The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-12 00:00:00

bassador.

The evening before we received a copy of the note of
Prince Menchikoff, dated the 18th May, in which he an-
nounced that his mission had terminated, and that the re-
fusal of the guarantee demanded " would henceforth impose
on the imperial government the necessity of finding it in
her own proper force."
On the 2nd of June I brought to the knowledge of Baron
Brunaow the measure taken by her majes•y's governrokni
That measure doubt not have been communicated by him at
St. Petersburg before the ith or Bth, and, consequently, t
could not have the least influence on the decision taken by

the Llisi 111
gOTCTUIII tit ; whilst the note by whith Count
Nesteirole announced to ltesAid Pioche that " within some
weeks lie troo; s would receive tie order to pass the fron-
tiers the empire," was dated the 3h: Msy, and his
is 13 iron Brunnow, in which he 1,31.1 th it, if the
l'erte did not sign l'rinee nehikoirs note within a week,
esuntinz from the reception of his owe by Resehid Paella,
the Emp,•ror " woul•1 give orders to his troops to occupy the
Principalities," bore the dste of the let of Juno."
It re►u:ts, evidently, from that which preeetlee that the
B•etish fleet has not been sent into the waters of 'turkey
out of thorteard of the vinsideretions submitted to her
,jute's government by the cabinet of St. Petenburg,and
that th^ di ci-ion to occupy the Principalities had been
taken by the Ruosian oovernment on the eve of the doper
tare from London of the instructions directed to Viscount
Stratford de Iteileliite. And that decision we say, had been
taken beeause the Russian government coal,' not seriously,
even for a moment, entertain the h.epct to see the Porte give
its adhesion to tile dam's" " without variation" (Loa eaures
sou rJrtante), which respect for its proper dignity and the
interest of its security had, a very tow day, before, im-
posed on it the obligation to d.aline. Nevertht leis, Count
lieseolrutle asserts, in his circular despatch of the had July,
that the presence of the English and French fleets in the
Bay of Bnika bar, above ail, provoked and entirely ju.ti.
fled the oceup Oinn of the Prir.cipalities ; he pretends that
these Rots are almost in view of the capital, that they are
Lordly 'lrro miles, i :ant, and that the inarit:=e occupation
by the.e fl-ets of the ports and waters of the Turkish do-
minion, could only to counterbalanced by a military occupa-
tion on the part of Rustle.

Bet her Majesty's government must protest against that
▪ nine in the most forcible terms ; they d.ny the exist-
ence of any similitude between tho position of the united
fillet. in liesika Boy and that of the Russian armies in the
l'rincipalities. The Sects have the same right to anchor at
&tiles as they have to moor in every other port in the
Mediterranean. By their presence in these water, no treaty
is transgressed, no territory is violate 1, no principle of the
law of nations is di-regarded ; the independence of the
Ottoman Empire is not menaced by it, and, assuredly, is
ought not to to a motive of drones to Russia, on the con-
trary, the occupation of Me Principalities by Russia con-
stitutes • 1/0101.011 Of MC territory of the Sultan, and of Me
special treaty conceiniuy Ma' part if his dominions: it
osestitielas MI infraction of the princaptes of the lam of
notions, and an net of direct h.ntilitie against the Seaton, to
which he would Aare the right to respond by • declaration of
war, and • requisation to the allied squadrons to adman
to Constantinople for lur defence. That occupation con-
stitutes, in hue, an act so dangerous, considered as a pre-
cedent, and an act so violent on the part of a powerful
state against another whose very feebleness ought to he its
protection, that is has excited throughout all Europe senti-
ments of alarm and reprobation. To admit that there 'l-
ists any resemblanee, or that there could be established
with reason any comparison whatever between the position
of the English and French guts without the Danlanelles,
and that of the Russian armies within the Principalities,
is evidently insposable.
It is with profound regret that her Mejesty's government
sees itself in the necessity of expressing their opinions
with respect to the recent invasion of the Turkish terri-
tory; but they think that in abstaining from doings* they
would bare been wanting in their duty, and would render
more difficult, in future, their intervention for the defense
end =sentiment.* of treaties, which constitute the interna-
tional law of Europe, and the only effectual guarantees of
the I peoce and el the rights of nations.
The inigerings which the occupation of the Principalities
meat occasion to the inhabitants will be, doubtless, alk-
rioted by the Russian yotrensmera taking upon Wulf all
the weight, of that occupation. Having so many times and
at such length discussed the demands addressed by Russia
to the Sublime Porte, it does not appear to me necessary
te dwell upon the other passages in Count de Nesselrodo's
circular despatch, which, indeed, contains no new fact
or argument in favour of his demands. I mar, however,
*sprees the conviction of her Majesty's government that the
cabinet of St. Petersburg is altogether in error la assert-
ing that the Porte is little disposed to satisfy the just
demands of Russia, or that it seeks to evade the engage,
meats made with her. if that imputation were true, leer
Majesty's government would not have failed to use all the
Influence they posse to induce the Porte to recognise its
engagements suitably. But the "geveriessent Us too store
k aneleire of stici violation of the engagements in pier
not on the pert of Turkey, thaw they hare of those sew-
onerous arbitrary acts of the Ottoman government by
which, as it is pnimuied, the rights of the (keels
church have been violated, and which have menaced
arts to overturn the order of things sanctioned by
tame, and so precious to the orthodox church. Russia
demands, in favour of her co-religionists in the Meet,
the strict status qua, and the maintenance of the pri-

Tileges which they Vase enjoyed under the protection of
their sovereign. but Cwust Seaselrode dispenses entirely
Leith. the explanation ns what manner that statist qvo
has been diata•brd—!au thou privileges hare been its

paired—what complaints have been made —tchat weeny,
hare remained unredresscil. Her Majesty's government
has the knowledge of but one offence committed by the
Turkish goeetnnont egainst Russia, and that offence has
been repaired to its satisfaction, with the consent of Prince
Menchikoff, at the same time that the last finnan by which
the Sultan confirms the privileges and immuaitin of the
Greek Church, was received with greet gratitude by the
Patriarch at Constantinople. Where, then, are the rums
which, as the Count de Nesselrode marts, will justify, in
the eyes of impartial Europe, the position taken at this
moment by Russia ?
Count de Nesselrode adds that Russia, thanks to its geo-
graphical situation, and to its treaties, possesses virtually
the right to protect the Greek Church is the Rest. If it
is to, and if that right (whatever may be its nature and
extent) is not internr,.ted, it is Russia that puts its ex-
istence or its validity in doubt, by striving to constrain the
Porte to new engagements. If the ancient rights exist,
and if they are respected by Turkey, Russia has no motive
he complaint against Turkey. But if Rosen seeks to give
• greater extension to its rights, then Turkey, as its side,
ha the right to examine closely the nature of the new de.
muds, and to refuse such of them as are incompatible with
its independence and its dignity.
Iler Majesty's government receives with sincere nth-
lattice the new assurances that the policy of his Imperial
Majesty, as well es the interest of Rusin, requires the
maintenance et the order of things existing in the Rest ;
and es the interests of Turkey render it seeteesary for it to
Awes its engagements towards Ramis. her Majesty's
iiinierounent fatte► themselves that Russia wilt not wish
(6y eatimetnering in actual ciresessehenoes to insist spore
sissause that the Porte ought not to admit) to prolong a
crow which may render intuitable eoiesersencee that &rope
km solvent en interest in awake,.
Too ate authorised to read this despatch to Coast
Nueelroste, and also to give • copy thereof to his easel-
tesey.—l an, Ite., (Signed) CLARX24DON.