Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/53

 IN THE WAR AGAINST KUSSIA. L'3 liini to prevent the recuiTcnce of a disaster such chap. as that of Sinope. ^^- But on the IGtli of December the ]^!lmperor of proposal ot the French once more approached the Govei-n- tmijeror?' ment of the Queen with his subtle and dangerous counsels. The armed conflict of States in these times is an evil of such dread proportions that it seems wise to uphold the solemnity of a transi- tion from peace to war, and to avoid those con- trivances which tend to throw down the great landmark; for experience shows that statesmen heartily resolved upon peace may nevertheless be induced to concur in a series of gentle steps M'hich slowly and gradually lead down to why. The negotiations for a settlement between Russia Danger of and Tui'key had not only been revived, but were down'tili r n !• L J.1 • ±- • • ■ old barriers lar irom being at this time m an unpromising between state; and it is probable that if Lord Aberdeen wTr?^^" and Mr Gladstone had been called upon to say M'hether they would observe peace faithfully, or frankly declare a war, they would scarcely have made the more violent choice. But the alternative was not presented to the minds of the Queen's Ministers in this ])lain and whole- some form. The ingenious Emperor of the French devised Ambiguous 1 r 1 • 1 • • •., character of a scheme or action so ambiguous in its nature theprorosai. that, at the option of any man, it might be called either peace or war, but so certain nevertheless in its tendency, that the adoption of such a course by the maritime Powers would at once blot out all fair prospect of maintaining peace in