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104 ORIGIN OF THE WAR OF lb53 chap, loved to mark out the duty of the great Powers VIL of Europe towards Turkey. In the last Secret Memorandum solemnly placed in the hands of our Envoy at St Petersburg as a record of the Em- peror's determination, Nicholas, as we have seen, had laid it down that it was the duty of great Powers not to 'harass the Porte by imperious ' demands put forward in a manner humiliating ' to its independence and dignity;' and yet these very words, which so well point out what the Czar said ought not to be done, are a close description of that which he ordered his Ambassador to do. Mentschi- The approach of Prince Mentschikoff to Con- BUnunoiTe*. stantinople was heralded by the arrival of Staff officers, who were charged to prepare the way, and cause men to feel the import of the com- ing embassy. For many days rumour was busy. When for some time men's minds had been kept on the rack, it became known that the expected vessel of war was nearing the gates of the Bos- phorus ; and at length, surrounded with pomp, and supported by the silent menace of fleets equipped, and battalions marching on the Danube, Prince Mentschikoff entered the palace of the Russian Embassy. The next day another war- steamer came down, bringing the Vice-Admiral Korniloff, the commander of the Black Sea fleet, and the Chief of the Staff of the land forces under General Ptudiger, with several other officers. All this war- like following went to show that the Ambassador had the control of the military and naval forces which were hovering upon the Turkish Empire.