Lord Derby and Sir Stafford Northcote both explained the situation
on Thursday night. Lord Derby informed the Peers that the Fleet, or rather " the ships sent up," are at Prince's Island, the Porte having contented itself with a protest, without offering material opposition. The British Government hardly, under existing circumstances, considered the Government of Turkey a free agent. He did not know that any European Governments would act with England in the matter, for France and Italy, though they had asked for firmans, had subsequently suspended action. Lord Derby then read a note from Prince Gortschakoff, stating that the Russian troops would enter Constantinople, where the two Powers would be performing a duty of humanity common to both. " My Lords, that telegram is conciliatory, and not unfriendly ; but I am bound to say we do not admit that the case of a military occupation of the city itself, and the case of sending men-of-war into harbours below the city, are parallel cases, and that opinion I have expressed in a despatch."
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