The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-13 00:00:00

went. If we were to succeed in introducing the idea
of Russian treachery into his head, it must be on the
same principle as boys charge bullet-guns—by driving
out the first. This is no defect in any point of view.
Nothing of importance can be always well done which
engrosses not undivided attention. But although the
gre-at bulk of the British nation may pay
little regard to the discussion of this question
at such a juncture in our domestic affairs,
still there are many persons of great influence in the
councils of the Sovereign, who take not the same inte-
rest in our internal policy, and whose minds it may
therefore be of importance to direct to the threatened
aggressions of Russia. The Government too —let its

domestic policy he what it may—is bound to keep a
watchful eye on the movements of a power perilling at
every step the peace of Europe ; and with which a
war is sooner or later inevitable. The only question
now left for discussion is, whether we ought to wait till
Russia, by her conquests in the East, has rendered
herself invincible ?—or whether we ought not—as be-
comes a great, powerful, and free people—to declare
ourselves the stern supporters of the faith of
nations in alliance with us, and that sooner than wit-
ness the black flag of Russia waving over the dome of
St. Sophia, we are prepared to hazard the possession
of the " white cliffs of Albion ?" One or other of
these alternatives only remains for us. We believe
there is sufficient virtue, and patriotism, and admira-
tion of our past glory, in the breasts of our country-
men, to render it unnecessary for us to point out which
of these alternatives ought to be forthwith adopted
by the British Government. Should, however,
treacherous councils prevail in the Cabinet—should
the national glory of England be sullied, and her
fame tarnished through the corrupt influence of a
Despot,—whose minions are at work in every
Court in Europe—should these misfortunes, and
even greater than these, befall us, we, at least, in
common with the liberal press of the United King-
dom, shall have one consolation left :—That we fre-
quently foretold the calamities which must follow such
suicidal policy, and as frequently urged the adoption
of the only plan by which they might have been
effectually prevented.
It would be an endless task were we to attempt
pointing out the perfidious schemes by which Russia
endeavoured to possess herself of Turkey, ever since
the year 1820. Several instances of Russian viola-
tion of solemn treaties are cited in this pamphlet, of
which we shall barely notice two as examples of all the
rest. Referring to the solemn treaty of the Bth of
July, the author says,—.

'6-It is a memorable record of the hurry with which so im-
portant a treaty was formed—of the apathy of the other embas-
sies, and of the facilities possessed by Russia of over-reaching
her enemy—that the Turkish plenipotentiaries conceived, or
were led to conceive, for the transaction took place through
the intervention of dragomans, that a million meant one hun-
dred thousand 1 The Treaty was signed by them, and carried
back, after the ratification to Constantinople, under the im-
pression that the sum due was four hundred thousand pounds,
not four millions."

Thus, by a trick, so base that a common swindler
would blush to be detected in it, Russia became pos-
sessed of the province of Silistria, mortgaged for eight
years as a guarantee for the payment of a debt which,
in reality, was never contracted by the PORTE ! It
was in vain that the Divan besought an ex-
planation of this mistake, and privately protested
against the base fraud of which Turkey was the
dupe. The Russian Envoys stormed, threatened
a renewal of hostilities if any effort was made to ob-
tain the re-consideration of the treaty, or in any way to
question the honour of the Imperial Embassy. The
Porte was in no condition to risk a war, and, therefore,
was obliged to remain silent. The next instance of
Russian treachery treads on the heels of this. It is the
treaty of UNKIAR SKELESSI, which Count ORLOFF
compelled the SULTAN to sign, immediately after the
signing of the treaty of July, and before the Russian
army had quitted Turkey. By this treaty the EM-
PEROR was recognized as the natural guardian
and protector of the SULTAN, which gave to
the CZAR the power of marching an army at any
moment into the heart of Turkey, on pretence of re-
storing the SULTAN'S authority, or quelling the con-
spiracies in the provinces. When the diplomatic
agents of France and England demanded au explana-
tion of this perfidious conduct, the EMPEROR affected
to know nothing of the circumstance, more than that
such had been the pleasure of the SULTAN, and that
the first intelligence of the fact was from the news-
papers ! The act, he protested, was not only volun-
tary, but unexpected, on the part of the SULTAN, and
every person was threatened with the Imperial displea-
sure who should dare to maintain that his MAJESTY
was at all aware of the signing of any treaty subse-
quent to that of the Bth of July !
These intrigues sufficiently expose the whole line of
policy pursued by Russia towards Turkey. Her sole
" end and aim" is the possession of Constantinople,
which will put her in possession of Asia Minor. Now
once in possession of the Dardanelles, and she may
march triumphant whither she pleases. This is well
pointed out by the author in the following concise
passage : _ .

" Russia once in Constantinople, is vulnerable only in Con-
stantinople. The possessor of the capital possesses the em-
pire ; the possessor of the Dardanelles possesses the East.
The importance of neither has been felt, because the possessor
knew not his own advantages; but let Russia be there, she
will feel them, and make them be felt. _ _

" If then, the allies, by a great effort, can force the Dar-
danelles, they may be able to crush the power of Russia. What
consequences may follow such a contingency, we confess ap-
pears to us involved in darkness ; but the chances are scarcely
worth weighing, for we believe not in the probability of Russia
being attacked at all, and scarcely do we think she will lie
attackable, when once entrenched in force, behind the ramparts
of the Dardanelles.

" There are men of no inconsiderable influence, who ima-
gine, that in the event of the occupation of the Dardanelles by
Russia, the other powers may scramble for the provinces. The
examination of the question into which we have entered, suf-
fices, we trust, to expose the emptiness of the expectation of
possessing any useful interest in the Levant, on the occurrence
of that contingency. It will then be for England and France
not to look to further acquisitions, but to the defence of Malta
and Algiers, and of so many other interests far and near. This
idea is of course industriously spread by the agents of Russia,
which, like all her suggestions, have hitherto been implicitly
admitted by our ignorance.
" Now it is to be borne in mind that the Dardanelles is the
only point that Russia has to defend; that by its sole occupa-
tion she holds in subjection the whole Ottoman empire, de-
fends her possession from all aggression, and places beyond all
reach and intercourse the various points of her own territory,
where an attack or a diversion could be made. Its occupation
instantly covers her whole line, from Riga to Astrakan, and
renders disposable not less than 100,000 men. Will any efforts
be spared to render it impassable, impregnable ? It is only at
three days' sail, with the regularly prevaling winds and cur-
rent, from the arsenal, crowded with ships, men, stores, mate-
riel, and artillery, that, in long expectation, has been
constructed on the nearest point of her territory, and
which seems to stretch out as far as possible into the Euxine,
to shorten the space across which this southern eye of Russia
looks on the inheritance of Constantine."

It is madness to affect blindness any longer to the
schemes of Russia. She flatters herself that foreigners
neither comprehend her plans, nor are able to pene-
trate the depths of her councils. " Not a betraying
sound will escape from her lips" says this writer, " not
a conscious smile steal over her features, until the
great day of consummation dawns, and the peals of
the Dardanelles re-echo to the halls of Constantine the
shouts and cries of victory and defiance, and the 1011,-