undamental views something self-contradictory,
then necessarily, the more consistently and conscientiously these
fundamental views are revealed in their consequences, the more
contradictory must your actions appear to those who are not intimately
aware of your intentions, and cannot but force upon the world the
impression that your views themselves were wavering.

You will not take it amiss in a true friend and sister, if she
endeavours to place before you her impressions on this matter, as
frankly as they appear to her.

Your Majesty has acknowledged in the face of the world that Russia
has addressed to the Porte demands which she had no right to make. You
have further acknowledged that the forcible taking possession of two
Turkish provinces with the intention of enforcing the demand was a
political wrong. You have, together with Austria, France, and England,
several times declared in Protocols the preservation of the integrity
of the Turkish empire to be a European interest. Notwithstanding all
this, Russia continues to occupy the Danube principalities, penetrates
further into Turkey, and, by forcing on a sanguinary and exhausting
war, leads the unhappy and _suffering_ empire on to the brink of the
grave. What should Europe then do under these circumstances?

It could not possibly be the intention of the Powers to declare the
preservation and integrity of the Porte to be a matter of European
concern, solely in order to allow that empire to be destroyed before
their very eyes! As to Prussia, I can conceive a line of policy, not
that indeed which I should think in harmony with the generosity and
chivalry of your rule, but still one possible in itself, by which
she would say to herself: "The preservation of this integrity I have
indeed declared to be a matter of European concern, but I wish to
leave England and France to defend that policy with their wealth and
blood, and reserve to myself only a _moral_ co-operation." But what am
I to think if, after England and France with courageous readiness have
taken upon themselves alone this immense responsibility, sacrifice,
and danger, your Majesty is now mainly considering the erection of
a barrier of 72,000,000 of men between them and that Power, against
whose encroachment the European interest is to be defended? What am I
to say to the threat uttered against the _West_ as well as against
the _East?_ and to your even asking from the West gratitude for "the
enormous advanta