text:  Luckily the ratification of the convention come in the nick of time; for it is very evident that the best cudgels that were ever cut in "the classic woods of Hawthornden " could not have awakened a spark of military ardour in the wretched riff-raff assemblage appointed for this service--and of all the abortive efforts at generalship we have ever read of the attempt of the Turkish commanders was infinitely the worse--no foresight in providing for difficulties--no valour in fighting their way out of them; but to compensate for these trifling deficiencies a plentiful supply of pride and cruelty with a due admixture of dishonesty