of the government here. Checked on one side by Mehemet Ali, on the other by Russia, they are placed between a cross-fire, which does tell, and must in a short time bring the whole mass, which already totters, to the ground. If Mahmoud would be Sultan of Turkey, he must destroy Mehemet Ali. The ignorant declare that the peace of Europe is endangered; and this is the last, the only, means of preserving it. Will Russia, if she attacks Turkey, which she must do, if Mehemet Ali lives and rules, be content till she is so secure that she may laugh at the protests of England, and the force of England? "The British lion has grown old — he dotes his teeth and claws must be drawn and cut!" such was the expression of a Russian. I have seen a paper, sent to some mountaineers of the Caucasus. "Do you not know," it says, " that we have conquered England and France? Have you not seen their flags in Anapa (not pennants)? Let us be friends-enter the service of our Emperor, whom the world obeys."

[The ability with which the cabinet of St. Petersburg derives arguments from the conservative policy of the Court of Vienna, to support her "destructive" policy as respects the East, is admirably shown in the following Despatch, especially when contrasted with the manner in which the Greek question was to be treated at Constantinople, as exemplified in the Despatch to M. de Ribeaupierre, under the same date, published in Nos. 20 and 21 of the Portfolio. The Despatch of Prince Lieven, referred to, will be found in Nos. 18 and 19.]

COPY OF A CONFIDENTIAL DESPATCH

FROM

COUNT NESSELRODE

TO

M. DE TATISTCHEFF,

Dated St. Petersburg, Jan. 1827.

I HAVE hastened to lay before the Emperor your Excellency's interesting Despatches, dated the 27th December (8th January); and I have delayed, for a few days, the departure of the present messenger, for the purpose of making known to you the intentions of his Imperial Majesty, relative to the overtures contained in them.

First of all, the Emperor charges you to con

Copie d'une Dépéche confidentielle à MR. DE TATISTCHEFF, en date de St. Petersbourg, le Janvier, 1827.

Je me suis empressé de mettre sous les yeux de l'Empereur l'intéressante expédition de V. Ex. en date du 27 Decembre (8 Janvier) et j'ai différé de quelques jours le départ du present Courrier, afin de pouvoir vous faire connôitre les intentions de S. M. Imperiale relativement aux ouvertures qu'elle renferme.

Avant tout, l'Empereur vous charge de faire parvenir à l'Em

vey to the Emperor of Austria the expression of his most lively gratitude for the frankness with which this Monarch has entered into personal explanations with you on questions of importance, which assuredly claim the most anxious attention of the Allied Courts. In requesting permission to hand over to his Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty the original, and the copy of the answer, which his Majesty addresses to him, you will be able to execute this commission.

Our August Master had, to a certain degree, provoked the explanation in question, by a letter remitted to the Prince of Hesse Homburg, and his Majesty has been infinitely pleased at seeing the Emperor of Austria return this pledge of

pereur d'Autriche l'expression de sa plus vive reconnoissance pour la franchise avec laquelle ce Monarque a bien voulu s'expliquer lui-même avec vous sur des questions graves, qui réclament assurément toute la sollicitude des Cours Alliées. En demandant à déposer entre les mains de S. M. I. et R. Ap. la réponse ci-jointe en original et en copie que S. M. Lui adresse, vous pourrez vous acquitter de cette commission.

Notre Auguste Maître avoit en quelque sorte provoqué l'explication, dont il s'agit, par une lettre remise au Prince de Hesse Hombourg, et il Lui a été infiniment agreáble de voir l'Empereur d'Autriche donner suite à ce témoignage d'amitié et de confiance,

friendship and confidence. The wishes he has announced to you relate, first of all, to the general situation of affairs, and then to a particular case, on which the Allied Courts, and that of Vienna especially, are obliged to give their opinions. Seeing that the questions which interest all Europe are becoming complicated, and are taking an unpleasant turn; and that the spirit of anarchy is gaining ground, and preparing a crisis in more than one country; the Emperor of Austria points out to the solicitude of the other monarchs these alarming symptoms, insists on the necessity of strengthening the bonds which unite them; and desires to know to what degree he might count on the co-operation of our August Master, if new revolutionary

Les vœux qu'il vous a énoncés se rapportent d'abord à la situation générale des affaires, et ensuite à un cas particulier, sur lequel les Cours Alliées, et nommément celle de Vienne, sont obligées d'emettre leurs opinions. Voyant les questions qui interéssent toute l'Europe se compliquer, les événemens prendre une tournure inquiétante, l'esprit d'anarchie se fortifier et préparer des crises dans plus d'un pays, l'Empereur d'Autriche signale à la sollicitude des autres monarques ces alarmans symptômes, insiste sur la nécessité de renforcer leurs liens, et désire savoir jusqu'à quel point il pourroit compter sur la coopération de Notre Auguste Maître