6 SEPTEMBER 1879, Page 2

The gossips of the different capitals are still amusing them-

selves with reports about Imperial alliances.. Acdording to one set of rumours, Prince. Bismarck mid Count Andrassy, in a. conversation of some hours—which certainly took pimp—laid the basis of an alliance directed against Russia ; while the Rus- sian Court, on its side, is thinking of war with Germany, pre- ferring the chance of annihilation to the prevalence of Nihilism. According to another set, the Emperors of Germany and Russia have met at Alexandrowo, on the 4th inst., in order to re-cement the Triple Alliance, and some grand, movement, presumably disagreeable to England, is immediately on the cards, the Anetro-German alliance and the Russo-German Press duel being merely blinds. We have endeavoured elsewhere to state the reasons why Austria would seek a German alliance just now, and has probably found it, and should interpret the Emperors' visit to Alexaudrowo as an effort from Berlin to induce the Czar to accede to the new arrangements, As Russia is in no condition to make war, Alexander may submit ; but if not, we shall see the relations between Berlin and St. Petersburg grow exceedingly strained. The theory of a quarrel ordered to blind the world is a little too clever.