Calendar: 1854-1855 Page 346

348 GENERAL LITERATURE AND SCIENCE spoil his impenetrable retreat deprived the conqueror of the hopes of revenge and the pride or weakness of empire indulged an opinion that no honour could be gained or lost in the inter- course with barbarians At first their demands were high and inadmissible three pounds of gold for each soldier or mariner of the fleet the Russian youth adhered to the design of conquest and glory but the counsels of moderation were recommended by the hoary sages Be content they said with the liberal offers of Caesar is it not far better to obtain without combat the possession of gold silver silks and all the objects of our desires Are we sure of victory Can we conclude treaty with the sea We do not tread on the land we float on the abyss of water and common death hangs over our heads The memory of these Arctic fleets that seemed to descend from the polar circle left deep impression of terror on the Imperial city By the vulgar of every rank it was asserted and believed that an equestrian statue in the square of Taurus was secretly inscribed with prophecy how the Russians in the last days should become masters of Constantinople In our own time Russian armament instead of sailing from the Borysthenes has cir- cumnavigated the continent of Europe and the Turkish capital has been threatened by squadron of strong and lofty ships of war each of which with its naval science and thundering artil- lery could have sunk or scattered an hundred canoes such as those of their ancestors Perhaps the present generation may yet behold the accomplishment of the prediction of rare pre- diction of which the style is unambiguous and the date un- questionable -Gibbon VI -translate into crh iambic First let me tell you whom you have condemn'd Not me begotten of shepherd swain But issued from the progeny of kings 'irtuous and holy chosen from above By inspiration of celestial grace To work exceeding miracles on earth