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74 ORIGIN OF THE WAR OF 1853 chap, direction b} r the policy of maintaining it, resulted IV> in an endeavour to establish what the English Ambassador called ' a predominant influence over ' the counsels of the Porte, tending in the inter- ' est of absolute power to exclude all other influ- ' ences, and to secure the means, if not of hast- ' ening the downfall of the Empire, at least of ' obstructing its improvement, and settling its ' future destinies to the profit of Russia, whenever ' a propitious juncture should arrive.' *
- ' Eastern Papers,' part i. p. 237.
