The British policy of maintaining the balance of power
was illustrated by the European settlement of 1815. But
Turco-Egyptian atrocities in Greece brought about the
joint intervention of the British, French, and Russian fleets
at Navarino (October, 1827) which virtually freed the
Greek people. On the other hand, the Crimean War was,
so far as concerned the British people, a well-meant effort
to set Turkey on her feet again; but it failed, owing to the
incurable bigotry and corruption of the Turkish Govern?
ment. The same defects brought about the risings of the
Christians of European Turkey in 1875-76, when the Bea
consfield cabinet unwisely encouraged the Porte to resist
the pressure of the other Powers exerted for the purpose of
securing much needed reforms. After the collapse of
Ottoman power in the Russo-Turkish War, the Beacons
field government, supported by Austria, succeeded in miti?
gating the terms imposed by Russia on the Porte, and be