shas. Among the foreign officers of this
description was a native of the west of England, named Guyon, a man of
rare genius, and as rare bravery. He had taken part in the Hungarian
revolution, and as the despotic power of Austria was sacred in the
eyes of Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, the British ambassador at
Constantinople, and all revolutionists, however honourable their cause,
were hateful to his lordship, Guyon met with no countenance or support
from him. The personal prejudices and predilections of the noble
ambassador were always in the ascendant, and often were sufficiently
strong to injure the cause of Turkey and the allies. Guyon was, however,
raised to the rank of pasha, and got the surname of Kurschid. The native
pashas set his advice and authority at defiance, plundered the troops,
the people, and the government, and acted more like the allies of Russia
than generals or dignitaries of Turkey. Such a state of tilings in the
Turkish army encouraged the Russians, and they advanced, notwithstanding
the embarrassments created by the intrepid raids of the mountaineers of
the Caucasus, under the enterprising Schamyl and his lieutenants. The
Polish officers in the Turkish service were jealous of the superior
skill and chivalrous heroism of Guy on. Indeed, throughout the war in
Asia, the English officers who acted there were opposed with envenomed
rancour by the Poles who happened to serve in the same cause with them,
and one or two Germanized-Hungarians joined in this anti-British
feeling. But for Guyon the Turkish army would have been annihilated
before the autumn of 1854, and yet the mendacious Muchir and his
Feriks laid the blame of every defeat upon the European officers, but
especially upon the best and the bravest of them all--the dauntless and
noble-hearted Guyon.

During August, 1854, the Russians advanced, with the design of attacking
Erzerum. The Turkish pashas were too much intent upon plundering every
one within the range of their power to offer any effectual resistance.
Hungarian, German, and Polish officers, especially the two latter, were
equally zealous in quarrelling with one another. Guyon alone, among the
officers of superior rank in the Turkish service, displayed activity,
intelligence, foresight, and spirit; but he was thwarted by the other
Europeans, and insulted and defied by the Turkish Muchir, Feriks, and
Beys. Again and again he pointed out the sure road to victory, and the
fact that the Tu