Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/81

BETWEEN THE CZAR AND THE SULTAN. 39 pardonable inaction, that tins height and standing en a p. in the world gave their country mere rank and '. — celebrity without corresponding duties. Upon the whole, there was not at this time any sound reason for doubting that England would pursue her accustomed policy with due resolution. Thus Europe was in repose ; for, in general, when the world believes that England will be firm, there Is peace; it is the hope of her proving weak or irresolute which tends to breed war. Of the lesser States of Europe there were some pftiieiessei A States ot which, in the event of a war, might lean towards Europe. Russia, and more which would lean against her : and the divided opinion of the minor Courts of Germany might be reckoned upon by the Czar as tending to hamper the action of the leading States ; but, upon the whole, the interests of the lesser Towers of Europe, and the means of action at their command, were not of such a kind as to exert much weight in retarding or accelerating Kussian schemes of encroachment upon Turkey. This was the quiet aspect of Europe in relation io the Eastern question, when an ancient quarrel between the monks of the Greek and the Latin Churches in Palestine began to extend to laymen and politicians, and even at last to endanger the peace of the world.