(Communicated.)

Otago Witness, Issue 131, 19 November 1853, Page 3

( Communicated. )

The crisis in Turkey being at present a pretty significant question, I take the liberty of forwarding for insertion in your next publication an article from the " Edinburgh Witness," which, though not ostensibly written on the subject, is introduced by some remarks upon the position of Turkey distinguished for the pertinacity and acute penetration which generally characterise the productions of that paper. The article is entitled " Foreshadowings in Italy," and was written in April, when it was thought by many that Russia had suspended, at least for some time, her ambitious designs upon Turkey. The writer, it is needless to say, seems to have seen the matter in its true light, since the recent intelligence from Britain vindicates the correctness of his opinion. But the editor takes occasion further to show, not only from the position of Turkey, but of the whole European Continent, how dreadful and awful a doom awaits that portion of the northern hemisphere. Europe at this moment may be described to be like an immense volcano, to which the burning mountains of Etna and Vesuvius are as nothing. It has its numerous craters interspersed everywhere throughout the vast Continent, and if one of these, even the smallest, shall explode, it is almost certain that the others would ignite and follow in its train ; so that it matters little whether the ir-

ruption shall begin at Constantinople, Rome; Milan, Vienna, or Pesth, for it will and must, sooner or later, take place, wiien each and all of these cities, with many other portions of the continent besides, shall yet be overtaken by the burning lava. Are not these considerations fitted to awaken the sympathies and alarm the secure ? These convulsions, which appear so distinctly to be looming in the distance, the thinking and studious Christian, however, does not attribute to any fortuitous circumstances ; he sees in them the workings, the retributive justice of an Almighty Providence. . Constantinople being regarded as- the capital of the Mahommedan delusion in a much similar sense as Rome is the seat of the Papal superstition, the downfall of either must be regarded as an indication of the speedy extinction of these idolatrous systems. As both of these systems rose together, it is generally understood that so they will fall ; and, from the signs of the times, it would appear as if that consummation were not very far distant. The only other explanation I would make is with regard to Piedmont, to* which kingdom the article alludes. This State, it may be well to remind your readers, is the only portion of Italy which is not indirectly governed by the Jesuits, in consequence of which its inhabitants enjoy at this moment comparative liberty. At the Revolution of '48 Piedmont obtained a constitution, and the King of Sardinia, to his honour, has upheld that constitution, notwithstanding the coercion he has been subjected to by the Pope of Rome and the other despotic powers' by which he is surrounded. Though the Jesuits have been endeavouring to nullify the constitution by reviving the old laws against religious liberty, which led to the martyrdom of the Waldenses, and which have not yet been removed from the statute book, the King has, as often as the attempt has been made, frustrated their designs :—: —