THE ELEVENTH WAR: CRIMEAN WAR. .21 



agreed to a mixed Commission consisting of (i) Turkey, (i) Greece, 

 and (2) France, and it is no wonder that, so constituted, France was 

 bound to win. The result was, that the Greeks objected, and 

 Russia again interfered, on the ground that it would lead to the 

 Protectorate of France, and to meet the difficulty a second Com- 

 ijiission was formed, composed entirely of Turkish Ulemas and 

 officials, excluding the partisans of both Churches ; and this Com- 

 mission gave its decision that the Latins have no right to claim ex- 

 clusive possession of the Holy Places; and a Firman of the Sultan 

 being issued, a Turkish Bey was sent to Jerusalem to see that it was 

 carried out ; but, unfortunately, it was not acted upon, and Russia 

 -determined, in consequence of this deception and double-dealing of 

 -Turkey, to send Prince Menschikbff on a Special Mission to Con- 

 stantinople, which so aroused the French Government, that they 

 ordered the French fleet to proceed from Toulon to Salamis. 



Prince MenschikofF was the bearer of two documents : one a 

 personal letter to the Sultan, and the other an official communication 

 containing the demands of Russia ; and these demands were con- 

 sidered arbitrary ; but, having read this official communication, I fail 

 to find in it any audacious demand, and there is no doubt its 

 acceptance or rejection was the turning point in the history of the 

 complications. 



At one time Turkey was on the point of accepting the demand of 

 Russia ; but alas ! owing to the fatal counsels given to the Sultan by the 

 JBritish Ambassador, Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, in which he warned 

 hiin of the danger to which his Empire was exposed by its accept- 

 ance ; and to support him in the crisis he promised- the presence 

 of the British War Squadron. 



In face of such counsel, and such potential power displayed by 

 England, it is no surprise that Turkey rejected Russia's reasonable 

 demand ; a rejection that England alone was responsible for, because 

 Lord Stratford de Redcliife declared in plain words to the Sultan, 

 that he had better incur all the hazards of war than accept Russia's 

 proposals. 



In consequence of this rejection. Prince MenschikofF left Constan- 

 tinople, and his mission closed, and England and France, wishing to 

 act as mediators, agreed to a Joint Note ; and this Despatch was 

 agreed to by France, England, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, and 

 .recommended to Turkey as one which she might accept without 

 injwy to her independence or honour. 



When, however, the Note was sent to Constantinople Turkey con- 



