Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/415

 1855-] Death of Peel to Resignation of Aberdeen. 401 the Government measure, he withdrew his resolution without a division. On the 4th of June Berkeley pushed his resolution on the ballot further a course which was justified by the support which it had received in previous years, and the reason thereby given why it should be pressed on the attention of Government. The division showed Ayes, 172 ; Noes, 232, a result which was not discouraging to the reformers. All thoughts about home improvement were, however, rapidly distracted by the shadow of a great calamity which was gathering over Europe. The quarrel between Russia and Turkey had been going on all through the year, and, step by step, our Government was being drawn towards the abyss of war. As early as April the 25th statements had been made by Lord Clarendon, the Foreign Minister, as to negotiations which were going on ; and on the 2/th of May he gave further explanations, and made the declaration which was really fatal to the prospects of permanent peace that the policy of England was to uphold the independence of the Turkish Empire. What this meant became evident when, on the I4th of June, the Czar issued a manifesto announcing his intention to occupy the I Danubian provinces, and on the 2nd and 3rd of July his troops actually crossed the Pruth. This was a signal violation of the independence which we were pledged to uphold. The occupa- tion of the provinces was declared not to be an act of war ; Russia said it was only the acquisition of a material guarantee for the performance of treaties, and England and France, anxious to secure peace, went on negotiating. Instructions were, nevertheless, sent to the English fleet to take up a posi- tion near the Dardanelles. In spite of all these proceedings, when Parliament was prorogued, the Queen's speech declared " That her Majesty has good reasons to hope that an honour- able arrangement will speedily be accomplished." The hope was based on the proceedings of the Vienna Conference, by which at last a note was issued in the name of the great powers, the conditions of which were accepted by Russia, but J refused by Turkey. The chance of maintaining peace rapidly disappeared. On the 5th of October Turkey declared war with 2 D