Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/31



Emperor Nicholas still sought to prolong the ambiguity of his relations with Turkey. On the 31st of October, Count Nesselrode issued a Circular to the representatives of Russia at foreign Courts, in which he declared that, notwithstanding the declaration of War, and as long as his master's dignity and his interests would permit, Russia would abstain from taking the offensive, and content herself with holding her position in the Principalities until she succeeded in obtaining the satisfaction which she required. This second endeavour to contrive a novel kind of standing-ground between real peace and avoidved war was destined, as will be seen, to cause fresh discord between Russia and the Western Powers. VOL. II.