The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-09 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1853.

Everything learnt just now from the East tends
to illustrate more and more clearly the ferocious
and domineering antagonism of the CZAR to the
Supreme Government of Constantinople. It was
evidently conjectured at first by the AUTOCRAT,
that his ambitious views in regard to Turkey
might be readily accomplished under the trick or
mask of a secret treaty, empowering him thence..
forth to appoint all the Greek patriarchs without
exception, and entrusting him with the uncondi-
tional protectorate of the Russo-Greek Church
throughout the dominions of the Sultan ABD-UL-
MEDJID. It was conjectured, we say, at the out-
set of these sinister negotiations, that all this
might be conveniently contrived by a treaty, to
be drawn up and arranged between the Divan
and the Court of St. Petersburgh, without the
intervention, without even the cognisance, of
the rest of the great Powers of Christendom.
It was the political day-dream of the AUTOCRAT.
It was scarcely conjured up, however, before it
was utterly and irretrievably dissipated. Simul-
taneously there arrived at the Sublime Porte the
French and English Ambassadors. Under the
scrutinising watchfulness of those two astute and
experienced diplomatists, the completion of this
project of a secret treaty was at once rendered
impracticable. The question of the Holy Places,
moreover, was forthwith openly brought forward
and discussed by one of them meaning, of
course, by the Envoy of that State which is tech-
nically known throughout the European Conti-
nent as the Eldest Daughter of Catholicism. It
became the principal subject of argument and con-
sideration for a prolonged interval, until, through
the moderation evinced by all parties con-
cerned, and thanks to the magnanimous con-
cessions made by the Divan as the organ
or mouthpiece of the Sultan ABD-UL-MEDJID, it
was ultimately arranged to general satisfaction.
Thereupon, on the sth ultimo, the original de-
sign cherished by Russia—the design in attempt-
ing to compass which the Government of St.
Petersburgh had previously been baulked by an
unexpected and irritating disappointment—was
revived. It was renewed or resuscitated, appear-
ing this time, not under the guise of a secret
treaty, but through the more insinuating aspect
of a bilateral contract in the shape of a
"Sened" or Convention. How this endeavour
also failed, the world knows well enough from re-
cent and sufficiently startling occurrences. Find-
ing it impracticable to accomplish the purposes of
his imperial master, firstly through a Secret
Treaty, and secondly through a "Sened" or
Convention—Prince MENSCHIKOFF, on the eve of
his departure, strove to extort the coveted con-
cession of the Protectorate from the Divan, under
the modified appearance of a simple—Note.
Failing even in that, likewise, he hurriedly
quitted Constantinople, as already narrated, and
proceeded with all possible rapidity on his road
to St. Petersburgh. Since then it appears that a
fourth endeavour has been adventured upon by
the Czar NICHOLAS, with a view to elicit from
the Sublime Porte the desired authority of
the Greek Protectorate. This endeavour is sim-
ply the transmission of what may at length be
termed with perfect accuracy, an ultimatum
final and peremptory demand conveyed by
a " feldjager," or messenger to the Councils of
the Turkish Government. Supposing this ulti-
matum be refused by the Divan as it had already
refused the Note, as it had refused the " Sened"
or Convention, and as it had previously and ori-
ginally refused the Secret Treaty—the AUTOCRAT
does not for an instant strive to conceal his indten-
the
tion of summarily marching his forces beyou