The third way open to the Russians in their advance to Constantinople is to march the whole extent of the northern shores of the Black Sea, and then cross the Caucasian range to the south, and advance around through Turkey in Asia, its entire width from east to west, amidst a hostile and fanatical population ready to die for their faith and country,—­a way so beset with difficulties and attended with such vast expense that success would be almost impossible, even with no other foes than Turks.

The Emperor Nicholas was by nature stern and unrelenting.  He had been merciless in his treatment of the Poles.  When he was friendly, his frankness had an irresistible charm.  During his twenty-seven years on the throne he had both “reigned and governed.”  However, he was military, without being warlike.  With no talents for generalship, he bestowed almost incredible attention upon the discipline of his armies.  He oppressively drilled his soldiers, without knowledge of tactics and still less of strategy.  Half his time was spent in inspecting his armies.  When, in 1828, he invaded Turkey, his organizations broke down under an extended line of operations.  For a long time thereafter he suffered the Porte to live in repose, not being ready to destroy it, waiting for his opportunity.

When the Pasha of Egypt revolted from the Sultan, and his son Ibrahim seriously threatened the dismemberment of Turkey, England and France interfered in behalf of Turkey; and in 1840 a convention in London placed Turkey under the common safeguard of the five great Powers,—­England, France, Prussia, Austria, and Russia,—­instead of the protectorate exercised by Russia alone.  After the fall of Hungary, a number of civil and military leaders took refuge in Turkey, and Russia and Austria demanded the expulsion of the refugees, which was peremptorily refused by the Sultan.  In consequence, Russia suspended all diplomatic intercourse with Turkey, and sought a pretext for war.  In 1844 the Czar visited England, doubtless with the purpose of winning over Lord Aberdeen, then foreign secretary, and the Duke of Wellington, on the ground that Turkey was in a state of hopeless decrepitude, and must ultimately fall into his hands.  In this event he was willing that England, as a reward for her neutrality, should take possession of Egypt.

It is thus probable that the Emperor Nicholas, after the failure of his armies to reach Constantinople through the Danubian provinces and across the Balkans, meditated, after twenty years of rest and recuperation, the invasion of Constantinople by his fleet, which then controlled the Black Sea.