The tone of the Continental Press has been rather steadied
than inflamed by the reverse at Ladysmith. Almost every- where sympathy for the Boers is slightly cooled by their assumed successes. They have ceased to be " a peaceful little people attacked by a vast predatory Empire." There is, of course, general exultation at the English "defeat," the accidental cause of whioh was not known ; but the respectable journals, even in France, all admire General White's magnanimity, and are impressed by the coolness of the British public. The Figaro attributes to the General, because he told the truth, something of antique heroism. The German papers still talk of our soldiers as "mer- cenaries," which is about as fair as it would be to speak of theirs as " conscripts forced to enlist under penalty of death," but they appreciate the English calm, and do not expect that the reverse will greatly affect the campaign ; a tone in which they are imitated by the Austrians, who, how- ever, seem seriously to expect a rising within Cape Colony. Only in Russia is there a sort of yell of pleasure, and a dis. position to press the Government to derive some advantage from British embarrassments. The Governm ents, however, are everywhere reserved, and give no sign either of bias or impartiality.
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