Note 124 — Chapter XXI · THE REIGN OF JINGOISM.

Sir Stafford Northcote gave another reason. Mr. Layard, on the 24th, telegraphed that the question of the Bosphorus was to be settled between the Czar and a Congress. Next morning, the 25th, it was found that by a blunder the clerk had written “Congress” instead of “Sultan.” It was on this account, said Sir S. Northcote, that the orders to the Fleet were withdrawn. In other words, when on the 24th the Government believed—if by this time they really believed any of Mr. Layard’s telegrams—that the question of the Bosphorus was to be settled in accordance with Russia’s pledges to England, the Fleet was sent to Constantinople. But when they found this to be a mistake, and that the Czar was going to settle the question in defiance of his pledges to England, the Fleet was ordered back to Besika Bay!