210 
Wifficult to believe was ever seriously 
entertained, ought not the Russians 
to have apprized the Ottoman go. 
vernment of their intentions, before 
they committed so violent an act, 
as to enter, in a hostile manner, 
the territory of anally, and occupy, 
without notice, his towns and pro- 
.vinces? But so far was Russia from 
seeking to coneiliate the Porte, or 
from disguising the ambitious views 
that influenced her conduct, that 
Ttalinski was left a full month at 
Constantinople after the commente- 
ment of hostilities, without instruc. 
tious to explain her reasons for 
passing the Ottoman frontier with 
an army ;* and in the articles of 
eapitulation of Chotzim terms 
were inserted by her generals, 
which plainly shewed, that she 
Jooked forward to the permanent 
possession of that fortress. It is 
indeed but too evident from a re. 
view of these transactions, that 
Russia availed herself of the recent 
compliances of the Porte with Se- 
bastiani, as pretexts to cloak her 
Own ambitious projects, and that 
views of conquest and aggrandize~ 
ment, and not of just and reason- 
able satisfaction for injuries, were 
her motives for this unscasonable 
diversion of her forces. 
When the news of Michelscn’s 
invasion reached Constantinople, 
that city was filled with indignation 
and surprise. The cry for war was 
Joud and universal, especially among 
the janizaries and ulemas, whose 
religious fanaticism and general 
hatred of Europeans were inflamed 
by the perfidy of the faithless Mus- 
covites, the objects alike of their 
superstitious dread and deep-rooted 
ANNUAL REGISTER, i808. 
aversion. But, so unwilling wd 
the Turkish government to engagé 
in hostilities with Russia, that not- 
withstanding this ardour on thé 
part of the people. more than thirty — 
days were suffered to elapse, bes 
fore war was determined upon and 
declared. A Russian brig, which 
attempted to pass through the 
Streights of Constantinople, brought 
matters at last to a crisis. This 
vessel was stopped by the Turkish 
batteries, + and the dispatches which 
it bore for the Russian. minister, 
and which are said to have been 
explanatory of Michelson’s inva- 
sion, were thrown overboard and 
lost. This event determined I talin= 
ski to Jeave Constantinople without 
delay. He accordingly embarked 
in the Canopus, an English 74, 
which had been for some time at 
anchor in sight of the Turkish capi- 
tal, and contrary to the old but 
barbarous custom of the Ottomans, 
he was suffered to depart without 
molestation.t Next day a rescript 
from the Grand Seignior to the 
Grand Vizier was published, con- 
taining a formal declaration of war 
against Russia. Great preparations ° 
were made by sea and land for 
carrying on hostilities with vigour, 
Paswan Oglou, pacha of Widin, 
formerly pursued as a rebel, but 
now invested with legitimate autho- 
rity in the revolted province, 
which he had successfully mains © 
tained against his sovereign, and 
Mustapha Bayracter, ayan of 
Ruschuk, had been already coms | 
missioned to repel the infidels by — 
force, and to oppose the further 
progress of their invasion, The 
pachas of Romelia were how or- 
* Mr. Arburthnot’s letter to the dragoman of the Porte, Dec. 13. 
+ Dee. 25. T Dec. 29, 
dered 
