TKAVELS IN CIRCASSIA. 389 



object "the integrity and independence of his em- 

 pire." We acted in this from self-interested motives, 

 and we have only neglected to stipulate against the 

 reconstruction of the Circassian forts, because we did 

 not see that our interest demanded it ; or if perchance 

 we did, France did not, and Ave were not in a position 

 to insist upon it. The future will show that her 

 policy in this was as short-sighted as was ours in 

 concurring in it. The .whole question of Eastern 

 aggression by liussia hinges upon the existence of this 

 line of forts. Without them, Russia can never hope 

 to subdue Circassia, any more than she could have 

 taken Kars if she had left one gate open. The 

 success of the Eussian war in the Caucasus depends 

 upon the efficacy of the blockade ; that can only be 

 secured by the reconstruction of these forts. When 

 these are rebuilt, and Circassia will be again thrown 

 upon its own limited resources, the latter will at last 

 be exhausted, the besieged country will capitulate, 

 and the only barrier to Eussian aggression in the 

 East will thus be swept away. So long as a strip 

 of independent country remains to separate Eussia 

 from her Transcaucasian provinces, their value is not 

 only depreciated, but the difficulty of extending her 

 frontier in that direction is increased, as her armies 

 are in danger of being cut off, and reinforcements 

 can only be brought up with risk. 



Thus at this moment she hesitates to annex those 

 provinces of Ghilan and Mazenderan to the south 



