would
make it six months. This was declined because it would keep the
Servians too long in suspense, and the war continued. In the beginning
of November Chernaiev admitted that the Slav cause was lost unless
foreign help came.

Alexander was really concerned in seeking a peaceable solution, but
his high officers were equally earnest in preventing it. Ignatieff, at
Constantinople, was especially active with every means at his
disposal. Alexander suggested a European conference but before it
assembled he declared publicly at Moscow (Nov. 10), that, anxious as
he was to avoid the shedding of Russian blood, he would act alone (p. 233)
to support his brethren in race and religion unless the conference
brought relief.

The representatives of the powers met at Constantinople on the 5th of
December, 1876. The sultan, a man of rare ability and cunning, knew
that Turkey's disintegration was discussed in its own capital. He did
not object, but made one of the reform party his Grand Vizier, and
astonished the world by proclaiming a constitution on December 25.

The conference concluded its deliberations, and presented its
conclusions to the sultan who agreed to submit them to the National
Assembly, which was to meet in March, 1877. Abdul Hamid was wise. He
made the first legislature Turkey ever had,--and he had firmly
resolved that it should also be the last,--responsible for whatever
might happen. The session was brief, but long enough to refuse the
conditions imposed by the powers.

Alexander demanded that the sultan make peace with Montenegro which
was declined. On the 24th of April the czar declared war. England
protested against Russia's independent action, but 250,000 men crossed
the Turkish frontier. The principal incident was the siege and fall of
Plevna (July 20--Dec. 10, 1877), under Osman Pasha. The surrender of
this brave Turk alarmed England, which, however, did not grant
Turkey's appeal for intervention. It was at the battle of Senova, Jan.
9, 1878, when he captured 27,000 prisoners and 43 Krupp guns, that
Skobelef won fame. On January 23, Constantinople was at the czar's
mercy.

But this awoke England. On February 13, the British fleet passed (p. 234)
through the Dardanelles without obtaining the sultan's consent, and
thereby ruined Russia's schemes. In vain did its government complain
of the violation of the Treaty of Paris; before the czar could make
good his threat that he would occupy Constantinople,--