xii.] Still more urgent was the protest of the Roumanian Government.

In return for the priceless services rendered by his troops at Plevna, Prince Charles and his Ministers were kept in the dark as to the terms arranged between Russia and Turkey.

The Czar sent General Ignatieff to prepare the Prince for the news, and sought to mollify him by the hint that he might become also Prince of Bulgaria--a suggestion which was scornfully waved aside.

The Government at Bukharest first learnt the full truth as to the Bessarabia-Dobrudscha exchange from the columns of the _Journal du St.Petersbourg_, which proved that the much-prized Bessarabian territory was to be bargained away by the Power which had solemnly undertaken to uphold the integrity of the Principality.

The Prince, the Cabinet, and the people unanimously inveighed against this proposal.