In reply, Prince Charles expressed his grief that March 22, an anniversary so dear to him, should have been troubled by such an occurrence in Bucharest. "Nothing could have wounded me more deeply than that this particular occasion should have been seized for the outbreak of a long-smouldering intrigue.... Having regard to the critical situation, especially that of the great and calamitous financial question, I was forced to take extreme steps to rally the better element from its apathy. I therefore summoned the _Lieutenance_, from whose hands I had received the reins of government in 1866, in order to return them their trust. Terrified by this imminent danger, all the Conservative factions combined to form the new Ministry. To-day it is a point of honour with me to support with all my might those men, who are resolved to protect the country against serious complications, and in conjunction with them to carry out the necessary reforms. Should these prove unattainable with the aid of such supporters, the country will be irretrievably lost. "It cannot be denied that the state of affairs is very serious, and that the creation of a better state of things is beset with the greatest difficulties: the future is hidden from me in impenetrable darkness. But the greater the danger, the less must one's courage be allowed to sink!" Catargiu informed the Prince that an attempt was to be made on his life during the evening service on Good Friday, and endeavoured to persuade him not to proceed to the Metropolie. During the procession the Ministers surrounded the Prince in order to protect his person, but fortunately nothing occurred to disturb the ceremony. Count Keyserling, who in many ways proved his sincere friendship and admiration for the Prince, wrote as follows: "Prince Bismarck lays special stress on your Highness's maintaining the very best relations with the Porte at this moment. Ali Pacha, for his part, is inclined in your favour. Your Highness and the present Cabinet will be sincerely supported in Constantinople by the Austrians: England's attitude, on the other hand, is thoroughly ambiguous. Lord Granville has spoken to the Turkish Ambassador and Count Apponyi in London in a strain which suggests that one is listening to Mr. Green, the English Consul in Bucharest, holding forth upon his own financial interests." The same view was held by Prince Charles Anthony: "I reserve my further views on the situation, because I have been unable to get any information about your own opinions. In any case, it was well to show the world by a last attempt that it was not from want of courage that the thought of abdication arose.