Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/357

 THE MAIN QUESTION AT ISSUE. 325 there seemed to be a fair prospect of their prov- chap. ing able to deal no less happily with the Fourth Coudition (if ever, indeed, they should reach it), whilst also they were able to come to terms upon the first part of even the Third Condition ; but its latter words plainly ordained that means should be found for ' putting an end to the pre- ' ponderance of Eussia in the Black Sea ; ' and this was the matter that promised to be the sub- ject of lasting contention. By accepting the Four Points, Eussia had committed herself to the prin- ciple of submitting to be deprived by some means or other of her preponderance in the Black Sea. What, however, those means should be had not been determined, and was the question to be taken in hand. The Allies with a thoughtful regard for the feel- ings of Eussia proposed that she herself should suggest the means of reducing her naval ' prepon- ' derance ' in the Black Sea ; but Prince Gortcha- koff suspected a snare ; and (after a reference to St Petersburg) she declined to take any such step. There of course are two ways in which 'pre- ' ponderance ' can be terminated : — by either tak- ing weight from the heavier scale, or adding weight to the lighter one. The Allies proposed that the object should be attained by either entirely neutralising the Black Sea— that is, rid- ding it of all ships of war, except a few mere Police vessels — or else limiting the number of war-ships that Eussia should there keep afloat. On the other hand, Eussia objected with great