Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/225

BETWEEN THE CZAB AND THE SULTAN. 183 the Sultan, and had enforced upon the Turks a chap . XI firmness so indomitable, and a moderation so _ unwearied, that from the hour of his arrival at Constantinople they resisted every claim which was fraught with real danger — but always resisted with courtesy — and yielded to every demand, however unjust in principle, if it seemed that they could yield with honour and with safety. Know- ing that, if he left room for doubt whether Russia or the Porte were in the right, the controversy would run a danger of being decided in favour of the stronger, he provided, with a keen foresight, and at the cost of having to put a hard restraint upon his anger, and even upon his sense of justice, that the concessions offered by the Turks should reach beyond their just liability; nay, should reach so far beyond it as to leave a broad margin be- tween, and make it difficult even for any one who inclined towards the strong to deny that Iiussia was committing an outrage upon a weaker State, and was therefore offending against Europe. In truth, lie placed the Moslem before the world in an atti- tude of Christian forbearance sustained by unfail- ing courage ; and in proportion as men loved justice and were led by the gentle precepts of the Gospel, they inclined to the Mahometan Prince, who seemed to represent their principles, and began to think how best they could help him to make a stand against the ferocious Christianity of the Czar. In England especially this sentiment was kindled, and already it was beginning to gain a hold over the policy of the State. Less than