compromised. We, on our part, have done everything
that depended upon us to shorten unnecessary delays,
inasmuch as when the arrangement was laid before us
we renounced all counter-propositions. No one will
refuse to bear this testimony to the loyauté of the
Emperor. After our having long exhausted the measure
of concessions without the Porte's having as yet made
a single one, his Majesty can go no further without
compromising his own standing, and without exposing
himself to a resumption of his relations with Turkey
under unfavourable auspices, which would deprive them
for the future of all stability, and must inevitably
produce a fresh and signal breach. Even now, further
concessions with regard to the expressions of the note
would be of no use, for we see by your despatch that
the Ottoman Government is only waiting for our
consent to the alterations made in the Vienna note,
to make its signature, as well as its sending off an
Ambassador to convey the latter hither, dependent on
fresh conditions, and that it has already made
inadmissible proposals with respect to the evacuation of the
Principalities. As regards the latter point, we can
only refer to the assurances and declarations contained
in our despatch of the 10th of August; and repeat,
that the arrival of the Turkish Ambassador, bearing
the Austrian note without alterations, will suffice at
St. Petersburg for the orders to be issued to our troops
to retire over the frontier."

In another despatch, Count Nesselrode examines the
modifications introduced by the Ottoman Porte. First,
he observes, the Sultan alters the phrase "active solicitude
for the Orthodox Greek Church in the Ottoman
empire," by leaving out the words "in the Ottoman
empire;" words afterwards used in speaking of the
Sultan's own part in maintaining the privileges of the
Greek Church. But Russia wishes a recognition of her
solicitude for her "co-religionists in Turkey;" nobody
denies her solicitude for her own faith. Also, it is
represented, the facts are diametrically contrary to what
is affirmed of the Sultan's care over the privileges of
the Greek Church: otherwise, what becomes of Russia's
complaints against him? Secondly, the Sultan's
modifications interpret the treaty of Kinardji relative to the
protection of the Christian worship as simply binding
him to maintain the immunities and privileges of the
Greek Church: this reading, Russia, in the spirit of
conciliation, allowed before; but these "motives of
condescension" are no longer applicable. Thirdly, the
Porte, by its modifications, promises only to accord to
the Greek Church the privileges given to other religious
communities, "subjects of the Porte." But when, as
in the case of the Latin religious communities, these
"other communities" are not subjects of the Porte,
Turkey could refuse to give to the Greek Church the
privileges accorded, for instance, to the Latin Patriarch
of Jerusalem,—a probable case, showing the "ill-
disposed intentions of the Ministers of the Porte." On
the receipt of the Russian notes at Vienna, the
Government withdrew from further joint action with the
Western Powers, and despatched special instructions to
Baron de Bruck to press on the Sultan the acceptance
of the Vienna note without modifications. The other
Powers, it was understood in Vienna, were to make
separate representations, more or less to the same effect.
The latest news from Vienna announces, that, "upon
the demand of Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, new
conferences had taken place, at which it was decided that
the representatives of the Powers at Constantinople
should declare that the Vienna note does not contain
the dangers which the Porte sees in it. No other
collective step will be taken."

The warlike preparations are continued. Troops are
rapidly forwarded to Varna; and the enthusiasm of
the soldiers—most of them savage levies from Asia—is
fanatical in the extreme. The popular feeling at
Constantinople is still for war. Inflammatory placards are
posted through the city, denouncing the peace policy of
the ministers, and urging the Sultan to a "holy war."
A report prevailed that the Ulemas had called on the
Sultan and offered him the alternative of "war" or
"abdication;" giving him two days for his decision—
namely, until the feast of Kurban-Bairam, on the 14th.
The Russians continuously strengthen themselves in the
Principalities. The news of the march upon Bucharest
of the third corps of the Russian army under General
Oslen-Sacken is confirmed. Some Boyards have been
arrested for holding correspondence with Omer Pacha.
According to the latest intelligence from Constantinople,
six ships, detached from the combined English and
French fleets in Besika Bay, had passed the Dardanelles
and anchored in the sea of Marmora. The
purpose of this movement does not yet appear.

The Spanish government has granted permission to
construct a Protestant burial-ground at Madrid. The
correspondence respecting this concession has excited
much attention. General Lersundi, in a letter dated
the 24th May, 1853, signifies to Lord Howden, that the
Queen of Spain has been pleased to grant permission for
the construction of a burial-ground near Madrid, under
these conditions; the same he states, as those communicated
to the British Legation in July, 1851:—

"1. The cemetery will be erected on the hill of San
Damaso, outside the gate of Toledo; and it will be
constructed with subjection to the hygienic or sanitary
rules required by establishments of this kind.

"2. No church, chapel, or any other sign of a temple,
or of public or private worship, will be allowed to be
built in the aforesaid cemetery.

"3. All acts which can give any indication of the
performance of any divine service whatsoever are
prohibited.

"4. In the conveyance of the dead bodies to the
burial-ground, any sort of pomp or publicity shall be
avoided."

To this Lord Howden, on the 30th May, returned a
spirited reply.

"With regard to the first three conditions specified
in the document, I shall say nothing; having already
said, uselessly, a great deal, and often, on the subject.
My opinion on them is that of Europe, including the
great Catholic nations of France, Austria, Portugal,
Belgium, Sardinia, and Brazil; and if that opinion be
indifferent to the nation of her Catholic Majesty,
England will at least find herself in good company in the
appreciation of the above conditions."

But on the fourth condition he had something to say.
It is vague; what one nation calls pomp, another calls
decency; neither is it possible to discover what is meant
by "publicity." Does the Spanish Government mean
that the body is to be smuggled from the gate of Atocha
to the gate of Toledo? He continues—"I renounce
all responsibility as to its being carried out according to
the expressed wishes of the Spanish Government, or the
appreciation of the word 'pomp' by some ignorant and
fanatical mob. I do not know whether the state of
Spain would permit such a homage to civil dignity, but
in all other countries of the world it is precisely to the
authorities themselves that the representative of a
foreign country would apply for protection in conveying
a human body to its last resting-place. Perhaps I shall
have occasion to try this question. I hasten to finish
this communication, as it is impossible to make it
without a feeling of irritation. If, in the streets of
London, whither I am going, I have the misfortune to
meet a Spaniard carried (with 'publicity') to the grave,
while reverently uncovering myself as the corpse
passes, my sorrow will be tempered by the feeling that
he is buried like a Christian, and my pride will be
gratified by thinking that this homage has been paid
to one of God's creatures by Christians who are my
countrymen."

In his letter enclosing this correspondence to Lord
Clarendon, Lord Howden states, that "although the
permission appears the direct consequence of a right
secured by treaty, it has for half a century been opposed,
evaded, or delayed; and I have had the greatest
difficulty in obtaining it."

The Times has been officially prohibited throughout
the Spanish Dominions, for discussing "institutions"
and other inconvenient subjects—among others, no
doubt, questionable, but officially-patronised, and share-
jobbing railway projects. The highest compliment that
Spain could pay to an English journal.

The Austrian government continues to pursue rigorous