TO HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, ABDUL MEDJID, Sire, The history of the Cossacks of the Ukraine has such a strong connexion with the history of Poland, and the history of the Ottoman empire, that it shows most clearly that both these countries had for ages, and have even now, but one common enemy; — an enemy which, under the plea of friendship, has never ceased to weaken indirectly the resources of Turkey, to undermine her vital strength, and to lay such artful snares for the taking of Constantinople, that had not all the movements of Russia been closely watched by your Imperial Majesty's illustrious father of glorious memory, Sultan Mahmoud, had she not been foiled in all her schemes on Turkey in 1840, by the great energy and extraordinary sagacity of the Right Honourable Viscount Palmerston, one of the greatest statesmen of his age, she might have inflicted the deepest injury on your Imperial Majesty's dominions.
For the above reasons, and considering that your Imperial Majesty is animated with the best possible feelings towards her most gracious Majesty, Victoria I., Queen of Great Britain, whom I can now in my heart call my own sovereign; considering, moreover, that one of my ancestors, who belonged to the Confederation of Bar, was most hospitably received on the Turkish soil, and, that he recommended, on his death bed, his friends always to be grateful to the Turks; I therefore hope that it may please your Imperial Majesty to accept the dedication of my work on the Cossacks, which I venture to lay at the foot of your Imperial Majesty's august throne, as a small token of my regard for your Imperial Majesty's qualities and virtues, and my ardent wishes for your Imperial Majesty's health, and the prosperity of the Turkish empire.
I have the honour to remain.
Your Imperial Majesty's Most humble and devoted Servant, HENRY KRASINSKI.
London, 15th October, 1848.