DescriptionTreaty map 1856.jpg |
Treaty map of Europe, April 20th, 1856. The key reads
Key to the Treaty Map of Europe
England, represented by Britannia, sits mournfully upon the waves she once ruled. Just as she has "got the steam up," she receives without joy, a patched-up treaty of peace, that humiliates nobody except England, and benefits nobody, except Russia. Britannia's aim is held in confinement by "the Horse Guards"; Nepotism at her shoulder knot; and tlie "Manchester Peace Party" at her light hand, weigh it down. Red tape ties her sword in its scabbard. The British lion, although couchant is by no means satisfied by the half-done work; his eye is blinded by a blow from the Redan, and above him is the balance of accounts, a payment of fifty million of pounds sterling, for the little jobs of Kinburn and Bomarsund, not worth fifty pence.
France is better pleased, the Gallic cock crows over its success, and even the young chick, just out of its egg, is rejoicing; the stride of France is over the treaty, and his foot already touches the Pyrenees; beyond which, Spain raging like a mad bull, tosses aloft its rag of a constitution, and is still in the dust of its disturbances.
Italy, a mad dog in convulsions, is tied up neck and heels, owing its strangulation to the twisted rope of Popery, which is tightened round its throat; it still looks to the braying animal that lays his paw on it, and turns from the noble monarch, who is rady to be at its side.
Sardinia, a trump card, has played the rub, counts honours, and will perhaps shortly win its game.
Austria, the double headed Ass, as of yore, has "hung a Calf skin on its recreant limbs," through which is thrust the sword which she feared to draw. One paw writes protocols to the Western Powers, the other covers Hungary, and stretches to the Danubian provinces, which are still "a nice bone to pick."
Prussia, the cur, wears the collar of the Czar, its master; the petty, the very petty German states are tied to its tail; its Crown is but half secure, and it makes but a sorry figure in the eyes of Europe.
Poland shows but as the grave-stone of Defunct Nationality; the form of its vengeance is still indistinct, but rost-worn chaims may yet break, and "the policy of Peter the Great," may still be erased from the Map of Nations.
Hungary is the thistle on which the braying donkey Austria still feeds; the thistle's motto is, however "nemo me impune lacessit," and the iron crown must yet be purchased by some iron sword.
Sweden, old Sweden, still asks for its Fin, and must have it one day restored-Norway promises to back the old Sea-dog, and Denmark, with mournful sound calls backs the fleet, which merely left the British Lion's complimentary card at Cronstadt, promising to call again.
Russia, the Northern Bear, enchained by the treaty with the Allied Powers, and kept tied up nearer to the North Pole, turns its head for a while from the East, to lick his wounded pa of the Crime. Bristling bayonets interpose to keep his sinister paw from Circassia (paws of the Persian carpet!) but the Russian hide is only half "tanned", brute force seems still its collar of merit; falsehood and cruelty on its lips, ignorance and bigotry on its forehead, treachery lurking behind, it is still under the shade of its ancient protector.
Turkey seems more at ease, resting on a better foundation, it appears determined to rely on its renewed strength, whilst its old and defunct imbecility, cupidity and ignorance have found dishonourable graves.
The Treaty map of Europe, which shall yet be formed, must be written with Steel Pens, of which many millions are nearly ready. |