The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-15

this country done to extend security to our anc lent
any! ~ mere was that active determination which,
heretofore, we had manifested to UNFOLD the indie
pendence and integrity OF the Ottoman empire;
RUSSIA must entertain very different ideas with
regard to 10 from those which, in former yea rs 40
ia!e as io4s, we impressed upon her, when, to
meet emergencies of less menacine nature. we
despatched naval force, not merely into the
Greek Archipelago, but into the DardanelIes. Had
vigor OF the same character been manifested bv
the British government in the present instance il
was his belief that this extraordinary mission to
Constantinople would never havs been heard of
1t appeared to him that the widespread and anx
ious interest this subject was in the highest de
gree natural, when he considered with what ia
cility march upon Constantinople might be eff
fected by the Russian forces, and how immense
the difficulty would be of dispIacing those forces
when once they had obtained possession of that
pital [Hear.] OF all the great Powers, England
was assurediy not the least interested in the con-
hngency that Russia might become the possessor
OF the large and important maritime district now
under Turkish sway, of the Greek islands, anti
their race of seamen, among the best in the world
Lord BEAUMONT quite appreciated, in common
with the noble earl, the gravity of the circum
stances in question, and was, further, disposed to
concur with him in the opinion that if at early
period we, in concert with France, had made a
decided demonstration, we might have prevented
the dlhcultles that had arisen. But, at the same
time, he had not any doubt, not any difficulty, in
placing firm confidence both in the noble earl
VINO administered the foreign affairs of this coun-
try, and in the noble lord who represented Eng
iand at the Porte, lhear, hear i and when be
heard that noble earl repeat his clear conviction
and his resolution as to the necessity of maintain
ing the independence and integrity of the Otto
man empire, he could have no doubt that the noble
earl and the government to which he belonged
would, in their wisdom, exert every means for me
accomplishment of that object, and he had as little
doubt that those means would be successful.
HEAR. I'D hot h.
GREETED the protraction of these painful crcum-
stances, be was of opinion that the evil would be
by no means unattended with advantage. If he
was not misinformed-and he believed his infor-
nation to be perfectly accurate-the insocnt pro.
ceeding on the part of Prince Menschikoff of send
ing persons to various parts of the Turkish empire
to ascertain the feelings of the people towards
their sovereign had been attended with the very
important result OF conviction enforced upon the
mind OF the prince, and through him upon his
master that the Turkish empire was by no means
the weak State they had imagined it to be, but
was, on the contrary, prepared to AXE long and
vigorous resistance, should the Emperor of Rus
STA, violating his pghted word proceed to host!i-
ties. tHear, hear.] Throug bout the length and
breadth of the land these inquiries had found the
Sultan's subjects tranquil, content with his rule
and prepared to manifest their adherence to that
rule. [Hear hear.] The Christian population
of Turkey, whose feelings these emissaries had it
TOR special object to excite against the Porte had
emphatically exhibited their resolution to remain
under the empire ofthe Porte, and to refuse the
transference OF their allegiance to Russia The
Patriarch and Synod of Constantinople had not
only emphaticay expressed their cordial attach
ment to the sway of Turkey, the moderation of
which towards the dissenters from the Mahomedan
faith who lived within it's rule was so we'll known
to all travellers in the Ottoman dominions but had
broadly repudiated the claim of the Emperor of
Russia to be considered the head of the Greek
Church, title and a position which they dis
tinctiy asserted for the Patriarch of Constantine
pie. He would repeat, as to the resources of the
Porte, that he had information upon which he
firmly relied that Turkey was at this time much
stronger than she had been for many years past,
and that if a struggle was commenced by Russia,
Russia would find the struggle on the part of Tur-
key much more ard uous and much more protracted
than she anticipated Although, as he had said, he
readily accepted the refusal of his noble friend to
go into the matter further on the present OCCASION
ne was glad that the question had been put, be-
cause the speech in which that question was con-
veyed manifested that, ii the necessity arose, her
maJesty's government, in any more active mea
sures which they might find it expedient to adopt
would have the support of noble lords opposite.
Hear, hear.]
Lord BRoueHAM would suggest to noble lords the
proprlety and convenience OF here closing this dis.
cussion, lhear, hear;l discussion premature at
al! events, lnasrnach as they were ignorant of
nIne-tenths ofthe facts, and Inconvenience might
be mlschleyous-lnasmuch as there pending
the subject negotiations as delicate as they were
important, and at the same time difficult. Hear
hear.1 If ever there was time when it was in
convenient to anticipate discussion which, sooner
or later, must be had in reference to the whole
matter, this was the time. [Hear, hear.I
The conversation then dropped.
In the House of Lords, on the 30th of May,
the subject was again brought up.
Earl of HARDwIcKE took occasion to ask the 60
sernment whether any orders had been given to
Admiral Dundas to advance with the British feet
to the Dardaneies!
The Earl of CLARENDoN, in reply, briefly said
After what had occurred in the House only on
Friday night last, when their lordships seemed to
concur In the propriety of her majesty's govern
ment not giving any explanations on a matter on
which they were imperfectly informed, he was sure
they would still more concur in the propriety of
his declining altogether to state what orders had
been given.
In the House of Commons, on the same
day
Mr.. ISRAELI, after pointing out how easily Rus
sia might seize the DardanelIes, put similar
question in these terms: Taking the contingency
referred to into consideration, had government
forwarded directions to the British admiral at
Malta to proceed with the British feet to the OAR
danelles?
To this Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied:
In the present state of relations between Russia
and Turkey. feel that any thing which may be
said here will be considered as to the utmost i'm
portance, and must, therefore, decline answer
ing the question which the right honorable gentle.
man has put. ! must leave him to give notice of
any motion this subject which be may think
proper to bring forward, and / shall then be pre-
pared fully to defend the course have now ia KEN
lCheers.]
The following is from the Paris correspond
ence of the London Times, dated May so, 6
p. M:
have just seen letter from ConstantinopIe,
dated the 10th. It announces, what may have al
ready reached you through other channels, that
the Turkish government at that date deter
mined to repel force by force; that Turkish
steamer had been despatched to summon the Otto
man feet from the Archipelago to Constantnople,
and thence to Egypt, to assist in transporting the
division of troops which Abbas Pasha has ready at
the orders of the Sultan and that the Minister at
War bad sent couriers to the whole of the provin.
ces of the empire to call the National Militia to
arms, and to prepare them to act at the shortest
notice.
The letter adds that the greatest activity was
displayed by the government and the local au-
thorltles IN making preparations, should hosilities
arise out of the present crisis.
There were rumors in Paris to- day of an advance
OF the Russian troops towards the Turkish terri.
tory, but cannot learn that any despatch has been
received that would show these reports to be well
founded
Admiral Stewart, appointed to the post OF
second in command of the English feet in the
Mediterranean, arrived at MarseiIles on the 25th
and Immediately hoisted his flag on board the
Caradoc, which was every moment expecting the
arrival of courier, with new instructions from