protection of the Christian religion." This
was most unfortunately worded, but, however, the clause had
obtained the sanction of the English Government, and the
Czar expressed his willingness to accept it. Lord Stratford,
however, saw the danger underlying the ambiguity of the
language, and, under his advice, the Porte proposed as an
amendment the substitution of the words "to the stipulations
of the Treaty of Kainardji, confirmed by that of Adrianople,
relative to the protection by the Sublime Porte of the
Christian religion." The Russian Government refused to accept
this amendment, and from that moment war was inevitable. The
British Fleet under Admiral Dundas had been sent from Malta to
the East at the beginning of June.]

[Pageheading: THE VIENNA NOTE]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

BALMORAL, _25th September 1853._

The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's letter of the 23rd, and is very
thankful to him for this full and lucid statement of the present very
critical situation.

She transmits to him a memorandum containing our views, drawn up
by the Prince with the desire he might also communicate it to Lord
Clarendon.[25]

The Queen must say she now rejoices the Fleets should be on their way
to Constantinople.

God grant that any outbreak at Constantinople may yet be averted.

[Footnote 25: The Memorandum stated that it would be fruitless
further to attempt to settle the dispute by the "Redaction" of
Notes to be exchanged between Turkey and Russia, or the
choice of particular words and expressions in public documents
designed in order to avoid naming the real objects in dispute.

"It is evident" (it was added) "that Russia has hitherto
attempted to deceive us in pretending that she did not aim
at the acquisition of any _new_ Right, but required only a
satisfaction of honour and a re-acknowledgment of the Rights
she already possessed by Treaty; that she _does intend_ and
for the first time lays bare that intention, to acquire _new_
Rights of interference which the Porte does _not_ wish to
concede and cannot concede, and which the European Powers have
repeatedly declared she _ought not_ to concede....

"If the views of Russia, for instance, with regard to
'Modification III. of the Note,' were to prevail, the
extension of the advantages and privileges enjoyed by
Christ