oughout the
Turkish empire. It was at the same time notified by the envoy, that if
the ultimatum were not complied with, he would leave Constantinople
in eight days. The events connected with these transactions, and the
results, are described by the author of this History, in his _History
of the War against Russia_, in the following terms, which are here
transcribed. The account is the result of careful and painstaking
researches, and of confidential intercourse with official persons well
acquainted with the diplomacy and events of the period.

This ultimatum was declined by the Porte, and Prince Menschikoff
withdrew from Constantinople. During these negotiations the Russian
armies were concentrated upon the Bessarabian frontiers, and at the same
time the Emperor Nicholas was sounding Sir H. Seymour at St. Petersburg.
These conversations were accompanied by despatches and protestations
that the emperor would not, in the quarrel then pending, attempt any
territorial occupation. But Odessa and Sebastopol were filled with naval
and military preparation, and the Russian army was massing upon the
Pruth, ready at a moment's notice to invade the principalities. The
moment at last came. Prince Metternich, and Count Nesselrode (the
Russian minister for foreign affairs), baffled in their intrigues by
the resolution of the sultan, gave place to other and more decisive
performers. Prince Gortschakoff crossed the Pruth on the 25th June, at
the head of a numerous army, organized to the highest efficiency on
the Russian principle, and attended by a most powerful artillery and
_materiel_ of war. Contemporaneous with the advance of his armies, the
autocrat published a manifesto, which left his motives and objects no
longer in disguise, and which no persons could misapprehend, except
those whom the disclosures of Sir H. Seymour had failed to enlighten.
Means were taken to reassure the Western governments that no conquest
was intended. Count Nesselrode wrote diplomatic circulars to the Russian
ambassadors and consuls at the various courts and capitals; M. Druhyn
de L'Huys, the French minister of foreign affairs, and our own foreign
minister, wrote countercirculars; and time was bootlessly expended by
the Western governments that ought to have been given to the preparation
of armaments. The Russians lost no time. Having advanced upon Wallachia
by way of Leova, and upon Moldavia by way of Skouliany, they rapidly
penetrated to the capitals o