DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16612#0010
Vol. XXV.]
INTRODUCTION.
fAGE
the frontiers of Turkey, was a most unfortunate step, and
has naturally caused very great alarm to Europe, white it has
imposed great sacrifices both upon Turkey and upon the Turkish
provinces adjoining Russia.’ These appearances became so
serious that the fleet was ordered to approach the Dardanelles ;
the French fleet advanced at the same time ; and the Russians
entered the Principalities. This, Turkey had an undoubted
right to consider a casus belli; but France and England
induced the Sultan to forego that right, thinking it desirable
to gather up the broken threads of negotiation, and strive for
some arrangement for maintaining peace. The French
Minister for Foreign Affairs—‘ a gentleman whose talents,
moderation, and judgment it is impossible too greatly to
admire’—drew up a note, omitting what was objectionable on
both sides. The Austrian Government, which had previously
declined to enter on a conference, changed its views when the
Russians occupied the Principalities, and Cotjnt Buol took
the proposal of M. Deouyn de Lhuys as a basis for a note.
This note was agreed to by the Four Powers ; and the Empe-
ror oe Russia had accepted it, considering that his honour
would be saved, and his objects attained, if that note was
signed by the Turkish Minister.
“ Supposing that note ‘ to be finally agreed upon by Russia
and Turkey as the communication which shall be made by
Turkey, there will still remain the question of the evacuation
of the Principalities. It is quite evident, Sir, that no settle-
ment can be satisfactory which does not include or imme-
diately lead to the evacuation of those Principalities. {Cheers.)
According to the declaration which has been made by the
General commanding the Russian Forces, Prince Gortscha-
koef, the evacuation ought immediately to follow on the satis-
faction obtained by Turkey from the Emperor oe Russia. I
will only say further, that it is an object which Her Majesty’s
Government consider to be essential: but with respect to the
mode in which the object is to be obtained—with respect to the
mode in which the end is to be secured—I ask the permission
of Parliament to say nothing further upon this head, but to
leave the means—the end being one which is certain to be
obtained—to leave the means by which it is to be obtained in
the Executive Government. With respect to the question
which has been raised as to the fleets of England and France
at Besika Bay, that of course need not be made any question
of difficulty, because, supposing Turkey were in danger, we
ought to have the power at all times of sending our fleets to
the neighbourhood of the Dardanelles to be ready to assist
Turkey in case of any such danger, and we ought not to con-
sent to any arrangement by which it may be stipulated that
the advance of the fleets to the neighbourhood of the Darda-
nelles should be considered as equivalent to an actual invasion
ot the Turkish territories. But, of course, if the matter is
settled—it peace is secured, Besika Bay is not a station
[July to December, 1853.
page
which would be of any advantage either to England or
France.’
“ In conclusion he said, he thought we had now a fair
prospect, without involving Europe in hostilities, or exposing
the independence and integrity of Turkey, that the object in
view would be secured in no very long space of time. ‘ I will
only say further, that this question of the maintenance of
Turkey is one that must always require the attention—and I
may say, the vigilant attention—of any person holding in his
hands the foreign affairs of this country. This, however, can
only be secured by a constant union between England and
France—by a thorough concert and constant communication
between those two great Powers.”
In our next Yolume we shall have to treat of the results of
these difficulties.
One effbct of these “ rumours of wars ” was the introduction
of the Xaval Coast Yolunteers’ Bill, a very necessary and im-
portant measure for the establishment of a Xaval Militia, and
by which 18,000 to 20,000 well-trained seamen are placed at
the disposal of the country.
Other bills of considerable importance in themselves, though
not of political interest, became Law, and have been pro-
ductive of great good to the community. The Act for the
Suppression of Betting Houses has saved many a thoughtless
fool from ruin, and dispersed, though not destroyed, the bands
of brigands who then preyed upon the unwary. The prisons
of London gave abundant and conclusive testimony bf the vast
number of persons, especially the young, who had been led into
crime by the temptation held out by Betting Houses.
Mr. Fitzroy’s Act for the Better Prevention and Punish-
ment of Aggravated Assaults upon Women and Children has
done much, though not all that is required, to lessen the bru-
tality of the lower orders, and the Smoke Prevention Act has
removed in part one of the disgraces of our metropolis.
The Yaccination Extension Act was a sanitary measure of
great importance, as the mortality from small-pox had long
been greater in England than in any other country in Europe.
On the 16th of December Lord Palmerston resigned his
office of Secretary of State for the Home Department, but he
was subsequently induced to resume his position in the
Government.
On the 20th of August the Parliament was prorogued by
commission, and a Parliamentary Session ,of an unusually
protracted and laborious character brought to an end. The
year had been generally very prosperous, but the scanty har-
vest, and the unsettled condition of the labouring classes, who
resorted to the desperate and suicidal agency of “ strikes”
for bettering their condition, added to the probability of a
war with Russia, brought it to a gloomy close, and it was as
much as Punch could do to sustain the nation in moderate
cheerfulness.
INTRODUCTION.
fAGE
the frontiers of Turkey, was a most unfortunate step, and
has naturally caused very great alarm to Europe, white it has
imposed great sacrifices both upon Turkey and upon the Turkish
provinces adjoining Russia.’ These appearances became so
serious that the fleet was ordered to approach the Dardanelles ;
the French fleet advanced at the same time ; and the Russians
entered the Principalities. This, Turkey had an undoubted
right to consider a casus belli; but France and England
induced the Sultan to forego that right, thinking it desirable
to gather up the broken threads of negotiation, and strive for
some arrangement for maintaining peace. The French
Minister for Foreign Affairs—‘ a gentleman whose talents,
moderation, and judgment it is impossible too greatly to
admire’—drew up a note, omitting what was objectionable on
both sides. The Austrian Government, which had previously
declined to enter on a conference, changed its views when the
Russians occupied the Principalities, and Cotjnt Buol took
the proposal of M. Deouyn de Lhuys as a basis for a note.
This note was agreed to by the Four Powers ; and the Empe-
ror oe Russia had accepted it, considering that his honour
would be saved, and his objects attained, if that note was
signed by the Turkish Minister.
“ Supposing that note ‘ to be finally agreed upon by Russia
and Turkey as the communication which shall be made by
Turkey, there will still remain the question of the evacuation
of the Principalities. It is quite evident, Sir, that no settle-
ment can be satisfactory which does not include or imme-
diately lead to the evacuation of those Principalities. {Cheers.)
According to the declaration which has been made by the
General commanding the Russian Forces, Prince Gortscha-
koef, the evacuation ought immediately to follow on the satis-
faction obtained by Turkey from the Emperor oe Russia. I
will only say further, that it is an object which Her Majesty’s
Government consider to be essential: but with respect to the
mode in which the object is to be obtained—with respect to the
mode in which the end is to be secured—I ask the permission
of Parliament to say nothing further upon this head, but to
leave the means—the end being one which is certain to be
obtained—to leave the means by which it is to be obtained in
the Executive Government. With respect to the question
which has been raised as to the fleets of England and France
at Besika Bay, that of course need not be made any question
of difficulty, because, supposing Turkey were in danger, we
ought to have the power at all times of sending our fleets to
the neighbourhood of the Dardanelles to be ready to assist
Turkey in case of any such danger, and we ought not to con-
sent to any arrangement by which it may be stipulated that
the advance of the fleets to the neighbourhood of the Darda-
nelles should be considered as equivalent to an actual invasion
ot the Turkish territories. But, of course, if the matter is
settled—it peace is secured, Besika Bay is not a station
[July to December, 1853.
page
which would be of any advantage either to England or
France.’
“ In conclusion he said, he thought we had now a fair
prospect, without involving Europe in hostilities, or exposing
the independence and integrity of Turkey, that the object in
view would be secured in no very long space of time. ‘ I will
only say further, that this question of the maintenance of
Turkey is one that must always require the attention—and I
may say, the vigilant attention—of any person holding in his
hands the foreign affairs of this country. This, however, can
only be secured by a constant union between England and
France—by a thorough concert and constant communication
between those two great Powers.”
In our next Yolume we shall have to treat of the results of
these difficulties.
One effbct of these “ rumours of wars ” was the introduction
of the Xaval Coast Yolunteers’ Bill, a very necessary and im-
portant measure for the establishment of a Xaval Militia, and
by which 18,000 to 20,000 well-trained seamen are placed at
the disposal of the country.
Other bills of considerable importance in themselves, though
not of political interest, became Law, and have been pro-
ductive of great good to the community. The Act for the
Suppression of Betting Houses has saved many a thoughtless
fool from ruin, and dispersed, though not destroyed, the bands
of brigands who then preyed upon the unwary. The prisons
of London gave abundant and conclusive testimony bf the vast
number of persons, especially the young, who had been led into
crime by the temptation held out by Betting Houses.
Mr. Fitzroy’s Act for the Better Prevention and Punish-
ment of Aggravated Assaults upon Women and Children has
done much, though not all that is required, to lessen the bru-
tality of the lower orders, and the Smoke Prevention Act has
removed in part one of the disgraces of our metropolis.
The Yaccination Extension Act was a sanitary measure of
great importance, as the mortality from small-pox had long
been greater in England than in any other country in Europe.
On the 16th of December Lord Palmerston resigned his
office of Secretary of State for the Home Department, but he
was subsequently induced to resume his position in the
Government.
On the 20th of August the Parliament was prorogued by
commission, and a Parliamentary Session ,of an unusually
protracted and laborious character brought to an end. The
year had been generally very prosperous, but the scanty har-
vest, and the unsettled condition of the labouring classes, who
resorted to the desperate and suicidal agency of “ strikes”
for bettering their condition, added to the probability of a
war with Russia, brought it to a gloomy close, and it was as
much as Punch could do to sustain the nation in moderate
cheerfulness.