day, perhaps, the double eagle might replace the crescent upon the
stately pinnacles of Stamboul!
After passing in review several of the most remarkable men in Turkey,
Reschid Pasha, Omar Pasha the Renegade, Tahir Pasha, the fierce old
admiral who commanded the Turkish fleet at Navarino, and who—never well
disposed towards Christians—regarded them, from that disastrous day
forward, with inextinguishable hatred, Dr Wagner speaks of the
representatives at Constantinople of various European courts, briefly
retracing some of the insults and cruelties to which, in former times,
the ambassadors of Christian sovereigns were subjected by the arrogant
Porte, and noting the energy and success with which Great Britain alone,
of all the aggrieved powers, and even before the empire of the seas had
become indisputably hers, invariably exacted and obtained satisfaction
for such injuries. He remarks with admiration upon the signal reparation
extorted by Lord Ponsonby in the Churchill case, and proceeds to speak
in the highest terms of that diplomatist’s able successor.
“The most prominent man, by his political influence, as well as by his
spirit, character, energy, and nobility of mind, in the diplomatic world
of Pera, was and is, to the present day, the Englishman Stratford
Canning. With external advantages, also, Nature has endowed this man
more richly than any of his colleagues, whether Turks or Franks. He is
of a very noble figure, and possesses that innate, calmly dignified
majesty which characterises Britannia’s aristocracy. Totally free from
affectation or theatrical manner, he has a thoughtful brow, marked with
the lines of reflection and labour, and fine deep blue eyes, whose
meaning glance seems to reveal a host of great qualities, and to tell,
at the same time, that with the highest gifts of a statesman is here
combined a warm, a generous, and a sympathetic heart.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account