The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-08 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 8, 1853.

imply east fould offer pretests to the Russian government
to advaltiagratensions to m 4 itself up in such things.
Nii one would consent to draw down upon himself the
biome of his conteinporaries, as well as of posterity, by
ofiesittiag the establishment of • state of things as hurtful
for the present as for the future.
No servant of the august imps Mal Ottoman family would
dare, would be capable of placing on paper words which
would tend to weaken the glory of institutions which the
Ottoman Emperors have founded by a spontaneous move-
ment of personal generosity and innate benevslence.
The second point to be touched upon is the paragraph 1*
the draft of note relative to the treaty of Kainardji. As
no one can deny the existence of this treaty, and as it is
confirmed i y that of Adrianople, it is abundantly evident
that its precise stipulations will be faithfully observed.
If in inserting the paragraph mentioned there was any
intention of cmsidering the religious privileges as the
natural result and the spirit of the treaty of Kainardji,
the real and precise stipulation of this treaty is limited to
the single promise of the Sublime Porte of itself to pro-
tect the Christian religion. The paragraphs that the Sub-
lime Porte might, with regard to religious privileges,
insert in the note she will sign, ought, as it has always
been declared either verbally or in writing, to express
nothing but assurances calculated to banish the doubts put
forward by the government of Russia, and which have
formed tne subject of these discussions.
But to fortify by new ties the religious identitf already
existing between a great community of the subjects of the
Sublime Porte and a foreign power to give to the govern-
ment of Russia a motive to pretend to exercise a right of
surveillance and interference in such matters, would be, in
some sort, to admit a participation in sovereign rights, and
to endanger the existence of the empire. It is therefore
totally impossible for the government of his Majesty the
Sultan to assent to such a proposition ssithout being forced.
If, nevertheless, the intention is merely to obtain a
renewal of the treaty of Kainardje, the Sublime Porte
might do this by a separate note.
The imperial government, therefore, attaches the greatest
importance to these points, either that the paragraph rela-
tive to this treaty, 4 the note seat, be suppressed, or else
that, if it is maintained, the promise of protection contained
in the treaty of Kainardji and the question of religious
privileges be separated in an explicit manner, so that it
shall be understood, at the first glance, that they are two
distinct things.
And the third point relates to the permission conceded
to the Greek rite to share in the advantages conceded to
other Christian rites. There can be no doubt that the
imperial government will not hesitate to permit the Greek
rite to share not only in the advantages which the govern-
ment has of its own will granted to other communions of
the Christian religion professed by communises of its sub-
ject., but also in those which it may concede to them in
future. It is superfluous, therefore, to add that the Porte
will be justified in not admitting the employment of expres-
sions so equivocal as particular conventions or stipulations
in favour of a great community of so many millions of sub-
jects professing the Greek rite.
Such being the points which present inconvenience to
the Sublime Porte, it cannot, notwithstanding the greatest
respect for the advice of the high Powers its allies, and its
sincere desire to renew its relations with the imperial go-
vernment of Russia, its friend and neighbour ; it cannot, I
say, resist trusting to the equity and the justice of the great
Powers the consideration relative to its rights of sovereignty
and independence.
If, however, the list draft of note composed by the
Sublime Port; is accepted, or if that of Vienna receives
the desired modifications, the Ottoman cabinet will be
ready to sign either of these two drafts, and to send imme-
diately an Ambassador Extraordinary upon condition of
the evacuation of the Principalities. The government of
the Sublime Porte expects moreover a substantial gua-
rantee on the part of the great powers against any future
interference, and any occupation from time to time of the
Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia; and the object
of the Ottoman government in arming itself beforehand
with such excessive precautions is to prevent any OCCIIMItCe
that might bring hack misunderstandings between the two
empires after the Sublime Porte has renewed its relations
with the court of Russia.
The points of the draft of Vienna relative to the affsir of
the Holy Places, and the construction ci a church and
hospital at Jerusalem, have met with the complete sanction
of the Sublime Porte.

A copy of the Vienna note, containing also some modifi-
cations which the imperial government has thought fit to
make, has been transmitted to your Excellency.
The Sublime Porte, wishing to give another proof of its
particular regards for the Powers whose signature. were
affixed to the treaty of 1841, is ready—although the draft
it composed lately would naturally be preferred—to accept
the draft of Vienna, with the modifications it has made, and
hopes that the Powers, which have always recognised from
the very commencement of the question the rights of the
imperial government, and made manifestations of their
good feeling, will, appreciating these modifications, set
accordingly.
His Majesty the Sultan having ordered me to communi-
cate the above to your Excellency, as well as to the other
representatives your colleagues, I acquit myself of this duty,
and beg your Excellency to receive on this occasion, &v.
(Signed) RESCHID.