NEWS OF TIlE WEEK.
THE great rumour of the week has been the approximation of France towards Russia and Prussia, and her conse- quent detachment from Austria and the cause of Poland. It is said that the Emperor of Russia wishes to become constitu- tional, to grant Russia a senate of 300 members, and an elective chamber of 450, and give special representative institutions to the provinces also. Poland and Finland would have their diet, also representatives in the Central Assembly, and a com- pletely self-governing organization. France would congratu- late, compliment, and Russianize once more, and Prussia would unite with her to thwart the Federal scheme of Austria. And then, of course, the constitution would not work,—the Poles in diet assembled, if they did assemble, would prove their ingratitude, and Russia would most reluc- tantly be compelled to withdraw her gift, France deploring but unable to blame. The whole thing is still rumour; and only means at present that the Emperor of the French is supposed to be swinging back to his Russian bias, and the Emperor of Russia to be willing to give him a decent excuse for so doing.
