On his way through Vienna the Metropolitan Clement, who has
been to St. Petersburg with the deputation to the Czar, was interviewed by the editor of the Neue Fret's Presse. He declared that "the grateful feelings which Bulgarians enter- tain towards Russia are not merely those felt by the liberated towards the liberator, but are also based upon the principle that all Slays should be united." The kind reception ac- corded to the deputation in St. Petersburg by Prince Lobanof alone would have sufficed to prove the possibility of a recon- ciliation between Russia and Bulgaria. "Moreover," added the Metropolitan, "during the private audience granted to me by the Czar, which lasted for nearly an hoar, his Imperial Majesty was so gracious and kind that we are now sure of the favourable development of the future of our country.
• The reigning dynasty of Bulgaria must belong to the Orthodox faith. Prince Ferdinand knows this as well as we do, and, as he has the happiness of the country at heart and respects the will of the people, he will not place obstacles in the way of the welfare of the Principality. We are now convinced that Bulgaria will have a reigning dynasty belong- ing to the Orthodox Church. That is quite certain." These words seem to import more than that the baby Prince Boris is to be brought up as a member of the Orthodox faith. They point to the abdication of Prince Ferdinand. The interview ended with the remark, "We bring from Russia to Sofia the conviction that the reconciliation is an accomplished fact." But Russia has always made the departure of the Coburger a sine quci non of reconciliation. It will be curious to see whether Prince Ferdinand will vanish like a. Bourbon or hang on like a Coburger.
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