Palmerston's worst fears came true: instead of seeing British ships in Istanbul, it was the Russian fleet that was allowed to moor there in February 1833. As if this was not enough Russia and the Ottoman Empire together signed the Hünkar Iskelesi Treaty in July which had a secret clause changing the traditional policy of the Porte of excluding all foreign ships from the Sea of Marmara, by excepting Russian ships from that stipulation.

XREF: Builds on the earlier Palmerston themes: loc 1537 (Palmerston feared Russian influence more than lost markets) and loc 1569 (Palmerston feared Russia in Asia). This highlight shows that fear concretely realized. Pays off: "Palmerston feared Russia in Asia more than lost Mediterranean markets."

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 1574