' 
HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
ot’ that nation, bringing troops, 
ammunition, or provisions; though 
he knew, that by treaty between 
Russia and the Porte, that passage 
was open to the vessels of the 
farmer, without exception or limit- 
ation, If these and other demands 
in his note urged with equal in- 
solence and contempt of good faith 
and of the obligations of treaties, 
were instantly complied with, he 
assured the Turks of the friendship 
and protection of his master, the 
great Napoleon ; butif not immedi- 
ately acceded to, he threatened them 
with instant war, and announced 
the presence of a formidable French 
army in Dalmatia, ready to punish 
or defend them, according to the 
party they espoused. ~ 
The Porte, instead of resenting these 
insolent proposals in the manner they 
deserved, whether governed by the 
intrigues, or terrified by the threats 
of Sebastiani, shewed a disposition 
to comply with his desires, and 
-communicated the note received 
from him to the English and Rus-. 
sian ambassadors at Constantinople, 
jn erder to obtain their advice in 
' this critical juncture of its affairs. 
Both these ministers, as was to be 
expected, remoustrated in the 
strongest terms against the waver- 
ing, undecided policy, which had 
Yately directed its councils; but 
_ their representations made little 
impression on its government, til} 
the Russian ambassador, Italinski, 
threatened to leave Constantinople, 
and began to make preparations 
for his departure* Alarmed at 
the threats of the Russian minister, 
as they had been formerly dismayed 
by the menaces of Sebastjani, the 
* Sept. 29. + Oct. 15. 
t Michelson entered Moldavia on the 23d of wiitamober: ; 
Me 
Vou. XLYIIIL 
209 
Turks yielded a second time to 
their fears, reversed their late or. 
ders, restored the deposed hospo- 
dars in the manner, required by 
[talinski, and acceded in fact to all 
his demands, + 
All cause of war between Russia 
ana Turkey seemed now removed, 
when suddenly a Russian army 
under general Michelson entered 
Moldavia, and took possession of 
Chotzim, Bender, and Jassi.¢ 
What were the motives ef Russia 
for this unprovoked aggression, and 
on what grounds it is to be justified, 
we confess that we are yet to learn. 
The march of general Michelson 
was accompanied by a proclamation, 
but the grievances which it enume- 
rated, were either frivolous or un- 
founded, or wrongs already re. 
dressed, or matters of complaint 
which ave not just grounds of war 
betwecn independent states. ‘The 
Porte, it is true, had violated its 
engagements with Russia by de- 
posing the hospodars; but this 
error, which was momentary, had 
been subsequently retracted and 
atoned for. It had hesitated about 
refusing a passage through the. Bos- 
phorus to Russian armed vessels ; 
but this hesitation, which - arose, 
not from its ill will to Russia, but 
from its fears of France, had been 
overcome; and its last declarations 
to Italinski had been assurances of 
its determination to maintain invio. 
late its alliance with the court of St. 
Petersburg. If the invasion of 
Moldavia was caused by an appre~ 
hension, Jest the French should 
take possession of that- province, 
an apprehension which considering 
the position of the armics it is 
ditkenti 
