He had been constituted the Protector of Christianity in the Turkish Empire, and demanded this by virtue of that authority.

The Sultan, strengthened now by the presence of the English and French ambassadors, absolutely refused to give such guarantee, appealing to the opinion of the world to sustain him in resisting such a violation of his independence and of his rights.

In vain did Lord Stratford exchange notes and conferences with Count Nesselrode and Prince Menschikof and the Grand Vizier and exhaust all the arts and powers of the most skilled diplomacy.

In July, 1853, the Russian troops had invaded Turkish territory, and a French and English fleet soon after had crossed the Dardanelles,--no longer closed to the enemies of Russia,--had steamed by Constantinople, and was in the Bosphorus.
Austria joined England and France in a defensive though not an offensive alliance, and Prussia held entirely aloof from the conflict.
Nicholas had failed in all his calculations.

In vain had he tried to lure England into a secret compact by the offer of Egypt--in vain had he preserved Hungary to Austria--in vain sought to attach Prussia to himself by acts of friendship; and his Nemesis was pursuing him, avenging a long series of affronts to France.