for the opportunity has come unawares, and time must be gained to make ready. But the opportunity is here, such as there has not been for more than half a century we should rather say such as there has never been before.

CHAUCER. By James Russell Lowell,

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From The Edinburgh Review. GERMANY, FRANCE, AND ENGLAND.*

This might seem to be enough, for rarely indeed has the womb of Time added so much within so brief a space to the roll of history. But all which has been

THE unclouded skies of a glorious July seemed, at the commencement of that mentioned was upon the surface. That month, only to reflect an equally cloudless which lay, and yet lies, beneath, only the tranquillity on the face of Europe. Dan- future can adequately explore. Some part ger indeed there was, from long-continued of it, however, is visible even to us. military preparations -not made without These events have unset, as it were, every the intent of turning them to account. joint of the compacted fabric of ContiBut we lived on in fearlessness, as men uental Europe. There is not one considerable State, whose position and prospects were not fundamentally modified between the 5th of August and the 5th of September. Of some States, indeed, they were more than modified. France had lost, at the latter date, the military primacy which she had borne at the former, and which she had loftily carried for two hundred and fifty years. She had registered a vehement, and may we hope a final, protest, not so much against Napoleon, as against what we may term Napoleonism; and she had once more set out from the shore, weary and desponding, to traverse the boundless main in search of a Constitution. Belgium, by her own manly and sagacious conduct, and by what Mr. Disraeli, honourably to himself, called the "wise and vigorous" support of England,

live, by custom, under some impending cliff, or the huge toppling mass of a ruined castle; that which has quietly hung over them so long, may leave them in peace yet longer. The strain of high expectation cannot be indefinitely maintained; man must have repose. So the resolute attitude of Prussia did not alarm us, and we were lulled into confidence by the fair assurances of France. But before one week of the month had passed the storm burst upon the world. First came diplomatic mutterings, for which a few days only were allowed. Then followed the ring of weapons making ready for the encounter, and the tramp of armed men. On the 2nd of August, in the insignificant affair of Saarbrück, the Emperor of the French assumed a feeble offensive. On

the 5th, the Prussians replied energetically had, amid the shocks of the political at Wissemburg. And then, what a tor- earthquake, acquired a deeper and more rent, what a deluge of events! In twenty-solid standing-ground than she had eneight days, ten battles were fought.joyed at any former period since the Three hundred thousand men were sent kingdom was called into existence. Anto the hospitals, to captivity, or to the other yet smaller State, but of greater, grave. The German enemy had indeed of world-wide, interest, has been penetrated into the interior of France over a affected in a very different manner. distance of 150 miles of territory, and France, as was natural, found it needful, stretched forth everywhere as he went on the outbreak of the war, to withdraw the strong hand of possession. The Em- her troops from Rome; the decrepit strucperor was a prisoner and deposed; his ture of the Pope's civil Government, on family wanderers none knew where; the the removal of its prop, immediately began embryo at least of a Republic born to totter. We may now pronounce it of the hour had risen on the ruins of the level with the ground; there seems to be Empire; while proud and gorgeous Paris scarcely a hope or a fear of its restora was awaiting, with divided mind, the aption, and possibly the day may come when proach of the conquering monarch and it may be generally believed that the downfall of the temporal power of the Popedom has, in its ulterior results, been the greatest and most fruitful, among all the great and fruitful consequences of the war. If we turn to the greater Powers, we find that they have all instinc

his countless host.

*1. La Prusse et l'Autriche depuis Sadowa. Par EMILE DE LAVELEYE. Deux Tomes. Paris: 1870. 2. Correspondence respecting the Negotiations preliminary to the War. Presented to Parliament by command. 1870.