Russia would but serve the ends of ... England to the
prejudice of her own interests, which demand that she
should not jeopardise the security of her Asiatic shores, or
contribute to the complete ascendancy of Great Britain in
the Pacific Ocean, by arousing the antagonism of
China."--_Times_.]

_Muscovite loquitur_:--

"Won't you help me bind the Dragon?" says the Briton to the Russ.
Oho! ingenuous JOHNNY! I'm opposed to needless fuss,
And have other fish to fry--say near the Oxus! Not a hang
Do I care for what may happen on the great Yang-tse-Kiang.

I approve Non-intervention. 'Tis your favourite doctrine, JOHN,
And you stick to it _so_ closely, and that's just why you get on.
If you think that Dragon's dangerous--I hold 'tis but his play!--
There's but one thing you've got to do--clear out of the brute's way.

I am sure he doesn't want you where you've stayed a deal too long;
He wishes you would up and go to--well _not_ to Hong-Kong,
But the natural home of all such "Foreign Devils," in _his_ view.
Why, he's none too sweet on Me, JOHN; is it likely he'd like _you_?

_Grattez le Russe--et cetera_. You are mighty fond, J.B.,
Of quoting that stale epigram. You fancy it riles me.
Not a bit of it, my Briton; Tartars have a thickish skin,
And your foe and I are neighbours, nay a distant sort of kin.

The Mantchus and the Romanoffs are not exactly chums,