Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/212

 170 ORIGIN OF THE WAR OF 1853 CHAP. XI. of the Emperor; and if the principles which formed the basis of this proposed mark of respect were to be rejected, and if the Porte, by a system- atic opposition, was to persist in closing the very approaches to an intimate and direct understand- ing, then the Prince declared with pain that lie must consider his mission at an end, must break off relations with the Cabinet of the Sultan, and throw upon the responsibility of his Ministers all the consequences which might ensue. The Prince ended his Note by requiring that it should be an- swered within three days* On the second day after sending this Note, Prince Mentschikoff was to have an interview with the Grand Vizier at half-past one o'clock ; but before that hour came the Prince took a step which had the effect of breaking up the Ministry. Without the concurrence, and apparently without the previous knowledge, of the Ministers, he found His private means to obtain a private audience of the Sultan iL'Iuiun. at ten o'clock in the morning. The Sultan did wrongly when he submitted to receive a foreign Ambassador without the advice or knowledge of his Ministers, and the Grand r izier had the spirit to resent the course thus taken by his Sovereign ; This causes for upon being sent for by the Sultan immediately jiinutfy at after the audience, he requested permission to stay nopfe; ' at home, and at the same time gave up his seals of office. The new Ministry, however, was formed of men who, as members of the Great Council, had declared opinions adverse to the extreme de-
 * May 11. ' Eastern Tapers,' part i. p. 197.