ON THE POLICY AND THE POWER OF RUSSIA. 321 



tion" has condescended to use means not only unworthy of men of 

 personal honour and character, but "disgraceful to men sunk to a low 

 level of moral depravity." 



The Greek revolt was planned by Russia, and was the first develop- 

 ment of that grand scheme which has brought Turkey to her feet. 

 This was the first ground for negotiation, and during the course of 

 this diplomacy, such a continuation of political fraud has been perpe- 

 trated, as no European nation, under any rulers, however profligate, 

 would have been guilty of. Baron Strogonoff was the first to commence 

 this serio-comic political representation, and under the specious pre- 

 tence of humanity in the cause of the Greeks, he managed to obtain 

 the powerful support of the French and English name in furtherance 

 of his intrigues, and was thus enabled to dictate to the sultan terms 

 of such a character, that had he ventured alone, would at once have 

 alarmed the jealousy of Europe upon the Forte's refusal of the terms 

 offered by Russia, as a settlement of the Greek question. He thus 

 expresses himself, after reprobating the Turkish policy : 



" The Sublime Porte may easily explain to itself the consequences of 

 such a system. It will find itself forcibly, in spite of the most benevolent 

 intentions of the powers of Europe, in a state of hostility with the Christian 

 world. 



" Now, in the first place, if the disorders, of which the undersigned has 

 been forced to retrace the afflicting picture, are to continue, or cannot be 

 remedied, Russia, far from finding a guarantee of peace in the duration of 

 the Ottoman empire, would see itself forced, sooner or later, to accomplish 

 that which command her insulted religion, her infringed treaties, her co- 

 religionaries prescribed. 



" Au reste, the Ottoman ministry must have already judged, by the 

 unanimity of the representations that have been made to it, that the cause 

 which Russia pleads is AN EUROPEAN CAUSE." 



It will readily be believed by those who understand Russian nego- 

 tiation, that this benevolent note became an ultimatum ; and so eager 

 was the Russian diplomatist to close upon the Porte, and to evince 

 the " lively regret" caused by the sultan's hesitation about the terms 

 offered by Strogonoff in the name of Europe, that he only gave eight 

 days to the divan to deliberate upon the dismemberment of their em- 

 pire ; but the reader will hardly be prepared to learn that the Forte's 

 answer was not received because the eight days had expired ! The 

 simple Turkish narrative may be advantageously contrasted with the 

 hollow atrocity of the Russian manifesto in the name of Europe. 



(e ' Howsoever contrary the fixation of such a term, to the rules established 

 between two courts, still the Sublime Porte took to heart to conform to it. 

 Effectively, the eighth day being finished, preparation was made to trans- 

 mit the answer on the next day, and the dragomans of Russia were sent 

 for, to convey it to the minister. The dragomans alleged pretext, and in- 

 timated that they would come for it the day after. They did present 

 themselves at the Reis-Effendi's, and declared that, the term of eight days 

 having expired, the minister could not receive the answer of the Sublime 

 Porte/ This is what Russia calls rendering to the Porte, ' the last service 

 she owed it/ and in doing which, the Emperor believes he has fulfilled all 

 his duties ' jusqu'un scruple !' " 



It is needless to pursue the details of this atrocious business. 



M.M. No. 3. 2 T 



