Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/210

 1G8 ORIGIN OF THE WAR OF 1853 1 practicable degree of provocation, and prevent ' disturbance of commercial interests. This ' language,' writes Lord Stratford, ' appeared to ' interest the Sultan deeply, and also to coincide ' with His Majesty's existing opinions. He said ' that he was w 7 ell aware of the dangers to which ' I had alluded ; that he was perfectly prepared, ' in the exercise of his own free will, to confirm ' and to render effective the protection promised ' to all classes of his tributary subjects in matters ■' of religious worship, including the immunities ' He showed me the last communications in writ- ' ing which had passed between his Ministers and ' the Russian Embassy ; he thanked me for hav- ' ing helped to bring the question of the Holy ' Places to an arrangement ; he professed his re- ' liance on the friendly support of Great Britain.' But now Lord Stratford apprised the Sultan lhat he had a communication to make to him which he had hitherto withheld from his Minis- ters, reserving it for the private ear of His Ma- jesty. The pale Sultan listened. Then the Ambassador announced that, in the event of imminent danger, he was instructed to request the Commander of Her Majesty's forces in the Mediterranean to hold his squadron in readiness.* This order was of itself a slight thing, and it conferred but a narrow and stinted authority ; but, imparted to the Sultan in private audience
 * and privileges granted to their respective clergy.
 * 'Eastern Papers, ' part i. p. 213.