Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/187

 BETWEEN THE CZAK ANL> THE SULTAN. 145 ford was unfailing in his deference to the motives chap. x of action which he had classed under the head of * ' French feelings of honour; ' and if M. de la Cour was set on fire by the thought that at the Tomb of the Virgin, or anywhere else, the Greek priests were to perform their daily worship before the hour appointed for the services of the Church which looked to France for support, Lord Strat- ford was there to explain, in his grand quiet way, that the priority proposed to be given to the Greeks was a priority resulting from the habit of early prayer which obtained in Oriental Churches, and not from their claim to have precedence over the species of monk which was protected by French- men. At length he addressed the two Ambassa- dors ; he solemnly expressed his hope that they would come to an adjustment. His words brought calm. In obedience, as it were, to the order of Nature, the lesser minds gave way to the greater, and the contention between the Churches for the shrines of Palestine was closed. The manner in ue settles it which the Sultan should guarantee this apportion- ment of the shrines was still left open, but in all other respects, the question of the Holy Places was settled.* According to the terms of the arrangement thus Terms on o ° which it wai effected, the key of the Church of Bethlehem and settled, the silver star placed in the Grotto of the Nativ- ity were to remain where they were, but were to confer no new right on the Latins ; and the door- keeper of the Church was to be a Greek priest as VOL. I. K
 * April 22, 1853. ' Eastern Papers,' part i. p. 157.