the points above stated would become in itself a special declaration. But the circumstances which preceded and followed the Greek insurrection, having clearly demonstrated what was its origin, and the natural progress of events having only tended to confirm the opinion previously formed, the Sublime Porte, without wishing to impute the origin of the revolution to any quarter, continued to testify toward Russia all the respect and all the friendship which treaties and vicinage required: she endeavoured to maintain the most favourable relations; but of this no account was taken. Besides, inasmuch as the Sublime Porte, from the desire of preserving peace, displayed a mildness and condescension, in so much did Russia oppose to her reserve and hostile proceedings. It was natural that such a conduct should excite in the minds of Mussulmans the idea of inert enmity and awaken among them all the ardour of Islamism. Besides that nothing can prove the reproach which Russia addresses to us of having concluded the treaty of Akerman with a mental reservation-the proclamation, which the Sublime Porte for certain reasons circulated in its states, being an internal transaction, of which the Sublime Porte alone knows the motive, it is evident that the language held by a government to its own subjects cannot be a ground for another government picking a quarrel with it. Nevertheless, immediately after the departure of the envoy, the Grand Vizier, in an official letter to the prime minister of Russia, clearly expressed that, faithful to the good intentions so long manifested, the Sublime Porte was always desirous of maintaining VOL. LXX. peace. Now if Russia had equally desired, as she pretended in her declaration, sincerely to maintain peace between the two states, as all discussions between powers ought to be based on the text of treaties, or on official documents, the official letter of the Grand Vizier well deserved to be accepted and taken into consideration according to diplomatic practice; and in the hypothesis of this proclamation having given some suspicion to Russia, the course of communication not being obstructed between the two courts, Russia might have applied amicably to the Sublime Porte to ascertain the truth and to clear up her doubts. Far from following this course, perhaps even without taking into consideration the correct information transmitted on the subject by the representatives of other friendly powers who were still here, she hastened to class that proclamation among the number of her complaints and pretexts. Then is not the party which has declared war evidently that which must have concluded the treaty of Akerman with a mental reservation? The facts carry their proof along with them, and relieve us from the necessity of further demonstration. We come now to the seizure of the cargoes of Russian vessels. Though the corn, which the Ottoman provinces furnished, is, thanks be to God, sufficient for the consumption of the capital, nevertheless the blockade, established contrary to peace and good understanding for the purpose of preventing the Mussulman troops in the Morea from receiving provisions, we having determined to transport from certain parts of Romelia to that peninsula the grain 2 E destined to the capital, it became necessary to supply the deficit thereby created here in a way heretofore practised, and which equally affected the merchants of other friendly nations. The corn of the Russian merchants was purchased at the current market price for the subsistence of Constantinople, and the amount paid to the owners. This measure, arising solely from the blockade, cannot be made a just cause of complaint against the Sublime Porte. Besides, the immense losses which the Sublime Porte has experienced in consequence of the Greek revolution, as well as the damage caused at Navarino, give it a full right to complain, while others had no title to speak of their losses, their commerce enjoying greater advantages than before. As to the reproach of having excited Persia against Russia, it is a pure calumny. Never did the Sublime Porte think it consistent with its dignity to instigate one nation against another. Far from exciting Persia, the Sublime Porte observed the strictest neutrality, neither mixing itself up with the origin or the issue of the war or the peace between the two empires. If some neighbouring Pachas made preparations, they were only measures of precaution usual to every state bordering upon two other nations at war. It thus clearly appears that the endeavour of Russia to ascribe these preparations to hostile intentions towards herself, has as little foundation as the rest. Russia has constantly made use of the protection, and of the interests which she felt or professed, in favour of the unfortunate inhabitants of Wallachia and Moldavia, to excite all sorts of discus sions against the Sublime Porte. Would any one wish to convince himself that her true object was not to protect them, but to pick a quarrel with us, let him consider the evils which have been inflicted upon them by the invasion of Ypsilanti, and by the unjust inroad of the Russian army in contempt of treaties. Such are the inhabitants whom Russia pretends to protect! It is to Russia to whom they owe their ruin. It was very easy for the Sublime Porte to cause her victorious troops to enter the two principalities after she knew that Russia was making preparations to invade them; but never having at any time permitted, contrary to the Divine law, the least vexation towards her sub jects, and being anxious to ensure the welfare and tranquillity of the two provinces under the shade of the imperial throne, she abstained in order to spare the misfortunes of the inhabitants. In a word, the Sublime Porte makes the present declaration that none may have any thing to say against her; that it may be weighed in the balance of equity and truth, how much injustice there was on the part of Russia in resisting the important demands and the grave complaints of the Sublime Porte, which are as clear as the sun, in inventing all kinds of objections, in interpreting in a thousand different ways the system followed by the Ottoman government, and in declaring war without motive or necessity; in fine, that exempt from every kind of regret respecting the means of resistance which the Mussulman nation will employ, relying upon the Divine assistance, and acting in conformity with the holy law, she may be able to clear her con science of an event which will haps may shake the tranquillity of occasion now and henceforward the whole world. trouble to so many beings, and per J SPEECH of the KING of SWEDen. At the opening of the extraordi- "Gentlemen,-You are called together to take under consideration matters intimately connected with the prosperity of the state. The urgent importance of these matters alone has determined me to have recourse to a measure which carries with it considerable expense for the public, which I wish it had been possible to avoid. But when there is a question of preserving unimpeached the privileges which were secured to the Norwegian people by the fundamental law of the 4th of November, my ardent desire for its maintenance would not allow me to await the meeting of the ordinary Storthing, and I have thought that we could no longer safely defer putting some of our principal laws in harmony with the fundamental law of the land. "No change has taken place in our political relations since the dissolution of the last Storthing. All foreign powers continue to give us proof of their friendship and confidence. "The negotiations with Prussia have led to the favourable result which I anticipated at the opening of the former Storthing. A commercial treaty, on the basis of reciprocity equally advantageous for both states, has been concluded and ratified. "The free navigation of the Black Sea has been secured to the flag of the United kingdoms. The convention concluded for that purpose with the Ottoman Porte is unincumbered with any clause which could throw difficulties in the way of its execution, and I hope that the prevailing hostilities in the East will not induce the Ottoman government to act contrary to this treaty. "The ratification of a commercial treaty with the United North American States has lately, been exchanged at Washington. 'It will no doubt give you pleasure to learn that all difficulties in the way of an increasing trade between us and the States have happily been removed. The treaty of commerce lately signed at St. Petersburg between the United kingdoms and Russia, shall be laid before the Storthing after the ratifications shall be exchanged. This treaty, founded in mutual confidence, offers new and not unimportant advantages to the shipping interest of Norway. "Negotiations respecting a commercial treaty with the Brazils have been commenced, and I am endeavouring to procure for the flag of the United kingdoms free access to the other South Ameri |