Russia will in due time become a power almost as great as the old Roman Empire. She can become mistress of all Asia, except British India, whenever she chooses to take it; and when enlightened arrangements shall have made her revenue proportioned to her territory, and railways shall have abridged distances her command of men will become enormous, her pecuniary means gigantic, and her power of transporting armies over great distances most formidable. Germany ought to be strong in order to resist Russian aggression, and a strong Prussia is essential to German strength.


Letter to Lord John Russell (13 September 1865), quoted in E. Ashley (ed.), The Life of Henry John Temple, Viscount Palmerston 1846-1865 (London, 1876), pp. 270-1

Henry Temple Quotes

Russia will in due time become a power almost as great as the old Roman Empire. She can become mistress of all Asia, except British India, whenever...

Russia will in due time become a power almost as great as the old Roman Empire. She can become mistress of all Asia, except British India, whenever...

Russia will in due time become a power almost as great as the old Roman Empire. She can become mistress of all Asia, except British India, whenever...

Russia will in due time become a power almost as great as the old Roman Empire. She can become mistress of all Asia, except British India, whenever...