Pitt was thinking so little of danger from that country that he had plunged into a policy of intervention in the affairs of Eastern Europe.

When writers charge Burke with breaking violently in upon Pitt's system of peace abroad and reform at home, they overlook the fact that before Burke had begun to preach his crusade against the Jacobins, Pitt had already prepared a war with Russia.

The nation refused to follow.

They agreed with Fox that it was no concern of theirs whether or not Russia took from Turkey the country between the Boug and Dniester; they felt that British interests would be more damaged by the expenses of a war than by the acquisition by Russia of Ockzakow.

Pitt was obliged to throw up the scheme, and to extricate himself as well as he could from rash engagements with Prussia.