THAT the present movements of the nations of Europe have an important bearing on the position of those who hold that Rev. vii, 1-3; xi, 15-19; xiv, 9-12, are having a partial fulfillment, we have no doubt. But, just what that bearing is, has been our anxiety to determine. The many speculative notions relative to the fulfillment of prophecy in the movements of Russia and other European nations, which have been presented by some professed Advent believers for the past six years, have been indeed disgusting, and calculated to destroy consistent faith. Of past fulfillment of prophecy we may speak with positiveness; but of the future, at least as far as it relates to the manner in which the preparatory scenes of the coming of the Son of man are to occur, it becomes those who are watching the signs of the times to speak with carefulness.
We have been solicited to give place in the REVIEW for the foreign news; but have hesitated to do so till it should be sustained and fully established weekly, and we first set before our readers our position relative to what bearing the movements of the nations of Europe have on the fulfillment of prophecy. There is no doubt remaining as to the REVIEW being sustained weekly. Our readers will see to this. We therefore, design hereafter to state our position, and give a careful selection from the foreign news, of all those important facts relative to the movements of the angry nations. We have space this week for only the following from the New York Tribune.
THE U. S. Mail steamer Baltic, from Liverpool Wednesday, February 8, arrived at this port on Monday morning at about 3 o'clock.
Intelligence from the seat of war indicates that important operations are at hand, but the news of the most vital consequence is the open preparation for war made by England and France. The following debate in the British Parliament, gives a view of the present position of affairs, and to which little can be added.
The Russian Ministers have left London and Paris, and instructions have been sent to the French and English Embassadors to withdraw from St. Petersburg. The Czar's last proposals are finally rejected, and negotiations are broken off. Count Orloff's Mission has failed.
GREAT BRITAIN.—The Russian Minister is understood to have withdrawn from London, and, in the meantime, will await, at Darmstadt, further orders from his government. In the House of Lords, on Monday 6th, the Marquis of Clanricarde brought forward his motion, "To call the attention of the House to the state of the country with relation to the question of peace and war."
FRANCE.—M. Kisscleff, Russian Embassador, left Paris on Monday evening the 6th, for Germany. At a Council held at the Tuileries, the Emperor strongly expressed the necessity, now that the negotiations are broken off, to prepare with vigor for war. In most departments of the military service, preparations are ordered to continue night and day. Immense orders for ammunition, arms and accoutrements are being executed with all haste, and the assembling, organizing and inspecting of troops goes on ceaselessly. Gen. Pelissier is selecting 20,000 picked men of the army of Africa, and 60,000 is set down as the amount of the French contingent. All might be ready for embarkation in one week. Candia was proposed as a rendezvous, but being too distant from Turkey, the island of Mitylene will probably be the chief depot. Great activity also prevails in the naval department. At Brest four sailing ships will be ready in a short time, and two steamers are only awaiting their engines. Levies of seamen arrive from all parts. The ocean squadron will soon be ready to sail, and the squadron of reserve be in a condition to re-enforce them, if necessary. At Toulon the ships-of-the-line Trident and Ville de Marseilles have been put in commission, and in about six weeks six other sail-of-the-line and a 60 gun frigate will be ready for active service. Prince Napoleon has returned to Paris from his mission to Belgium. The meeting of the Senate is deferred from the 27th of Feb. to the 2d of March.