Inclosure 3 in No. 38.
Acknowledgment of the Sublime Porte's Official Declaration respecting Executions for Apostacy.
[See Inclosure 2 in No. 36.]
Inclosure 4 in No. 38.
Declaration of His Highness the Sultan to Sir Stratford Canning at his Audience on the 23rd of March, 1844.
"Henceforward neither shall Christianity be insulted in my dominions, nor shall Christians be in any way persecuted for their religion."
No. 39.
The Earl of Aberdeen to Sir Stratford Canning.
(Extract.) Foreign Office, April 19, 1844.
I received on the 10th of this month your Excellency's despatch of the 23rd of March conveying the gratifying intelligence that the Porte had given way on the question of the execution of apostates from Islamism. The concession made by the Porte in this respect, entirely consistent as it is with the wishes and intentions of Her Majesty's Government, as expressed in my several instructions of the 16th of January, 19th of March, and 6th of April, has given them the greatest satisfaction; and I have been happy to receive the Queen's commands to signify to your Excellency Her Majesty's gracious approbation of the manner in which you have executed your instructions, and brought to a successful close a question of which the importance cannot be too highly rated.