On November 30th, 1853, a Russian fleet entered the bay at Sinope and completely destroyed the Turkish fleet whilst it was still in harbour and whilst the combined fleets of England and France were present in the Bosphorus. The action taken by the Russian fleet at the Battle of Sinope during the early stages of the Crimean War, was likened by the English press as being of the most stealthy and deplorable nature. All of Europe considered and believed that the declaration made by Karl Nesselrode on the 30th of October 1853, inferred and implied that Russia would refrain from taking any offensive action, but would remain purely on the defensive whilst the Vienna conference was in progress, and whilst a diplomatic solution was being sought. What was not generally known in England and Europe were the Czar's reasons for ordering the attack upon the Turkish fleet at Sinope in what was to become known as the Battle of Sinope. Czar Nicholas considered that the advance of the joint fleets of France and England to the Bosporus, prior to the expiration of the date set by Turkey as the date upon which hostilities might be commenced as being in contravention of the Straits Agreement of 1840; as indeed such a pre-emptive movement of the fleets was. Czar Nicholas, with Karl Nesselrode's reluctant agreement believed that England and France were deliberately acting in a manner that was intent upon bringing humiliation to Russia. Czar Nicholas, thus resolved to take what military action he might, beyond the borders of the Principalities, before the time to do so became impossible.