The meeting of the Emperors and Chancellors at Skirnievice has
gone off happily, the Sovereigns who assembled on the 15th parting on the 17th inst., and having no time to quarrel. They had, it is said, conversation for about an hour and a-half, but their Ministers were closeted for a longer time. Nobody was blown-up. Nothing whatever has transpired as to the true object of the meeting, but a rumour has been carefully circulated that it was to agree to a general disarmament. As the Courts like soldiers, and want to put down anarchists, and do not want to invade France in order to compel her not to defend herself, this rumour is pro- bably intended to distract observers. All semi-official papers hint that the main subject of discussion is the repression of the dangerous forms of Liberalism ; but, though the Emperors dread the anarchists, it is probable that collision within the Balkan Peninsula was nearer than is suspected, and that the Monarchs desired to avert it. It is not easy to keep a large group of small States in ricketty equilibrium when every official wishes to upset it, and all the populations are anxious it should be upset. We must not forget either that Sovereigns are not always in the right, that they may suspect Mr. Gladstone, and that au agreement as to what is to be done with Turkey if England takes Egypt may seem to them in a high degree ex- pedient.
