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torily called for. The evident wish to avoid extreme measures guarded his conduct.

As his imperial majesty promised himself, from the union of the great courts, a more easy and speedy termination of the war which desolates the east, he renounced on the one hand, the employment of every partial influence, and banished every idea of exclusive measures in this impor. tant cause; on the other hand he endeavoured by direct negotiations with the divan, to remove a farther impediment to the reconcilia. tion of the Turks and the Greeks. Under such auspices the conferences at Ackerman were opened. The result of them was the conclusion of an additional convention to the treaty of Bucharest, the terms of which bear the stamp of that deliberate moderation, which, subjecting every demand to the immutable principles of strict jus. tice, calculates neither the advantages of situation, nor the superiority of strength, nor the facility of success. The sending of a permanent mission to Constantinople soon followed this convention, on which the Porte could not suffi ciently congratulate itself, and the treaty of July 6th, 1827, confirmed in the face of the world, the disinterested principles proclaimed by the protocol of April 4.

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While this convention duly recognised the rights and the wishes of an unhappy people, it was to conciliate them by an equitable combination with the integrity, the repose, and the true interests of the Ottoman empire. The most amicable means were tried to induce the Porte to accept this beneficent convention,-urgent entreaties called on it to put an end

Confi.

to the shedding of blood. dential overtures, which unfolded to it all the plan of the three courts, informed it at the same time that in case of refusal, the united fleets of these three courts would be obliged to put an end to a contest which was no longer compatible with the security of the seas, the necessities of commerce, and the civilization of the rest of Europe.

The Porte did not take the least notice of these hints. A commander of the Ottoman troops had scarcely concluded a provisional armistice, when he broke the word he had given, and led at length to the employment of force. The battle of Navarin ensued. This necessary result of evident breach of faith and open attacks, this battle itself gave Russia and her allies another opportunity to express to the divan its wishes for the maintenance of the general peace, and to urge it to consolidate this peace, to extend it to the whole of the Levant, and to establish it on the conditions which the Ottoman empire should add to the reciprocal guaranties attending them, and which, by reasonable concessions, would secure it the benefits of perfect security.

This is the system-these the acts-to which the Porte replied by its manifesto of the 20th Decem. ber, and by measures, which are only so many breaches of the treaties with Russia; so many violations of its rights; so many violent attacks on its commercial prosperity; so many proofs of desire to bring upon it embarrassment and enemies.

Russia, now placed in a situation in which its honour and its interests will not suffer it any longer to remain, declares war against the

Ottoman Porte, not without regret, after having, however, for sixteen years neglected nothing to spare it the evils which will accompany it. The causes of this war sufficiently indicate the objects of it. Brought on by Turkey, it will impose upon it the burden of making good all the expenses caused by it, and the losses sustained by the subjects of his imperial majesty; undertaken for the purpose of enforcing the treaties which the Porte considers as no longer existing, it will aim at securing their observance and efficacy; induced by the imperative necessity of se. curing, for the future, inviolable liberty to the commerce of the Black Sea, and the navigation of the Bosphorus, it will be directed to this object, which is equally advantageous to all the European

states.

While Russia has recourse to arms, it thinks that far from having indulged in hatred to the Ottoman power, or from having contem. plated its overthrow, according to the accusation of the divan, it has given a convincing proof that if it had designed to combat it to the utmost, or to overturn it, it would have seized all the opportunities for war which its relations with the Porte have incessantly presented.

Russia, nevertheless, is very far from entertaining ambitious plans; enough of countries and nations already obey its laws; enough are already united, with the extent of its dominions.

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Lastly, Russia, though at war with the Porte for reasons which are independent of the convention of the 6th July, has not departed, and will not depart from the stipu

lations of that act. It did not, and could not, condemn Russia to sacrifice its earlier important rights, to endure decided affronts, and to demand no indemnity for the most sensible injuries. But the duties which it imposes upon it, and the principles on which it is founded, will be fulfilled with sedulous fide. lity and strictly observed. The allies will find Russia always ready to act in concert with them inthe execution of the treaty of London, always zealous to co-operate in a work which is recom. mended to its care by religion, and all the feelings which do honour to humanity, always inclined to make use of its situation only for the speedy fulfilment of the stipu lations of the treaty of the 6th of July, but not to make any change in its nature and effects.

The emperor will not lay down his arms till he has obtained the results stated in this declaration, and he expects them from the benedictions of Him to whom justice and a pure conscience have never yet appealed in vain.

Given at St. Petersburgh, the 14th (26) April, 1828. ́

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who had arrived as extraordiary ambassador and minister plenipotentiary of the imperial court, has in the usual form delivered the letters of his majesty to the sultan, and his credentials to the grand vizier, and was received on this occasion with all the distinctions and honours due to the friendly and pacific intentions of both parties. Together with the fulfilment of these formalities, care was taken to direct, in a suitable manner, all affairs relative to the discussion of the treaties concluded, and to regu. late various other matters. Mean time certain injurious proposals, contrary to the treaties, were pressed upon the Sublime Porte, with respect to which the Russian government has made known in repeated communications and conferences, its frank and sincere answers, founded on truth and justice. Lastly, it has repeatedly requested and urged the said minister to announce to the imperial court the motives of urgent necessity, and the real causes of excuse which guided it, and to wait for the equitable an. swer that would be returned; but that minister, contrary to all expec. tation, without regard to the right of governments and the duty of a representative, has refused to pay reasonable attention to the motives alleged by the Sublime Porte, and while he prepared to leave Constantinople, asked permission so to do, without a motive. Yet it is certain that as the coming to the residence of the representatives of friendly powers has no object, but the maintenance and execution of the existing treaties, it is acting contrary to the law of nations to desire to leave the place of residence, entering into such discussion, unconnected with the treaties.

On this consideration, the said minister was at length informed that if he were authorized by his court to leave Constantinople in this manner, he had to deliver to the Sublime Porte, only a note, containing the motive assigned him, and serving as a proof that by this formality the rights of both parties might be regarded; but he refused this also, so that the nature of his proposal was not free from doubt. The Porte then saw itself obliged to take a middle course between giving permission and refusing it. The ambassador has in this manner left Constantinople of himself, and the present friendly letter has been composed and sent to acquaint your excellency with this circumstance. When you

shall learn on receipt of it, that the Sublime Porte has at all times no other desire or wish than to preserve peace and understanding, and that the event in question has been brought about entirely by the acts of the said minister, we hope that you will endeavour, on every occasion, to fulfil the duties of friendship.

Letter from the Vice-Chancellor Count Nesselrode, to the Grand Vizier, in reply.

Very illustrious grand vizier : I have received the letter which your excellency did me the honour to write to me on the 12th of December, 1827, and laid it before the emperor. Had not my august master thought fit to delay the an. swer to it, and to leave the Sub. lime Porte time to change its deplorable resolutions, I should have received orders to reply to your excellency on the very day that I received your letter. That the

Ottoman ministry was greatly mis. taken, if it believed that the conduct of the Russian ambassador at Constantinople was not entirely approved by his imperial majesty. The Sublime Porte could not be ignorant that M. de Ribeaupierre had not ceased to act on the affairs of Greece, according to the express commands of his sovereign, as it had before it the obligations which must guide, in this respect, all the measures of the three courts; and the Russian ambassa dor had officially declared that he was the organ of all the views and wishes of the emperor; as little could the Porte deceive itself with regard to the real motives of the proposals made to it for the pacifi. cation of Greece, as it was proved to it, that according to those tendering the peace, which was indispensable for the security of commerce, and the repose of Europe, would be established in those countries upon foundations which, far from affecting the integrity of the Ottoman empire, and merely altering the form of its old rights, would have afforded it great political advantages, means for promoting its internal prosperity, and pecuniary indemnities, for they are by no means burthensome concessions which it would make. After the Russian ambassador had fully developed these important considerations in all his conferences with the Turkish ministry, and as all his official and confidential notes he was not bound to allege them again in another official note, which was required of him without cause, and without object. He was besides acquainted with the resolutions and sentiments of the empe. ror, and the constant refusals of the Porte. He could not, therefore,

agree to wait, in the present case, for instructions, which he must consider as wholly superfluous. In the situation in which the Porte itself placed him, he had no alternative left but to maintain the dig. nity of his court by leaving Constantinople, at the same time giving to the Sublime Porte a salutary hint, and leaving it time, by the removal of pernicious and passionate counsels, to reflect on the dangers that surrounded it. The emperor sees with grief that the Porte, instead of duly appreciating this truly friendly policy, replies to it by actions which make its treaties with Russia null and void-that it has violated the principal condi tions, impeded the trade of the Black Sea, and at the same time, attacked his subjects; and, lastly, has announced to all Mussulmen its resolution to return evil for good, war for peace-and never to fulfil solemn conventions. Af. ter so many hostile measures combined, notwithstanding the representations and the endeavours of the courts allied and in amity with Russia, your excellency will not be surprised to learn that I am or. dered to reply to your letter of the 12th of December by the annexed declaration, which will be immediately followed by the march of the Russian troops, which the emperor orders to enter the dominions of the sultan, to obtain satisfaction for his just complaints.

The more sincere the sorrow of my august master at the necessity of being obliged to have recourse to force, the more agreeable would it be to him to shorten its duration, and if plenipotentiaries from the sultan present themselves at the head-quarters of the commander. in-chief of the Russian army, they

will meet with the best reception: that is to say, if the Porte sends them with the sincere intention of renewing and restoring the conventions that subsisted between the two empires, to accede to the terms of the treaty agreed upon on the 6th July, 1827, between Russia, England and France, to provide for ever against the recurrence of such acts as those which have given the emperor just grounds for war, and to inake good the losses caused by the measures of the Ottoman government, as well as the expenses of the war, which will be increased in proportion to the duration of the hostili. ties. The emperor will not, indeed, be able to stop the progress of the military operations during the negotiations to be opened for this purpose; but he feels convin. ced that, with his moderate views, they will speedily lead to the conclusion of a durable peace, which is the object of his most ardent wishes. I have the honour to be, &c. &c.

Signed. Count NESSELRODE. St. Petersburgh, 14th (26th) of April, 1828.

ANSWER OF THE porte to the RUS

SIAN MANIFESTO.

Men of sound judgment and up. right minds know, and reflection united with experience clearly proves, that the principal means of preserving order in the world, and the repose of nations, consists in the good understanding between sovereigns, to whom the Supreme Master, in the plenitude of his mercy, has intrusted, as servants of God, with absolute and unlimited power, the reigns of government and the administration of the affairs of their subjects. It results from this prin.

ciple, that the solid existence and maintenance of this order of things essentially depends upon an equal and reciprocal observation of the obligations established between sovereigns, which ought, therefore, to be respected in common, and scrupulously executed.

God, all powerful, be praised for this, that the Sublime Porte has, since the commencement of her political existence, observed those salutary principles more than any other power; and as the confidence of the Porte is founded on the precepts of the pure and sacred law, and of the religion which Mussul. mans observe in peace as well as in war, and having never consulted any thing but the law, even in the slightest circumstances, she has never deviated from the maxims of equity and justice, and as is generally known, has never been placed in the situation of compromising her dignity, by infringing without any legitimate motive,treaties concluded with friendly powers.

It is equally well known to the whole world and incontestible, that with regard to the treaties, conventions, and stipulations, for peace and friendship, concluded under diplomatic forms with Russia, as a neighbouring power, the Porte has constantly exercised the greatest care in respecting the duties and rights of good neighbourhood, and in availing herself of all proper means for consolidating the bonds of friendship between the two na. tions.

The Court of Russia has, however, without any motive, disturbed the existing peace-has declared war, and invaded the territory of the Sublime Porte. Russia alleges that the Sublime Porte has caused this war, and has published a ma

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