The Press.
London, England, 1853-10-22 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

THE ABERDEEN DIARY.
(Surreptitiouody rend by our own " Medium.")
11453. October 14. Friday.—Much pestered with people calling to
give me advice on the crisis. I wish people would mind their own
business. I never give anybody advice. Pssmsassos came, and,
finding me engaged, went away ; but, on going into the room where he
had been waiting, found that on the dust on my despatch-box some
body had frayed "Look (dire." It must have been P. Then HENRY
B. came, nominally about America, but really to talk about Constan-
tinople. 'Thinks, because he was there in 1)437, and negotiated that
treaty, that he is entitled to be heard. Did not like it. Besides, he
an unsanetitied man, and he made a joke about the Seraglio, for
which I rebuked him. Received a very kind message from the Russian
Embassy, which comforted me.
15. Naturday.—Went to Windsor. Thought how much the dear
Czar used to admire the scenery and the castle. And yet to see how
the papers abuse him ! After audience, had lunch, and heard the
musicians rehearsing the tunes for dinner. One piece rather struck
lite. Asked one of the pages what it was, and he went to ask, but did
not come back. Asked another, and he hesitated, as if not liking to
tell me. Found it was Beethoven's " Ruins of Athens." I don't
know why they sl Id think I eared ;—certainly, I missed my way in
that Elgin-marble Wilds, but Psisssawros was much nearer laying
Athens in ruins than I Was. PALMERSTON is very violent at times, and
I don't like it. When I returned, tennd lissmaoss waiting for me.
Ile talked about war as a thing we could easily afford. We—yes—
but can Russia." Awl is it not our duty to take care that "Russia is
tercel into no step which may injure her honour or position "? And
what can injure honour or position more than the being driven into
expense? Much troubled, but received a very kind message from the
Russian Embassy, which comforted me.
16. 'Validity.
17. Monday.—More advice. neMSELL writes to me to be energetic,
and thinks Hutt I ought to put out a sort of Durham letter against the
Russian aggression. I would not mind if I could follow it up in the
ludicrously little way he followed up that epistle. My good friend the
Czar would appreciate my motive. But they would pin me to my
declarations. Psisistuvros came, and wanted me to let him and CLA-
RENDON concert a " smasher" for St. Petersburg. I would not. hear of
such at thing. It is really a very odd thing that P. will interfere. I
never.medille with his sewers, and his prisons, and his smoke bills.
Went to Windsor to dinner. I fear there is a decided impression
against the Czar. Did my best to remove it, but I cannot think I
succeeded. Told some anecdotes of the Czar's natural goodness of
heart and love of justice, but they fell flat. Felt discouraged, but
on getting to town received a very kind message from the Russian
Embassy, which comforted me.
Tilesday.—A heavy blow. That manifesto of OMEn Psens's is
published, and it tells heavily. Obliged to allow its merit as a coupe•
sition ; but its spirit towards Russia, although cunningly disguised, is
really most unfriendly and unforgiving, and shows that it emanates
from a blinded Mahometan. Persecuted about it all day. PALMERSTON,
of course, the first. Would say nothing but Wallah Allah, and de-
clare that it was the best paper he ever read. Ile gave au imitation of
the Czar reading it, and. stamping about with rage, ordering a fresh
secretary to be knouted at the end of each paragraph. GLADSTONE
praised it highly, and could only object that it was too short. It was
published, it seems, on the new year's day of these blinded heathens;
G. said it would go to the Czar as an defame for the jour de Ton, and
P. said he wished Admiral Desists would add a few Goo-bo/18 from
Woole ich. It was distressing to hear them speak in this way of the
destruction of my friend's peace of mind and property. No message
to-day from the Russian Embassy. I fear they are angry with me for
allowing OMER PACHA's manifesto to be published in our papers ;—but
what could I do ?
19. Wednexdoy.—Painful to read the way in which the Turkish
manifesto is applauded on all sides. Ilesssts. writes that it is
• capital," and " a tremendous dig for Ohl Boots "—he means the
('zar ; but he has no right to sneer at a man's dress. The worst of it is
that some of my colleagues seem to see that at least half of the docu-
ment hits us as hard as it does Russia. For myself 1 do not mind
this—on the contrary, I am content to suffer with my good friend
Nu:now—but the absurd obtuseness of the others is remarkable.
Dined at Windsor. CssnEsnos there. and ridiculously marked in his
praise of the manifesto, as I told him when we came up. Ile defended
it, and even said that he wished our Foreign-office could turn out any-
thing so creditable. Greatly afraid that I should not hear from the
Russian Embassy again to-day, but a most kind message came late at
night, which comforted me.