The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-03-15


sian territory. 10 fact, Russian shin
attacked Turkish vessels in the waters o
Turkey, while those vessels were ridin
quietly at anchor in Turkish port. It'd
Turkish vessels wer destroyed, in spit
of the assurance that there was no wisl
to commence an aggressive war, and id
spite of the vicinity Of our squadrons|
1t was no longer our policy which re
ccivcd check, it was our military honor|
The sound of tho cannon.shot at Sinopd
rcverbcratcd painfully in the hearts of al [
those who. in England aud in France. re
spect national dignity. There was gen
cral participation ia the sentiment tina d
wherever our cannon con reach, our al
lies ought to be respected Out Of thi1
feeling arose the order given to our squad
rons to enter the Black Sea, and to pre
vent by force. if necessary, the recurl
renee of similar event Thence arosoI
the collective notification sent to the cab
met of St Petersburg. announcing tina
if We prevented the Turks from makinaI
an aggressive war upon the coasts of
Russia, We would also protect the Turks
upon their own territory. As to the
Russian fleet. in prohibtiu its naviga-
ton on the Black Sea, we placed it upon
n different condition because it was i'm
portant during the war to preserve a
guarantee equivalent in force to the oc
cupation of the Turkish territory. and
thus facilitate the conclusion of peace
by having the power of making 1e.ira-
bic exchange.
Such, Sire. is the real result aud a
statement Of the facts. 1t is clear that.
having arrived at this point. they must
either bring about defnitive under.
standing or a decided rupture
Your Majesty has given so many
proofs of your solictudc for the tran
guilty of Europe, and by your benef.
cent influence has so powerfully arrested
the spirit of disorder, that cannot
doubt as to the course you will take in
the alternative which presents itself to
your choice Should your Majesty be as
DESTROYS as myself of pacific conclu-
sion, what would be more simple than to
declare that an armistce shall now be
signed, that things shall resume their d.
plomatic course, that all hosiilitics shall
cease, and that tho belligerent forces
shall return from the places to which
motives Of war have led them
Thus the Russian troops would a
bandon the Frincipaltes and our squad
rons the Black Sea. Your Majesty,
prcfcrring to treat directly with Turkey,
might appoint an Ambassador, who could
negotiate with a Plcnipotcutiary of the
Sultan convention which might be sub
mitted to conference Of the Four Pow
ers. Let your Majesty adopt this plan,
upon which the Queen of England and
myself are perfectly agreed, and tran
guilty will be re-cstabli>hcd and the
world satisfied. There is nothing in the
/ plan which is unworthy of your Majesty
nothing which can wound your honor ;
but if, from a motive difficult to under
stand, your Majesty should refuse this
proposal, then France as well as England.
will be compelled TO leave to the fate of
arms and the chances Of war that which
might now be decided by reason and JUS
| tice.
Let not your Majesty think that tho
least animosity can enter my heart.
feel no other sentiments than those ex-
pressed By your Majesty yourself in your
letter of the 18th January. 1853. in
which you write Our relations ought
to be sincerely amicable. based. as they
are, upon the same intenlions-th main.
tcnance of order, the love of peace, re-
spect for treaties, and reciprocal good
feeling This programme is worthy of
the sovereign who traced it, and | do
not hesitate to declare that | remain
faithful to it.
| beg your Majesty to believe in the
sincerity of my sentiments, and it is with
these sentiments that
Il an, Sire, your Majesty's good friend,
"NAPOLEON.n