Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/145

 BETWEEN THE CZAR AND THE SULTAN. 103 General, a High Admiral, the Governor of a great chap. province, and, in short, so far as concerns official '_ and titular rank was one of the chief of the Czar's subjects; but Russia has not disclosed the grounds on which it was thought fit to entrust to him— first the peace, and then the military renown of his country ; for when Russians are asked about the qualities of mind which caused a man to be chosen for a momentous embassy, and for the command of an army defending his country from invasion, they only say that the Prince was famous for the strange and quaint sallies of his wit. However, he was of the school of those who desired to govern the affairs of the State upon principles violently Russian, and without the aid and counsel of foreigners. It was understood that he held the Turks in contempt ; and it was said also that he entertained a strong dislike of the English. He had not been schooled in diplo- macy, but he was to be entrusted with the power of using a threatening tone, and was to be sup- ported by a fleet held in readiness, and by bodies of troops impending upon the Turkish frontiers. The Emperor Nicholas seems to have thought that harsh words and a display of force might be made to supply want of skill. Great latitude was given to Prince Mentschikoff in regard to the means by which he was to attain the objects of his mission ; but it is certain that the general tenor of his instructions contravened with singular exactness the honourable and gen- erous language in which the Emperor Nicholas