Yet more courtiers pinned their hopes on the British. However, the British, upon whom the Ottomans had placed such high hopes, were now considering whether to throw themselves wholeheartedly into this war whose outcome was still unknown.
"Tsar Nicholas I of Russia is a tyrant who fancies himself a policeman! His ambition knows no bounds. If we fail to stop him this time, then next time he will only demand more!
"Russia's existence has already shattered Europe's balance of power. If they gain the Near East as well, the consequences will be unthinkable."
The speaker was John Russell. Though he and Palmerston had always been at odds, they were very much of one mind when it came to dealing with Russia.
They both firmly believed that Russia was Britain's greatest rival, and that allowing the Russians to expand unchecked would sooner or later lead to the collapse of Europe's—and indeed the international—order.
However, with the Holy Alliance still intact and the French attitude unclear, this argument did not have nearly as many supporters as expected. There were even jeers from its opponents.
"Lord Russell, do you mean to drag Britain into war once again, and ruin her?"
Faced with the challenge, John Russell, who had weathered many rises and falls, remained remarkably calm.
"Gentlemen! Search your hearts and ask yourselves: are you willing to see the Ottoman Empire swallowed by Russia? Just imagine it—the Russians controlling the Bosphorus Strait. Their armies would then be free to enter and leave the Mediterranean Sea.
"The Russians would directly threaten our interests in the Mediterranean Sea and drive Britain entirely out of the Near East."
George Hamilton-Gordon did not see it that way. He had no desire whatsoever to fight a war against the Holy Alliance in the Near East.
"My lord, I