Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/231

BETWEEN THE CZAll AND THE SULTAN. ISO permitting for a while to triumph over the Czar chap. and his Church. XL Lord Stratford reaped the fruit of his toil and Powers of the long-endured pain of encountering violence to Lord with moderation. All his acts were approved by the Government, and, so far as they were known and understood, by the bulk of his countrymen at home. And now when he paced the shady gar- dens, where often he had put upon his anger a difficult restraint, he could look with calm joy to the headland where the Straits opened out into the Euxine, for he knew that the Governments of the Western Powers, supporting his every word, and even overstepping his more sober policy, were coming forward to stand between Pussia and her prey. The fleet at Malta was to be moved when and whither he chose ; and, even to the length of war, the Admiral was ordered to obey any requi- sitions made to him by the Ambassador.* A few days later the Governments of Paris and London, fearing the consequence of delay, ordered the fleets to move up at once to the neighbourhood of the Dardanelles. "J* The power to choose between peace and war went from out of the Courts of Paris and London, and passed to Constantinople. Lord Stratford was worthy of this trust ; for being firm, and supplied with full knowledge, and hav- ing power by his own mere ascendancy to enforce moderation upon the Turks, and to forbid panic, and even to keep down tumult, he was able to be very chary in the display of force, and to be more • ' Eastern Papers, ' part i. p. 100. t Pp. -10, 225.