ABSTRACT
Dundas remained in Valetta harbour while the crisis developed, for although Stratford had hinted at something more serious than the Holy Places in April this was primarily to justify having a faster steamer in the Bosphorus. A month later he revealed more; but only after Menshikov’s departure did he even hint that Dundas should prepare to move to forestall a Russian attempt to seize the Dardanelles, again requesting a faster steamer. Graham was more concerned with the French. Dundas was ready when the Government decided to move his squadron; Graham supported the public orders of 2 June with a full statement of Government policy, stressing the limits on Stratford’s authority to call up the fleet. The primary object, securing Constantinople, was conditioned by the second, that of avoiding a rupture with Russia. Graham’s personal contribution was a warning to avoid trouble with Stratford or the French. The dispatches and letters reached Malta from Marseilles at 19.30 on 7 June aboard Caradoc. 1 After a brief examination of his correspondence Dundas ordered the squadron to prepare for sea, and Arethusa was towed out of port by Niger at 21.00. After refuelling with all haste, Caradoc cleared the harbour at 03.00 carrying dispatches for Constantinople. The squadron followed at daybreak, being towed for much of the 10th.
