Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/64

34 CAUSES INVOLVING FRANCE AND ENGLAND CHAP, had thus been encountered by the Turkish ^linis- ' try for the sake of making peace with Piussia — the fxyecuns^^ succcss achieved at Sinope — and some victories soiutiom*^'^ gained over the Turks on the Armenian frontier, — all these were circumstances tending to assuage the mortification inflicted upon the Czar by the failure of Prince Mentschikoff's mission. Again, it had long been plain that the time was ill-fitted for the promotion of any scheme of Tiussian ambition ; and it was known that the English Ambassador had brought the Turks to the utmost verge of possible concession. Moreover, terms of arrangement, agreed to by the Turkish Govern- ment, were about to be pressed upon the Czar with all the authority of the four great Powers. It might seem, therefore, that all things were con- ducing towards an amicable settlement. Nor was this hope at all shaken when the Government of St Petersburg was made acquainted with the first and unbiassed decision to which the English Government had come after hearing of the dis- aster of Sinope. Apprised by his private letters of the tenor of this decision. Sir Hamilton Sey- mour gathered or inferred that the Admirals of the Western Powers, being enjoined to prevent the recurrence of an attack like the attack of Sinope, would assert the command of the Black pvieii.uy Sea ; and when he imparted to the Russian view enter- . . tiineii by Govemmcnt the impression thus produced on his the Russi.-in . , , . GoveniMunt miud, his communication was received in a wise oftheKng. ' lisiiCabi- and friendlv spirit by Count Nesselrode ; for after net's first J t J ) decision. hearing that the Western Powers would be likely