128 ORIGIN OF THE WAS, OF 1853 CHAPTER IX. chap. On the morninsf of the 5th of April 1853, the IX. — — Sultan and all his Ministers learned that a vessel I.nnl Btrat let urn Stratford's °f wai " was coining up the PropontiSj and they knew who it was that was on board. Long before noon the voyage and the turmoil of the reception were over, and, except that a corvette under the English Hag lay at anchor in the Golden Horn, there was no seeming change in the outward world.* Yet all was changed. Lord Stratford de Eedcliffe had entered once more the palace of the English Embassy. The event spread a sense of safety, but also a sense of awe.f It seemed to bring with it confusion to the enemies of Tur- key, but austere reproof for past errors at home, and punishment where punishment was due, and
- The corvette which brought the great Eltchi was the Fury,
commanded by Captain Tatham. t Since the original publication of this work, Captain Tatham has been so good as to communicate with me, and to confirm in decisive terms my above account of the awe inspired by Lord Stratford's return as ' most accurate.' The Captain was present at the first audience, and he assures me that the spectacle af- forded by the manner and bearing of the great Ambassador and the evident awe of the Sultan is one he will ' never forget.'
