The Sun.
London, England, 1822-10-19 00:00:00

LI FERARY NOTICE.

OBSERVATIONS on the APPOINTMENT of the Right
Honourable GEORGE CANNING to the FOREIGN
DEPARTMENT ; and on its effects on the State of Society
in England, and on European Politics : comprehending a
Review of the Political State of Europe since the Congres
of Vienna in 18.15, and offering various important Sugges-
tions for the Consideration of the approaching Congress at
Vienna.—By LEWIS GOLDSMITH.

This Pamphlet has just been published, and is
deserving of attention. We are glad to see that
amongst his other " suggestions," to the Con-
gress, Mr. GOLDSMITH recommends the erection
of an independent Greek Empire. We have al-
ways thought that the best policy for this coun-
try was to assist the Greeks in throwing off the
Turkish yoke; and we are of course glad at
the accession of a public writer possessing so
much experience and political knowledge as Mr.
GOLDSMITH, to the same good and glorious cause.
We subjoin an extract from Mr. GOLDSMITH'S

Work, on this part of his subject :=--
" Ifahe Greeks are suffered to remain in their present situ-
ation, the project will and must be executed sooner or later,-
and Russia will have Turkey at last ! If Alexander does not
realize the darling project of his Grandmother Catherine, of
marching to Constantinople, Constantine assuredly will ; and
there is no saying how soon a convenient fit of apoplexy may
make way for a successor to the throne of the Czars, who will
be willing to indulge his subjects in their longing to possess the
fine provinces- of the East of Europe.
This being the case, it behoves us well to consider the best
means of averting the formidable danger with which the an-
nexation of Turkey to Russia would inevitably be. attended.
If Turkey were able to defend herself, or if the assistance o
all Europe were sufficient for her protection against Russia, 1
should say,—Do not disturb that barrier against Russia which
already exists. But, with so large a proportion of her sub-
jects (the Greeks) inveterately disaffected to her—now in insur-
rection,—and always ready to rise in insurrection,—with the
Persians, also the puppets of Russia, now in the field against
her,—Turkey must fall a prey to Russia ; because the concur-
rence of a Greek insurrection with a Russian invading army,
would irresistibly produce the instantaneous dissolution of the
Ottoman Empire, even before Europe could have time to ex-
tend a helping hand, supposing that under such circumstances
a helping hand could be efficacious.
The continuance of the Greeks in their present condition of
insurrection, therefore, or in a condition of compulsory and un-
certain subjection to the Porte, gives no promise of stability to
the present order of things in the East,—is not an obstacle to
the designs of'Russia,—and does not, even supposing the pre-
sent insurrection to be subdued, add any thing to the strength
of Turkey !
On the contrary, the temporary subjection of the Greeks
would really be entailing weakness on the Turks, and insuring
the ultimate success of the Russians.
Turkey may be really strengthened, on the other hand, by
withdrawing the Greeks from her sway - and Russia may be
most effectually foiled, by depriving her Of the absolute con-
Von' over the minds of the Greeks, for which she is now in-
debted to the peculiarity of their situation.
Let us see how this interesting and important problem is to
be worked.
It is well known that since the Congress of Vienna, there has
been something like a-schism amongst the leading European
powers. Russia and Prussia pull together ; England and Aus-
tria have been on terms of close friendship ; while France may
be said- to have been without an Ally ;—though her great
weight will give preponderance to any scale into which she may
think proper to throw herself.
It is time that these schisms on one side, and partial alliances
on the other, should cease, or at least that they should not be
opposed to the accomplishment of any object really conducive
to the general good.
The formation of a sincere compact amongst all the Powers,
would be attended with this good consquence amongst others,
that we should be freed from our particular connection with
Austria, and acquire more solid and more valuable relations in
their place ; for, though I do not say that Austria should be
treated disrespectfully, I must declare my conviction, that her
alliance, in the event of a rupture, would be of no use to us,
but that on the contrary, her power would fall to pieces, as
soon as the first gun should be fired in Europe.
I humbly suggest that one of the objects of this new and
general Alliance of all the leading Powers, should be the erec-
tion of an Independent Greek Empire, whose integrity should
be solemnly guaranteed by the whole of the Allies ; and that
the Greeks should be assisted in the most efficacious manner, in
the event of the Turks opposing the execution of the project.
Having established the Grees, the next step should be to
guarantee that the remaining provinces of Turkey, whether in
Europe or in Asia, should be secured to the Porte ; and the
new Greek state should be required, as a condition of its inde-
pendence, to be a party to this treaty. ,
If any one of the contracting parties should violate this
treaty, all the others should be bound to furnish an adequate
contingent of troops for securing the stability of the settlement
effected by it.
There is no Power in Europe to whom the accomplishment
of this object would not be beneficial, except Russia.
But, though the real wishes of Russia are well known, it is
impossible that even she can set her face against the proposi-
tion, without openly acknowledging her ambitious views.
It is impossible that she can oppose the independence of the
Greeks, whose cause she has always professed to favour.
It is impossible that she can oppose a-treaty for guaranteeing
the remaining territory of the Porte, having always, during the
reign of the present Emperor, declared that she does not wish
for conquests.
If she refused to enter into the arrangement which I have
suggested, what would it be but an acknowledgment that -her.
professions of tenderness for the Greeks are nothing more tha.l•
the tenderness of the wolf to the kid, and that her declarations
of moderation as respects Turkey, are only uttered for the
purpose of more effectually securing its ultimate conquest and
annexation to her vast territorities ?
Russia, therefore, cannot oppose the erection of Greece into
an independent State ; —Europe desires it, and would find it
conducive to the preservation of the balance of power ; the
cause of humanity and religion imperatively demands it ; and
the interests and the glory of England would go hand in hand
in Carrying the design into effect.
The independence of Greece appears to me to be the only
practicable mode of forming a real barrier against Russia ; be-
cause Greece would be not only bound by treaty, but it would
become her interest, in common with the rest of Europe, to
maintain the Porte against Russia. .
As to the advantages to be derived to commerce and the arts
by the regeneration of Greece, they are so well understood and
so obvious, that I shall not enlarge upon them. With Eng-
land she would of course be willing to enter into the closest re.
lotions ; and we should always possess, in our power of destroy-
ing her marine, the command of the strongest motives for keep-
ing her steady to her friendship.—That fine country, now aban-
doned to the dominion of barbarism and ignorance, would soon
be capable of assuming a distinguished rank amongst civilized
nations ; and would be resorted to by the enterprising and the
educated inhabitants of every portion of Europe.
The British Minister at Verona should demand the emanci.
pation of Greece, by the common consent of the Powers, and
under the stipulations which I have suggested.
There can be little doubt but that the proposition would be
acceded to.—lf not, he should firmly state that England was
not to be fettered in her policy ; and that she would assist the
Greeks herself,—in which France, no doubt, would join her.
It has been objected to this,- that the encouragement of the
Greeks is the encouragement of the revolutionary principle.
But this is an objection so unfounded and futile as scarcely to
deserve notice. The Greeks have never transferred their alle-
giance to their Ottoman tyrants. The Turks are merely in
military occupation of their country ; and all the principles of
legitimacy are in favour of their expulsion from a soil, the pos-
session of which they have usurped by the sword.
If, however, in spite of every probability to the contrary,
Russia, and consequently Prussia, should oppose the emanci-
pation of Greece, England and France would be able to effect
it. Austria would most likely coalesce with them ; but Austria
is not to be relied KO