The most important foreign news of the week is that
the Czar has apparently given up the intention of returning the German Emperor's visit, and this though he is now at Copen- hagen, whence he could very easily visit Germany. The apparent coldness between the rulers of Russia and of - Germany is, of course, a very important item of political meteorology, and, like the news which we so often get from Valencia of the tendency of the wind there to " back " just as we are hoping for a spell of fine weather, it damps all the hopes which are formed of a durable peace. At the same time, nothing is more remarkable than the Czar's indisposition to take any final step that would end in war. That he per- sonally is pacific we have no doubt ; and so far as the preserva- tion of peace depends on him, peace will be preserved. It is, obvious, however, that the relations between Germany and Russia are not just now of the most cordial kind, and at any time an outbreak in the Balkans might compel the Czar to take a political part to which personally he would greatly object, in precipitating war, unless indeed he were willing, which he would not be, to risk his throne,
