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 134 ORIGIN OF THE WAR OF 1S53 chap, heart's desire of fifty millions of pious men. He ' showed by his language that if by chance he should be called upon to use his good offices in this matter, or to mediate between Russia and France, he would form his judgment with grav- ity and with care. Where he could do so with justice, he admitted the fairness of the Russian claims. Prince Mentseliikoff's tone became 'consider- ' ably softened.'* Then the Ambassadors ven- tured upon the subject still more pregnant with danger, for Lord Stratford now disclosed his knowledge of Prince Mentschikoff's 'ulterior ' propositions relative to the protectorate of the ' whole Greek Church and the priesthood in ' Turkey, and his conviction that they would ' meet with serious opposition from the Porte, ' and be regarded with little favour by Powers ' even the most friendly to Russia.'-)- Prince Mentschikoff tried to 'attenuate the extent and ' effect ' J of his demauds ; and, on the other hand, Lord Stratford 'drew a clear line of dis- 1 tinction between the confirmation of special ' points already stipulated by treaty, and an ex- ' tension of influence having the virtual force of ' a protectorate, to be exercised exclusively by a ' single foreign Power, over the most important ' and numerous class of the Sultan's tributary 'subjects;'} but by a common consent the two Ambassadors 'avoided entering into a discussion + Ibid. p. 151, * Ibid. p. 139.
 * 'Eastern Papers,' part i. p. 134.