refuseront pas à prendre en considération les graves difficultés qui existent, et qu'ils se prêteront à amener une solution qui nous sauverait des deux maux que je vous ai signalés. C'est là le but que nous devons nous efforcer d'atteindre. C'était pour vous informer de la marche de cette affaire que je vous ai prié ce matin de passer chez moi. (Translation.) No fresh step was requisite to make us sensible of the importance of this question, with which we are deeply impressed. We are dealing with it with all the seriousness and all the care which its gravity requires. Yes, what your respective chiefs say is true; this question has its political as also its religious side. It is requisite, in fact, that we should separate ourselves from the nation, or otherwise from the Christian Powers; those are two great evils to be equally avoided. The Sultan has commanded that this question shall be discussed in the Council of Oulemas which will be opened next Saturday at the Sheik-ul-Islam's, to which the Cazi-Asker and the other principal persons among the men of the law will be summoned; after which, the Council of Ministers will again apply themselves to it. Do not suppose, however, that we have confined ourselves to directing their attention purely and simply to the question as it regards religion; we have likewise submitted to them the protocols of the conferences, the despatches of the two Governments, and even the extracts of the newspapers which have discussed this question, and we shall likewise communicate to them the instructions which you have just delivered to me, and which, although superfluous as far as the Porte is concerned, may still add to the impression produced by the other documents in their hands. As we must not doubt the good intentions of the Powers, we trust that the Representatives of England and France, in their profound wisdom, and with the spirit of equity by which they are animated, will not refuse to take into consideration the serious difficulties which exist, and that they will lend themselves to bring about a solution which would preserve us from the two evils which I have pointed out to you. That is the object which we must strive to attain. It was in order to acquaint you with the progress of this matter that I requested you to call upon me this morning. Inclosure 3 in No. 30. _Answer of Rifaat Pasha to M. Pisani, February_ 20, 1844. Nous connaissons toute l'importance de la question dont il s'agit. Mais il faut considérer que cette question n'est ni politique ni administrative, et qu'elle regarde la religion. Il faut donc que nous consultions préalablement les docteurs de la loi, et la mission d'examiner cette affaire leur a été donnée de la part du Conseil; cette affaire reviendra ensuite au Divan.