CONCLUSION.       157

Hearing the news, numbers of persons crowded the windows of the houses which commanded a view of the passage from the Black Sea, whence they could discern one or two large ships already advanced within the channel, followwed by several others, looming in the distance. The blue cross in a white field soon became visible, salutes were interchanged with the Turkish batteries, and in another hour, a Russian squadron of seven line-of-battle ships was anchored at Buyukdèrè.

Never before had a naval force visited these waters since they owned the sway of the Crescent, but what bore its emblem. A single frigate, or, occasionally, a two-decker, conveying an Ambassador, was admitted as a favour - their mission being regarded as a tribute to the sublime dignity of the Porte. Even the English, the heroes of the sea, and countrymen of Nelson, had, under Duckworth, ventured only in sight of the bristled walls of Stamboul, but not in reach of their cannon; and the granite masses launched from the huge guns of the Dardanelles, had taken revenge on their return for their audacity in forcing an entrance. For nearly four centuries since its conquest from the Greeks, the Imperial City of Islamism hat not bowed to the dominion of strangers.

The Ghiaours, the fleet of the Muscov Ghiaours, arrived! It seemed incredible to the astonished and bewildered Turks. They would not at first believe the assurances of eye-witnesses of the fact; and numbers ascended the channel, and gazed on the ships, before they were fully satisfied. "Ah ! where are our own that fought so manfully at Navarino?" some exclaimed. Others, "Why did we not make a stand in defence of our Sultan and country, when we might have squeezed like paste (as truly they could) the handful of infidels that crossed the Balkans with Diebitch?" Mehemet Ali was also a favourite with the populace, and they wished him success in order to keep out the Russians, with hopes of better fortune under his command. A Turkish workman standing by as their ships entered, cast one look at them, and then quietly resumed his labour, with the ejaculation, "Zavali Mehmet Ali yeldezin caboul edemez;" It was not your destiny, Mehmet Ali - your star would not permit.

An encampment was ordered for the Russian troops on the hills, on the Asiatic side, above Unkiar Skelessi,(*) famous afterwards for the treaty concluded there before their departure; but in the country, more noted for the delightful valley of the same name to which it is the landing-place. Mouravieff, the commander-in-chief of the army, was a bluff, uncouth Russian, who seemed indifferent to intercourse with strangers, and concerned only with his military duties, taking notice of no one but to give his orders and receive visitors of rank with a stiff, formal salute.

(*) Literally the Sultan's pier, whence the plain in the vicinity is also called the Sultan's valley.