It is in no spirit of boast if we ask
leave to remind our readers of the more important points on which we have been able to supply them with the ear- liest and most accurate information. We are taking great pains to deserve their confidence by pledging ourselves only to statements on which we are well informed, and limiting the form of our statement to the facts which warrant it. Some of our readers we know bear these incidents distinctly in mind, but others may not remember the precise data on which their journal is entitled to their confidence. We make no allusion to our own views, put forward as such. For instance, it is a matter of comparatively little importance that the first suggestion of a Congress applicable to the present state of affairs appeared in our Topics of the Day, slightly in advance of any official proposals, and of similar suggestions in the Parisian papers. We present our views as such, not as intelligence.
The Russian proposal of a Congress was first announced in the Second Edition of our number for March 19th. We then stated that "Russia has proposed a Congress of the Five Powers, to be held at some other place than Paris, and France has agreed; it remains to be seen whether Austria will give her consent."
In the second edition of our number for April 23, we stated that " we have the strongest groundefor believing a close and intimate understanding in the present juncture, and all that it involves, to exist between France and Russia."
During the week that ensued a statement appeared in the most conspicu- ous quarter that a double treaty, offensive and defensive, had been con- cluded between Russia and France. We then explained that there was an understanding between France and Russia, and that it had probably been reduced to writing as a memorandum of the case as it was understood at the time by the two parties, but that there was no treaty. The treaty has since been denied on authority. Lord Malmesbury has very lately stated that there was a written memorandum of the understanding. On the 4th of Tune instant, we stated that " Prince Esterhazy leaves Vienna for London on an extraordinary mission." The most confident denials were at once put forth as to the Prince's intention of coming. fle has now come. The mission was also denied. We have authority second only to that of the Prince himself for laughing at any such denial. On the 11th of June we stated in the following words that Prussia was about to mediate in support of Austria—"Prussia has consented to aid Austria in preserving her pos- sessions in Lombardy. Prussia will uphold the treaties of 1815 with all her power."
In the intervals we have made many other statements, such as the ad- vance of the French troops towards Italy, which has been confirmed by the event. We have pointed to the incidents, we have named their course, they were of utmost importance because they were met with contradiction, and bemuse in each ease they have been confirmed by the event.
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