Most important of all--the Turkish Empire was revitalized and restored to a position of stability and independence by the friendly Powers! So by the Treaty of Berlin England had acquired the island of Cyprus, and had compelled Russia, after immense sacrifice of blood and treasure, to relinquish her own gains and to subscribe to the line of policy which she desired.

A costly and victorious war had been nullified by a single diplomatic battle at Berlin.
The pride of Russia was deeply wounded.

It was openly said that the Congress was an outrage upon Russian sensibilities--that "Russian diplomacy was more destructive than Nihilism." Emperor Alexander had reached the meridian of his popularity in those days of promised reforms, before the Polish insurrection came to chill the currents of his soul.

For a long time the people would not believe he really intended to disappoint their hope; but when one reform after another was recalled, when one severe measure after another was enacted, and when he surrounded himself with conservative advisers and influences, it was at last recognized that the single beneficent act history would have to record in this reign would be that one act of 1861.

And now his prestige was dimmed and his popularity still more diminished by such a signal diplomatic defeat at Berlin..