Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/86

 44 ORIGIN OF THE WAR OF 1853 chat, had the force of a treaty, and its Articles, or m ' ' Capitulations/ as they were sometimes called, purported to confirm and enlarge all the then ex- isting privileges of the Latin Church in Palestine. But this success was not closely pursued, for in the course of the succeeding hundred years, the Greeks, keenly supported by Russia, obtained from the Turkish Government several firmans which granted them advantages in derogation of the treaty with France ; and until the middle of this century France- acquiesced, comparison In the contest now about to be raised between thediSms France and Russia, it would be wrong to suppose and n-anco. that, so far as concerned strength of motive and sincerity of purpose, there was any approach to an equality between the contending Governments. In the Greek Church the rite of pilgrimage is held to be of such deep import, that if a family can command the means of journeying to Palestine, even from the far-distant provinces of Russia, they can scarcely remain in the sensation of being truly devout without undertaking the holy enterprise ; and to this end the fruits of parsimony and labour, enduring through all the best years of manhood, are joyfully devoted. The compassing of vast distances with the narrow means at the command of a peasant is not achieved without suffering so great as to destroy many lives. This danger does not deter the brave pious people of the North. As the reward of their sacrifices, their priests, speaking boldly in the name of Heaven, promise them ineffable blessings. The advantages held