Part 7 (1/2)

No. 19.

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Lord Stuart de Rothsay_*.

My Lord, _Foreign Office, January_ 16, 1844.

I inclose for your Excellency's information, a copy of a despatch from Sir Stratford Canning reporting that a Greek has been executed near Brussa as an apostate from Islamism; and a copy of an instruction which I have in consequence addressed to that Amba.s.sador. Your Excellency will communicate this instruction to Count Nesselrode for the information of the Russian Government; but although Her Majesty's Government would doubtless see with pleasure that the other Powers of Europe should declare their abhorrence of so revolting a system as that which the Porte has twice acted upon within the last few months, they do not think it necessary formally to solicit their co-operation in a matter in which they all may be supposed to take a common interest, and to be prepared to act without previous concert with each other.

Your Excellency will therefore merely put Count Nesselrode in possession of the instructions given to Sir Stratford Canning, and leave to the Russian Government to determine for itself whether it shall instruct M. de t.i.tow to the same effect.

I am, &c.,

* A similar despatch was addressed on the 20th January to Sir Robert Gordon and the Earl of Westmorland.

(Signed) ABERDEEN.

No. 20.

_Lord Cowley to the Earl of Aberdeen_.--(_Received January_ 22.)

My Lord, _Paris, January_ 19, 1844.

With reference to your Lords.h.i.+p's despatches of the 16th instant on the subject of the execution of a Greek for returning to Christianity after having embraced Islamism, I have the honour to report that I had yesterday evening an interview with M. Guizot, when I communicated to him the contents of those despatches, and also of your Lords.h.i.+p's instructions to Sir Stratford Canning in consequence of the aforesaid transaction; and I have now the honour to inclose a copy of the despatch which, conformably to your Lords.h.i.+p's instructions, I have addressed to Sir Stratford Canning informing him of what pa.s.sed upon this subject between M. Guizot and me.

My despatch was forwarded last night to Her Majesty's Amba.s.sador at Constantinople, and will reach Ma.r.s.eilles in time to go by the steam-vessel which sails from that port on the 21st.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) COWLEY.

Inclosure in No. 20.

_Lord Cowley to Sir Stratford Canning_.

Sir, _Paris, January_ 18, 1844.

I have received instructions from Lord Aberdeen to communicate to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs your Excellency's despatches to his Lords.h.i.+p respecting the execution of a Greek near Brussa who had apostatized from Islamism, as also his instructions to your Excellency, under date the 16th instant, in consequence of that transaction. I am also desired to take the earliest opportunity of acquainting you with what may have pa.s.sed between M. Guizot and me after this communication.