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PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

"Ce délire ne peut pas durer."*

August 30th.

I PROFIT by the occasion afforded me by the demand for another edition to bring up the history to the last moment. I have indeed little to say as to events. I, for what I have said, the Emperor Nicholas for what he has done, have both been called madmen. It remains, therefore, for me but to express my acknowledgments to His Imperial Majesty for having redeemed my character for sanity, for I suppose the success of the present work is an evidence that it is redeemed. I take advantage of that expectation to offer some further considerations, suggested by the contemporary discussion of the subject.

The Turkish Government is the only independent one in Europe. The present negotiations spring solely out of that independence.

The Turkish Empire is full of Military vigour; the dangers to which it is at present exposed result not from its weakness but from its strength.

At the period of the last war the Turks were averse to that war, and had to be driven to it by their Government. At the present moment Army and Nation, Mussulmans and Christians, demand the war, and are restrained by their Government. At the first period Russia forced the war,--at present she will prevent it.

*Unpublished Russian Despatch.

Her advance to the Danube now sanctioned by the Powers of Europe endangers Austria more than Turkey; it has compromised the one into cooperation while it has only alarmed the other for its independence.

The Turks as a nation refused to fight for the Principalities twenty-five years ago: five years ago they were indifferent to their occupation; four years ago, a Treaty was signed without comment for their occupation by Russia up to the year 1856.

The Christian populations of Turkey have hitherto accepted with joy the proffered protection of Russia.

The people of Europe have hitherto viewed with indifference the occupation of the Provinces: they have never blamed their governments for co-operating with that of Russia, but on the contrary on all such occasions believed that they were opposing them.

The Governments of Europe obtained support at home from their co-operation with Russia, and suffered no inconvenience from pursuing that course.

The Crowns of Europe were unconscious of any degradation in consequence of the policy of their Governments, and their position of dependence was veiled or disguised as partial and temporary.

The old world was alone concerned, and Russia had to consider only the Porte, the Turks, the Christians of Turkey, the people, the Cabinets and the Crowns of Europe. Now to the altered position of the Old World, has to be added the interposition of the New.

Here is the only new EVENT, and the consequences of it are incalculable: the United States cannot now remain neuter, there is no alternative between their being enveloped by Russia in the diplomatic measures of the Old World, and their breaking through the vicious circle in which we are bound.

The United States stand free from all diplomatic entanglements; they have neither bound themselves not to send their men-of-war into the Euxine or to pay toll for their merchantmen passing the Sound:

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