Excerpt from The Edinburgh Review, or Critical Journal, Vol. 159: For January, 1884-April, 1884, to Be Continued Quarterly

Of the political changes produced by this overflow of Europe into Asia, the acquisition of India by the English has hitherto been. Incomparably the greatest, though the steady advance of Russia, pushing forward its steel wedge into the central Khanates, is fraught with no less momentous import to the destinies of the continent. The commanding position that Russia is taking up-in Asia, threatens all the great Asiatic sovereignties at once; she takes Asiatic Turkey in reverse; outflanks Persia on the north; her line of march points straight toward the vulnerable frontiers both of India and China, while upon every principle of political dynamics it is clear that her onward movement must con tinne, and will probably gather strength as it goes. So many new and complicated problems are raised or foreshadowed by this appearance of European States as first-class Asiatic powers, by the spread of their dominions, and by the rivalry which their contact must generate, that we may rely upon. Fresh sources of international dispute, new fields of diplo macy and war, being opened up in time to supply any defi ciency that may be anticipated from the gradual extinction of old European quarrels. On the other hand, these European encroachm'ents are-rapidly and profoundly affecting Asia; nor can it be doubted that their tendency is to extend and consolidate civilisation. Whether these extensions are to be permanent, is a question which time only can answer, for Asia is'a quicksand on which no one, except perhaps the Chinese, has yet been able to raise any stable political edifice. Even the Romans failed so completely that their long rule in Asia Minor has left very little except a name; and the remark of Sir G. G. Lewis, that since the formation of the Roman Empire the boundaries of the civilised world have not been extended'by the civilisation of uncivilised races, illustrates the' strength and power of resistance possessed by barbarism entrenched behind the unchanging conditions of Asiatic existence. The Russians have hitherto for the most part only reoccupied Asiatic ground that was] lost by a higher civilisation many centuries ago, when the Romans retired from the Caspian, and gradually gave up their1884. Government of the Indian Empire.

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