the conversion of all the Sclavonians would undoubtedly follow. The Eastern schism would become extinct or reduced to insignificance; and to Russia would naturally fall the great work of Christianizing Asia, when the paralysis of schism was removed. Who can tell if the kingdom of Poland may not be restored to its autonomy, renovated by the severe chastisements which it has not only suffered but deserved, and purified from the foul mixture of infidel revolutionism which has been more fatal to it than any of its external disasters? The designs of God defy all human scrutiny, and the changes awaiting Europe, whose complicated, mysterious evolutions have always baffled the most sagacious foresight or previous planning of rulers or statesmen, are as much beyond philosophical calculation as the movements of three bodies are beyond the computation of mathematics. Some indications, however, precede the full disclosures of events. An eminent Catholic of Germany has recently said: “I see the finger of God, which pushes the Russians forwards and Romewards.”[183] We do not think there can be any object more worthy of the united prayers of all Catholics, next after the deliverance and triumph of the Holy See, than the reconciliation of Russia to the Catholic Church.
[177] Two Chancellors: Prince Gortchakoff and Prince Bismarck. By Julian Klaczko. Translated from the Revue des Deux Mondes by Frank P. Ward. New York: Hurd & Houghton. 1876.
Various works on Russia by Palmer, Gagarin, Tondini, De Custine, De Maistre, Pitzipios, Tyrrell, Gurowski, Romanoff, Rabbe and Duncan, etc. The histories of Mouravieff, Leo, Rohrbacher, Darras, and Alzog.
[178] Still another derivation is from Roxolani, the name of a Scythian tribe.
[179] The older brother, Constantine, resigned his right of succession.
[180] Alexander I. said to Caulaincourt: “I must have the key which opens the gate of my house.”
[181] La Russie c’est le rien.
[182] Contemporary Evolution, by St. George Mivart, pp. 66, 67.
[183] Reinhold Baumstarck in the Hist. Polit. Blätter for Dec. 1, 1876.