Fortress to the Turks

The Turks who had been banished were to return into the towns and Palanks. Nothing else, it was said, could be meant by the Peace of  Bucharest. .Jt now remained for Kara George to verify his words, and to submit to what had been agreed upon by the two Emperors; and any one dissatisfied with this arrangement was at liberty to emigrate.

But if the Servians were to deliver up their arms, and the Turks were to resume their possessions, a still further rc establishment of the former state of things was to be expected. To these demands, therefore, the deputies could not, and would not, agree. Consequently, towards the spring, the Turkish troops assembled close to the Servian frontiers. They had also other business in that neighbourhood; to act against Molla Pacha, the successor of Passwan Oglu, at AViddin; whom, as one who had raised himself to independent power, the Sultan was no longer disposed to tolerate.

In order to save himself, Molla Pacha had at one time actually offered to surrender his citadel to the Servians; but when it came to the point, he could not, as a “good Turk,” make up his mind to take a step so decisive in favour of Christians. Nor, perhaps, would the oiler have been accepted; as the Servians had received express instructions from St. Petersburg to remain quiet, and by no means to provoke the Turks; who would not then venture to violate the existing treaty. At the same time, Molla Pacha, pressed by his opponents in the town itself, was under the necessity of surrendering his fortress to the Turks.

Kara George now .found himself oldiged to concede an important point to the Turks. He consented to admit their garrisons into the fortresses ; but jon condition that.their small arms, which they had formerly been permitted to wear, should be left to the Servians. He also insisted that, at all events, those Turks who had been expelled should not be permitted to return; as on this unquestionably depended the peace of the country.

Never had the two parties seemed nearer coming to an agreement. The Tschelebi Effendi, an aged man, who had brought many a difficult business to a successful termination, felt confident that he should be equally fortunate on the present occasion. He sent the proposals of the Servians to Constantinople, and promised them an early decision. It is needless to inquire whether he really expected this ; but in fact it was now impossible.

Were not these the same contentions and disputes which had been the principal causes of the war ? Could it be imagined that the Spahis   who formed a large portion of the army, which was already on the boundary of the country   would consent to be excluded from what they deemed their inheritance: at a moment too, when every thing seemed favourable for its recovery ?

The Turks were again in possession of Moldavia and Wallachia, as well as of Widdin, and were also masters of Bulgaria. They were moreover inspired with peculiar confidence; from the circumstance that in the course of that very spring, the Holy Cities in Arabia had been freed from the Wechabites, and their keys brought to Constan tinople. Under this aspect of affairs, would the victorious armies of the Grand Signior hesitate to commence the war with the rebellious Servian Raja?

At that very time, also, was received the news of the battle of Lut/.en, which was regarded as a defeat of the Russians ; and all fear of them was entirely cast aside. Resides, the Turks did not consider that they had broken the treaty; since the Servians rejected the interpretation which the Porte had given to it.

Determined to maintain the privileges of Islamism undiminished within the boundaries of the Empire, the Turkish army advanced towards the; Servian frontiers, and recommenced the war.