The impression that the Turkish difficulty will be peaceably overcome
gains strength, although the evidence of recent facts rather inclines the other way. Turkey. remains firm, and does not relax either in her bearing or her military preparations. The ac- cession of Persia to the alliance is an important fact, and one which is likely to have a moral effect in St. Petersburg ; since Russia has always great anxiety to occupy Persia either as a patron or a friend. France and England have not committed any overt act which implies yielding ; although the language held by the Con- stitutionnel, usually regarded as an organ of the French Govern- ment, is highly indicative of peaceful councils. Probably the wish is father to the expectation ; or rather, the manifest interest of all sides is so clear and so generally confessed, that a conclusion opposed to the universal desire seems to be nearly impracticable. Thos far, however, it must be admitted that Russia does not facilitate her allies in reverting to a peaceful course, since her lan- guage loses nothing of its arrogant tone. The note addressed by Count Nesselrode to the Turkish Government may be regarded as the original of the circular note addressed to other powers, as it consists, mutatis mntandis, nearly of the same asseverations and insinuated threats, only it is less circuitous or veiled in its menaces. Redschid Pasha is given to understand that if he do not without delay obtain the signature to the draft-convention furnished by Prince Menschikoff, and send it to that person, the Ottoman empire must look to itself. It will be remembered, that professedly the whole subject in dispute is the immunities of the Christian subjects of Turkey, and that Russia is arrogating the right of obtaining a bond from the Sultan empowering the Em- peror to dictate the internal administration of the Turkish Go- vernment. To extort compliance, Russia seizes two provinces as pledges until she obtain that bond, and threatens something further if the signature be delayed. In doing so, she wrongfully invades Turkish territory—a breach of public law ; and commits spoliation on the inhabitants of the two provinces—a breach of municipal law—robbery. Substantially the case remains where it stood last week : certainly Russia has done nothing to make the wrong appear more like right than it did.
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