The chief interest of the journals for the week lies
in the Conti- nental news ; and, yet that is not different in its substantial cha- racter from the news for the current month. The chief vicissitude seems to be developed in the contest at Montenegro ; which tells just now against the pigmy state warred on by Turkish cranes, and supported by insidious allies. The actual proceedings of the parties to the contest, both overt and occult, are as much as pos- sible covered with a veil. Russia is known to be at work ; she cultivates the principal families of Montenegro, as she has culti- vated the leading men in the whole of Solavonian Turkey. Austria has a double relation with the Sclavonians : she has supported them in their corporate capacity ; and her soldiers, stationed to guard her own! " military frontier," have fraternized with the warlike tribes whom they were posted to keep back. And now Austria is maintaining an equivocal attitude of "observation" at the Bocca di Cattaro,—cutting off supplies of munitions for the " rebels," and yet not lending to Turkey that hearty and frank support which an ally might expect. Turkey herself has declined the aid of Russia—who is negotiating with both parties • and the inhabitants of the neighbouring districts, who sympathize with Montenegro, are making overtures to the Sublime Porte. The quarrel is one of the most complicated on record. Its intricacy is somewhat explained, when we remember that the Solavonian Turks have designs of their own, and that if they were too readily and unreservedly to accept the patronage of Austria or Russia, they might more completely forfeit their own purpose, than while they remain subject to the weak power of Turkey. They elect their Sovereign as Cardinals elect their Pope, for his imbecility. The very fact that the leading family of Montenegro is closely allied with St. Petersburg must make its neighbours hesitate to commit themselves too irretrievably to an anti-Turkish course. They may not state the case so formally, but they probably act on such an impression. It remains to be seen whether Turkey, guardian to one of the portals of the East, will be left to be ab- sorbed by one of the great powers hostile to the influences of the West. The contest becomes daily more critical.
