NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE week has been outwardly more peaceful than the last, but nothing is settled. The effect of the debate in both Houses, which begun on Monday, was, on the whole, pacificatory ; while Icrince Gortschakoff's reply to Lord Salis- bury displays, to say the least, a desire for further nego- tiation. The Agence Russe, too, which is more than dead- official, says, on April 11th, that under "the moderating influence of Germany," diplomatic communications are proceeding, with the view of arriving at a pacific understanding through a Congress. "A favourable issue may be attained, if England does not raise fresh obstacles." On the other hand, the British Government shows no tendency to relax in its preparations ; the second corps d'arinee is being organised, and horses are being purchased, transport engaged, and plans drawn out by committees of Staff officers, as if immediate action were at hand. No one knows the truth except Lord Beaconsfield, and even he pro- bably rather seeks a triumph of some kind, than has decided what the triumph shall be. It is noteworthy that the War party are suggesting a dissolution, the result of which, they think, would paralyse all resistance to their policy. It certainly would unseat many Liberal Members for London, but that is no indication of its total result.
