It is once more announced, apparently on authority, that the
Emperors of Russia and Germany are to meet for a few hours at Kiel, probably on the 7th inst. The Czar owes hia cousin a visit, but he hates the idea of a reception in Berlin ; and this compromise has, it is said, been devised to avoid the appearance of intentional discourtesy. The arrangement is probably of little importance, as the two monarchs, great as their personal power may be, are bound in a hundred invisible• fetters, and could hardly arrive at any secret arrangement. It is to be noted, however, that the suspicious politicians of Vienna regard the meeting with annoyance, and keep. repeating eagerly that it can have no political significance, or the Austrian Emperor would have been invited. A simple explanation of the whole affair is the preference of the Czar for travelling by sea. He is never safe on a railway, unless it is practically lined with troops ; while it is impossible for an assassin to blow up a ship, unless he blows himself up too, and a crowd of innocent persons beside. The last railway ex- plosion deeply affected the mind of the Czarina, and it is no imputation on the Czar to say that he would rather not be' put to death violently. Cromwell showed precisely the same- feeling, and so has every Sovereign not protected, like William of Orange, by a trace of genuine fatalism.
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