character
of many of the leading articles in the continental journals, and a wish
expressed that translations of them were more frequently communicated in
our own papers to English readers. The great newspapers of this country are
too rich in varied talent and worldwide resources of their own, to make it
worth their while in ordinary times to pay much attention to information
and disquisition from foreign politicians, on subjects of the day; but the
infinite importance to England, and to the world, of the present warlike
struggle, renders it a matter of corresponding weight to know how far the
foreign press, in the great centres of movement and intelligence, stand
affected to Great Britain. Perhaps, therefore, as a specimen of this kind
of writing, you will for once admit, among your varied contents, the
following article from the _Koelnische Zeitung_ of May 4:

"While in England, as a preparation for war, a day of humiliation and
prayer is held, on which the Clergy exhort the people to look into
their own breasts, and to discover and forsake those sins which might
provoke God's punishments; while the most powerful nation of the world
commences war by humbling itself before God, on the part of Russia a
new manifesto appears, the arrogance of which can scarcely be exceeded
by anything human. The Czar speaks as if he were the representative of
God upon earth. His affair is God's affair. He carries on war for God,
and for His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Saviour. God is for
him, who can be against him!

"Such a document has not proceeded from the cabinet of any European
power since the Middle Ages. It exceeds all which even Russian
diplomacy has accomplished, in its zeal for Christianity, during the
last century. For it is worthy of notice that nowhere is religion so
much publicly talked about, as in the place where least of it remains,
among the higher classes in St. Petersburgh. Religion there is _inter
instrumenta regni_. When Catherine II. permitted her husband Peter III.
to be imprisoned, in order to rob him of his throne and life, the cause
of this was communicated to the Russian people on July 9, 1762, as
follows:--'First of all, the foundation of your orthodox Greek religion
has been shaken and its principles are drawing near to a total
overthrow; so that we ought to dread exceedingly lest we should see a
change in t