Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/212

 182 TRANSACTIONS CHAP, even of the people of this country, imagine that ■ the wisdom and power of man are tested by his proximity to the newest stage of civilisation : and from those whose minds are in that state, the true worth of the Osmanli, whether in policy or in arms, must always be hidden. If he sustains re- verses, their minds are satisfied, for in that case, their little equation appears, as they would say, to ' come right ; ' but, on the other hand, his success disturbs their most deep-set notions of logical sequence; and now, after all Omar Pasha's achievements on the Danube, it seemed to be the impression of Prince Jerome and the French Marshals that the Turkish General would be a source of trouble and anxiety to the alliance. They looked upon the events which had been occurring as accidental and anomalous, and tending to produce a wrong conclusion. The Russians, as they well knew, had carried the industry of military prepaiation to the utmost verge of human endurance. The Turks had provided themselves with a powerful field-artillery, had kept their old yatagans bright, and had cherished their ancient love of war; but, for the rest, they had trusted much in Heaven. Yet during some six or seven months these pious, improvident, warlike men had been getting the better of drilled masses. Their success seemed to carry a dangerous lesson ; and the French Coun- cillors thought it so important for the Turks to be broken in to the yoke of a newer civilisation, that they even said it might be advantagcious for Omar