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12 February 1878 — Constantinople | |
Tuesday. 12th February [1878]. Mrs de W. & I spent all the morng cutting out garments. The Envoy of Kashagar & Capt Malloy came to luncheon. I had ordered the carriage to drive out but Henry said he would walk with me in the garden & so I cut out again till he sent for me. When I joined him in the garden he said “Here’s a pretty mess! The Govt is going to send the Fleet up at once and the Turks say they will not let them pass the Dardanelles but will fire on them.” Henry had sent for Said P. to try & make him get Ahmed Vefyk & the Sultan give in—every thing depended on it– If they fire we should be at war with them & Turkey would be done for– Shortly after I went out Hobart P. arrived & Henry sent him off to look for Said (English Said) P. Then Zichy arrived—& so I left home with Henry. Under our garden wall we saw a large drove of cattle driven by zaptiehs who evidently had taken them from some Circassian who had probably plundered them. Mr Sandison, Mr Drury (messenger) & Capt. Trotter dined. As dinner was over Said & Server Pashas came & Henry was shut up with them all the eveng. We played billiards. Hobart P. came also—at last the 2 Ministers were said to have gone having given in & the Fleet is to be allowed to pass. We went to bed abt 11.30. About 2 we were wakened by a letter brought by an ADC from Vefyk Pasha saying it had been decided not to let the Fleet pass & asking Henry to stop its coming– He wrote that it was now too late & the orders of our Govt were absolute. | |
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