The Vienna correspondent of the Times, an acute observer, though
perhaps too ready to believe in cataclysms, draws a striking picture of what he believes to be the situation in Russia. He thinks the labourers—which does not include the peasants—are everywhere discontented, as also are a large section of the landed proprietors, and a proportion at least of the private soldiers. Recently, he says, at St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Tula the infantry refused to fire upon the 'rioters, and the Government, though it arrested some officers, thought it best not to inquire into the conduct of the men. He adds, on the strength of a statement in the Information, an Austrian news sheet which has official patronage, the still more menaiing restatement that the peasants are beginning to read the revolutionary literature.
The Czar wishes to conciliate, but the truth is carefully kept from him, even in cases so serious as the discontent in Finland. We suspect exaggeration, especially as regards the disposition of the troops, but the sudden recrudescence of assassination is a very serious symptom, and suggests that the educated class is beginning to despair. We note, too, that there are two parties even in the Russian bureau- cracy, only one of which inclines to carry out a policy of " Thorough."
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