This fact was reported by Mr.
Layard, Sir Henry Elliot's successor at Constantinople, in alarmist terms, and it had the effect of stilling the opposition at Westminster to the vote of credit.

Though official assurances of a reassuring kind came from Prince Gortchakoff at St.Petersburg, the British Ministry on February 7 ordered a part of the Mediterranean fleet to enter the Sea of Marmora for the defence of British interests and the protection of British subjects at Constantinople.

The Czar's Government thereupon declared that if the British fleet steamed up the Bosporus, Russian troops would enter Constantinople for the protection of the Christian population.
This rivalry in philanthropic zeal was not pushed to its logical issue, war.

The British fleet stopped short of the Bosporus, but within sight of the Russian lines.

True, these were pushed eastwards slightly beyond the limits agreed on with the Turks; but an arrangement was arrived at between Lord Derby and Prince Gortchakoff (Feb.