NEWS OF THE WEEK.
TrIHE Czar has declared war. It was reported last week that he would wait until he had returned to Moscow, but at Kis- cheneff he became aware of the impatience of his Army, and on 24th April the expected manifesto appeared. The document is simply written, affirms that the "whole Russian nation is ready to bear fresh sacrifices to alleviate the position of the Christians in the Balkan Peninsula," recounts the recent efforts at negotia- tion, and declares that the "haughty obstinacy of the Porte" ompels the Emperor to resort to force of arms. "Profoundly convinced of the justice of our cause, and humbly trusting in the Divine grace, we make known to our faithful subjects that the moment has now arrived which we foresaw when we uttered at Moscow the words to which all Russia responded with such unanimity. To-day, invoking God's blessing on our faithful Armies, we order them to cross the frontier." The manifesto contains no threat to Turkey, and no promise that Russia will abstain from making conquests. This is considered by the anti- Russian journals, which had in advance denounced the promise as a perfidy, as overt evidence of Russia's rapacious designs.
