370 ORIGIN OF THE WAB OF 1853 chap, firmans confirmed the privileges of the Greek XVII • . L Church in perpetuity, and virtually, therefore, en- gaging that the grants should never be revoked.* This was doing exactly what Russia ostensibly required ; but it was also doing exactly that which the Czar most abhorred, for to his mind it in- dicated nothing less than that the Greek Church was passing under the gracious protection of Lord Stratford. The polished courtesy of the Note imparting this concession only made it the more hateful, by showing on its face whence it came. However, Lord Stratford obtained for his plan the lull approval of his French, Austrian, and Prussian colleagues, as well as of the Porte ; and the Note, signed by Reshid Pasha, and enclosing copies of the new firmans, was despatched to Vienna, with a view to its being thence transmitted to St Petersburg. The packet which held these papers contained the very ingredients which were best fitted for disturbing the reason of the Czar. It happened, however, that at Vienna there were men who knew something of the psychological part of the Eastern Question, and they took upon themselves to arrest the maddening Note in its transit. And now the representatives of the four Powers, conferring in the Austrian capital, succeeded in framing a document which soon became known to Europe under the name of the ' Vienna Note.' The 'Vienna This paper, framed originally in Paris, was per- fected and finally approved by all the four Powers
- 20th July 1853. ' Eastern Papers,' part ii. p. 15.
