Modern Egypt

Front matter

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

CHAPTER I Introductory

PAOH

Objects of this book — The narrative portion — The effects on Egypt of the British occupation — Chief point of interest in Egyptian reform — Difficulty of ascertaining Eastern opinion . . 1

Part I Ismail Pasha 1863-1879

CHAPTER n

The Goschen Mission November 1876

Financial position in 1863 — And in 1876 — Suspension of payment of Treasury Bills — Creation of the Commission of the Public Debt — Decree of May 7, 1876 — The Goschen Mission — Decree of November 18, 1876 — Appointment of Controllers-General — Sir Louis Mallet — I am appointed Commissioner of the Public Debt — Ismail's predecessors — Crisis in the career of Ismail Pasha — Accounts Department ..... 11

CHAPTER m

The Commission of Inquiry November 1876- April 1878

Condition of Egypt— The law of the Moukdbala— Petty taxes— The Egyptian public service — The fiscal system — Floating debt —

ix.

PAOB

Efforts to pay interest on the funded debt — Famine — The coupon of May 1, 1878 — The Commissioners of the Debt — The Commission of Inquiry — The Khedive proposes a partial inquiry— The Commissioners decUne to take part in it — The Khedive accepts a full inquiry ..... 29

CHAPTER IV

The Nubar-Wilson Ministry April 1878-November 1878

Difficulty of the task assigned to the Commission of Inquiry — Ch^rif Pasha declines to appear as a witness — Defects in the system of administration — The floating debt — The Rouznameh Loan — Loans from the Wakf and Beit-el-Mal Administrations — Ultimate reforms proposed by the Commissioners — Immediate reforms necessary — Enforcement of Ministerial responsibility— The Khedive's Civil List — Cession to the State of the Khedivial properties — The Khedive accepts the proposals of the Commissioners — Nubar Pasha forms a Ministry — Sir Rivers Wilson and M. de Bligni^res named Ministers — Loan authorised on the security of the Khedivial estates . . • .46

CHAPTER V

The Fall of Nubar Pasha November 1878-February 1879

Difficult position of the new Ministry — Support of the British and French Governments — The Khedive declines all responsibility — Convocation of the Chamber of Notables — The principle of Ministerial responsibility — Contest between the Khedive and Nubar Pasha — The Khedive intrigues against the Ministry — Mutiny of the officers — It is quelled by the Khedive — Nubar Pasha resigns — Immediate consequences — Remote consequences— State of discipline of the army — The Khedive's responsibility for the mutiny ..... 64

CHAPTER VI

The Coup d'Etat April 1879

Triumph achieved by Ismail Pasha — His parliamentary projects — Necessity of maintaining the reformed administration —

CONTENTS xi

Attempts to reinstate Nubar Pasha— Relations between the Khedive and the new Ministry— Position of the British and French Governments — Common policy — Different methods of executing the policy— Dissensions at Cairo— Position of Prince Tewfik— Mistaken principles of the new Ministry— The payment of the coupon on the 1864 loan — The Khedive prepares a separate financial scheme— Dismissal of the Ministers— Proposal to revive the Control— Letter of the Khedive to Ch^rif Pasha — Character of the new Ministers — Comments on the Khedive's proceedings ......

CHAPTER VII

The Report of the Commission April 1879

Declaration of bankruptcy — Principles of the settlement — The Khedive's Civil List — The Ouchouri land-tax — The Rouznameh loan — The law of the Moukdbala— Reductions of taxation — • Composition with the creditors — Comments on the report — The Commissioners resign — The Khedive's counter - proposals — Revival of the practices of the old regime — The Commissioners of the Debt institute legal proceedings against the Egyptian Government — My departure from Egypt . . .110

CHAPTER VIII

The Fall of Ismail Pasha April-June 1879

Embarrassment of the European Powers — Turkey — England — France — Italy — Russia — Germany and Austria — The French and British Governments demand the reinstatement of the European Ministers — The Khedive declines to reinstate them — Question of re-establishing the Control — The German Government protest against the proceedings of the Khedive — The British and French Governments advise abdication— The Khedive appeals to the Sultan — The Sultan deposes the Khedive — Inauguration of Prince Tewfik — Ismail Pasha leaves Egypt — Remarks on his reign ..... 128 xii MODERN EGYPT

PART II THE ARAbI revolt August 1879-Auqust 1883

CHAPTER IX

The Inauguration of Tewfik August-November 1879

PAQB

State of the country — Ch^rif Pasha's Ministry — The Khedive assumes the Presidency of the Council — Ministry of Riaz Pasha — Relations between the Khedive and his Ministers — The Sultan cancels the Firman of 1873 — Objections of France and England — The Mohammedan law of succession — The right to make Commercial Conventions, and to contract loans — The Army — The Khedive's investiture — Appointment of Controllers — Relations between the Government and the Controllers — Division of work between the Controllers — The Commission of Liquidation .....,, 149

CHAPTER X

The Dual Control November 1879-December 1880

Working of the Control — Relations between the two Controllers — And between the Controllers and the Egyptian Government — Delay in paying the Tribute — Interest on the Unified Debt paid at 4 per cent — Financial scheme proposed t-y the Controllers— The Budget for 1880 — Reforms in the fiscal system

Confidence inspired by the Control — Reports on the state of

the country — The Law of Liquidation — The military danger . 164

CHAPTER XI

The Mutiny of the Egyptian Army

January-September 1881

Discontent amongst the officers — They petition Riaz Pasha — Mutiny of February 1 — Dismissal of the Minister of War — Imprudent conduct of the Khedive — Conduct of the French Consul-General — Increase of discontent in the army — Mutiny of September 9 — Sir Auckland Colvin — Demands of the muti-

CONTENTS xiii

PAGE

neers — Dismissal of the Ministers — Reluctance of Ch^rif Pasha to accept ofBce — Nomination of the Ch^rif Ministry — Ch^rif Pasha supports the European Control — Aribi is the real ruler of Egypt — His conduct due to fear — Situation created by the mutiny ........ ITS

CHAPTER XII

The Cherif Ministry September-December 1881

The Porte wishes to interfere — Objections of France and England — Despatch of Turkish Commissioners to Cairo — Effect of their mission — British and French ships sent to Alexandria — Ardbi leaves Cairo with his regiment — Remarks on Turkish interference— Divergent views of France and England — Despondency of the Khedive — Cherif Pasha's policy — Sir Auckland Colvin's views — Ardbi's policy — Insubordination in the army — Violence of the local press — Attitude of the civil population — Summary of the situation at the end of 1881. ... 194

CHAPTER XIII

The Joint Note January 1882

Proposal to estabhsh an Anglo-French Military Control — Change of Ministry in France — M. Gambetta proposes joint action — Lord Granville agrees — Sir Edward Malet consulted — Sir Auckland Colvin's recommendations — M. Gambetta prepares a draft note — Lord Granville agrees — Instructions sent to Cairo — Proposed increase in the army — Reorganisation of the Chamber of Notables — Effect produced by the Note — Remarks on the Note ........ S14r

CHAPTER XIV

The Effects of the Joint Note January-February 1882

The British Government wish to explain the Joint Note — The French Government object — The Chamber of Notables claims the right to vote the Budget — Proposals of the British Government— Objections of the French Government — The Consuls- General instructed to oppose the Chamber — The Chamber xiv MODERN EGYPT demands a change of Ministry — Appointment of a National Ministry — The French Government press for an Anglo-French occupation — The British Government favour a Turkish occupation— Resignation of M. Gambetta — Remarks on his policy . S36

CHAPTER XV

The - Arabi Ministry February-May 1882

Proposal to revise the Organic Law — Mr. Wilfrid Blunt — M. de Bligni^res resigns — Concessions made to the army — Disorganisation in the provinces— The Porte protests against the Joint Note^The Powers are invited to an exchange of views — M. de Freycinet wishes to depose the Khedive — Lord Granville proposes to send Financial Commissioners to Egypt — Alleged conspiracy to murder Aribi — The Ministers resign, but resume office— M. de Freycinet assents to Turkish intervention — Ardbi requested to leave Egypt — He refuses to do so — The Ministers again resign — The Khedive reinstates Ardbi — And asks for a Turkish Commissioner ...... 2S4

Appendix.— Note on the relations between Mr. Gladstone and

Mr. Wilfrid Blunt ....... 279

CHAPTER XVI

The Bombardment of Alexandria May-July 1882

State of the country — Vacillation of the Porte — A Conference proposed— Dervish Pasha and Essad EfiFendi sent to Egypt — The Alexandria massacres — Failure of Dervish Pasha's Mission — Panic in Egypt — The Conference meets — The Ragheb Ministry — The British Admiral demands that the construction of batteries at Alexandria shall cease — The French decline to co-operate — The bombardment of Alexandria — The town abandoned and biurnt ...... 281

CHAPTER XVn

Tel-el-Kebir July-September 1882

State of the country— British pohcy— Vote of credit— Negotiations with France— Fall of the Freycinet Ministry— France declines to co-operate- Negotiations with Italy— Italy dechnes to

CONTENTS XV

PAGE co-operate — Negotiations with Turkey — Tel-el-Kebir — General remarks ........ 300

CHAPTER XVIII

The Dufferin Mission September 1882-AuGnsT 1883

British policy — Trial of Arabi — Resignation of Riaz Pasha — Exile of political prisoners — Courts-martial — The Alexandria Indemnities— The abolition of the Dual Control — Rupture of the Anglo-French understanding — Lord Dufferin 's Report — My arrival in Egypt ....... 331

Part III The Soudan 1882-1907

CHAPTER XIX

The Hicks Expedition January-Novembeb 1883

Extent of Egyptian territory — Misgovernment in the Soudan — Slave-hunting — Said Pasha's views — Colonel Stewart's Report — The Mahdi — Military and financial situation — Interference from Cairo — Attitude of the British Government — Destruction of General Hicks's army ...... 349

CHAPTER XX

The Abandonment of the Soudan November 1883-Jancahy 1884

My position — I press the British Government to depart from a passive attitude — Lord Granville's reply — The Egyptian Government decide to hold Khartoum — Colonel Coetlogon recommends a retreat on Berber — Opinions of the military authorities at Cairo — The Egyptian Government wish to invoke the aid of the Sultan — The British Government recommend withdrawal from the Soudan — The Egyptian Ministers resign — Nubar Pasha takes office — Observations on the pohcy of withdrawal from the Soudan . . .371 xvi MODERN EGYPT

CHAPTER XXI

The Rebellion in the Eastern Soudan August 1883-March 1884

PAOB

Prevailing discontent — Annihilation of a force sent to Sinkat — And of one sent to Tokar — Defeat of the Egj'ptians at Taraanieb — It is decided to send the Gendarmerie and some black troops under Zobeir Pasha to Suakin — Instructions to General Baker — He arrives at Suakin — His instructions are modified — Zobeir Pasha retained at Cairo — General Baker advances to Tokar — His defeat — Fall of Sinkat — It is decided to send a British force to Tokar — FaU of Tokar— General Graham advances— Action at El Teb — The British troops return to Suakin — Battle of Tamai — Results of the operations ..... 396

CHAPTER XXn

The Gordon Mission

Deobmbeb 1883-Januaiiy 1884

The situation in Egypt — Sir Frederick Stephenson — General Earle — Sir Edgar Vincent — Sir Evelyn Wood — Foreign Office support — First and second proposals to send General Gordon — They are rejected — Third proposal to send General Gordon — It is accepted — No British officer should have been sent to Khartoum — General Gordon should not in any case have been chosen— The responsibility of the British press — And of the British Government — General Gordon's optimism — My regret at having assented to the Gordon Mission ... 417

CHAPTER XXni

Gordon at Cairo January 24-26, 1884

General Gordon wishes to go to Suakin — He goes to Cairo — Consequences which resulted from the change of route — General Gordon's views as to the Soudan — His London instructions —Instructions issued at Cairo — General Gordon appointed Governor-General of the Soudan — And furnished with certain Proclamations — Reasons why General Gordon's instructions were changed — The Darfour Sultan — General Gordon proposes that Zobeir Pasha should accompany him — Interview between General Gordon and Zobeir Pasha — It is decided not to employ Zobeir Pasha — General Gordon leaves Cairo . . , 440

CONTENTS xvii

CHAPTER XXIV

Gordon's Journey to Khartoum Januaby 26-Februaby 18, 1884

fAOI

Contradictory nature of General Gordon's proposals — The Darfour Sultan — General Gordon proposes to visit the Mahdi — Or to retire to the Equator — He issues a Proclamation announcing the independence of the Soudan — The Slavery Proclamation — General Gordon arrives at Khartoum — He is sanguine of success — Colonel Stewart's warning . . . • 461

CHAPTER XXV

ZoBEiR Pasha

February 18-Mabch 16, 1884

The turning-point of General Gordon's Mission — General Gordon's Memorandum of February 8 — Change in General Gordon's views — He asks for Zobeir Pasha — I advise that Zobeir Pasha should be General Gordon's successor — The Government reject this proposal — General Gordon proposes to "smash up" the Mahdi — Conflicting policies advocated by General Gordon — His Proclamation stating that British troops were coming to Khartoum — General Gordon's neglect of his instructions — I again urge the employment of Zobeir Pasha — Difficulty of understanding General Gordon's telegrams — Colonel Stewart recommends that Zobeir Pasha should be sent — I support this view — General Gordon recommends that the Berber-Suakin route shoiUd be opened — The Government object to the employment of Zobeir Pasha — I again urge the employment of Zobeir Pasha — General Gordon's communications to the Times correspondent — The tribes round Khartoum waver — The Government reject the Zobeir proposal — I instruct General Gordon to hold on to Khartoum — I again urge on the Government the necessity of employing Zobeir Pasha — The proposal is rejected — I remonstrate — Final rejection of the Zobeir proposal^Were the Government right in their decision ? 479

CHAPTER XXVI

The Proposed Dash to Berber

March 16-April 21, 1884

Sir Gerald Graham proposes to move on Sinkat — Lord Granville approves — The proposed movement on Wadi Haifa — Proposal xviii MODERN EGYPT to send a British expedition to Berber — It is rejected — The order to move on Sinkat is cancelled — Remarks on this decision — Proposal to despatch a force to Wadi Haifa — General Gordon recommends the employment of a Turkish force — The Government reject the proposal — Necessity of preparing for a Relief Expedition ....... £35

CHAPTER XXVII

The Relief Expedition April 21-October 5, 1884

General Gordon's motives — Spirit in which the question should be approached — Did General Gordon try to carry out the policy of the Government? — The situation at Berber — Messages to General Gordon and his replies — Sir Frederick Stephenson instructed to report on the Relief Expedition — The Suakin-Berber Railway — The fall of Berber — The vote of credit — Lord Wolseley appointed to command the Nile expedition— He arrives at Wadi Haifa — Remarks on the above narrative . . . 6S6

Appendix. — Note on the Khedive's telegram to General Gordon

Poutratt of the Author after a Photograph bt G. C.

Beresford ...... Frontispieet

Map or the Soudak . . . . At the end of Volwau

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

Objects of this book — The narrative portion — The effects on Egypt of the British occupation — Chief point of interest in Egyptian reform — Difficulty of ascertaining Eastern opinion.

My object in writing this book is twofold.

In the first place, I wish to place on record an accurate narrative of some of the principal events which have occurred in Egypt and in the Soudan since the year 1876.^

In the second place, I wish to explain the results which have accrued to Egypt from the British occupation of the country in 1882.

The accidents of my public life have afforded me special opportunities for compiling certain chapters of Egyptian history. From March 1877 to June 1880, and again from September 1883 up to the present time (1907), I have been behind the scenes of Egyptian affairs. Besides those sources of information which are open to all the world, I have had access to all the documents in the archives of the Foreign Offices of both London and Cairo, and I have been in close communication with, I think, almost every one who has taken a leading

* I have dealt fully and unreservedly with the whole of the principal historical events which occurred in Egypt fronf 1876 up to the time of Tewfik Pasha's death (January 7, 1892) ; also with Soudan history up to the end of 1907. It would, in my opinion, be premature to deal similarly with events in Egypt subsequent to the accession of the present Khedive.

VOL,. II B

2 MODERN EGYPT oh.

part in Egyptian affairs during the period the history of which I have attempted to write. Thus, I think I may fairly lay claim to be in a position of exceptional advantage in so far as the attainment of accuracy is concerned.

Now, accuracy of statement is a great merit. Sir Arthur Helps once said that half the evils of the world come from inaccuracy. My personal experience would lead me rather to agree with him. I cannot say that what I have seen and known of contemporaneous events, with which I have been well acquainted, has inspired me with any great degree of confidence in the accuracy of historical writing. The public, indeed, generally end, though sometimes not till after a considerable lapse of time, in getting a correct idea of the general course of events, and of the cause or effect of any special political incident. But, speaking more particularly of the British public, it may be doubted whether even this result is fully achieved, save in respect to questions of internal policy. In such matters, a number of competent and well-informed persons take part in the discussions which arise in Parliament and in the press. Inaccuracy of statement is speedily corrected. Fallacies are exposed. In the heat of parfy warfare the truth may for a time be obscured, but in the end the public will generally lay hold of a tolerably correct appreciation of the facts.

In dealing with the affairs of a foreign country, more especially if that country be in a semi-civilised condition, these safeguards to historical truth exist in a relatively less degree. English opinion has in such cases to deal with a condition of society with which it is unfamiliar. It is disposed to apply arguments drawn from English, or, it may be, from European experience to a state of things which does not admit of any such arguments being applied

I INTRODUCTORY 3

without great qualifications. The number of persons who possess sufficiently accurate information to instruct the public is limited, and amongst those persons it not unfrequently happens that many have some particular cause to advance, or some favourite political theory to defend. Those who are most qualified to speak often occupy some official position, which, for the time being, imposes silence upon them. There is, therefore, no certain guarantee that inaccuracies of statement will be corrected, or that fallacies will be adequately exposed. Thus, even if the general conclusion be correct, there is a risk that an erroneous appreciation in respect to important matters of detail will float down the tide of history. The public often seize on some incident which strikes the popular imagination, or idealise the character of some individual whose action excites sympathy or admiration. It would appear, indeed, that democracy tends to develop rather than to discourage hero-worship.

The first stage on the road to historical inaccuracy is that some half-truth is stated, and, in spite of contradiction, obtains a certain amount of credence. It may be, indeed, that the error is corrected ; but it sometimes happens that, as time goes on, the measure of fiction increases, whilst that of fact tends to evaporate. A series of myths cluster round the original idea or statement. In India, as Sir Alfred Lyall has shown, the hero passes by easy stages of transition into a demi-god.^ In sceptical Europe, the process is different. All that happens is that an incorrect fact or a faulty conclusion is graven into the tablets from which future historians must draw their sources of information.

Turning to the second point to which allusion is made above, I wish to explain the results which

* Asiatic Studies.

4 MODERN EGYPT ch.

accrued to Egypt from the British occupation of the country in 1882.

On March 23, 1876, Mr. Stephen Cave, who had been sent to Cairo to report on the financial condition of Egypt, expressed himself in the following terms : —

Egypt may be said to be in a transition state, and she suffers from the defects of the system out of which she is passing, as well as from those of the system into which she is attempting to enter. She suffers from the ignorance, dishonesty, waste, and extravagance of the East, such as have brought her suzerain to the verge of ruin, and at the same time from the vast expense caused by hasty and inconsiderate endeavours to adopt the civilisation of the West.

An attempt will be made in the following pages to give some account of the measures adopted since Mr. Cave wrote his report, to arrest, and, as I hope and would fain believe, to remedy the disease, whose main features are described with accuracy in the passage quoted above.

I trust that such an account will not be devoid of interest to the general reader, and that it will be of some special interest to those of my fellow-countrymen who are, or who at some future time may be engaged in Oriental administration. It is to this latter class that I would more especially address myself, for they can appreciate the nature of the problems which have presented themselves for solution, and the difficulty of solving them, more fuUy than those who are devoid of special administrative experience in the East.

I would at the outset state where, as I venture to think, the chief point of interest lies.

Egypt is not the only country which has been brought to the verge of ruin by a persistent neglect of economic laws and by a reckless administration of the finances of the State. Neither is it the only country in which undue privileges have been

I INTRODUCTORY 5

acquired by the influential classes to the detriment of the mass of the population. Nor is it the only country in whose administration the most elementary principles of law and justice have been ignored. Although the details may differ, there is a great similarity in the general character of the abuses which spring up under Eastern Governments wheresoever they may be situated. So also, although the remedies to be applied must vary according to local circumstances and according to the character, institutions, and habits of thought of the European nation under whose auspices reforms are initiated, the broad lines which those reforms must take are traced out by the commonplace requirements of European civilisation, and must of necessity present some identity of character, whether the scene of action be India, Algiers, Egypt, Tunis, or Bosnia.

The history of reform in Egypt, therefore, does not present any striking feature to which some analogy might not perhaps be found in other countries where European civilisation has, in a greater or less degree, been grafted on a backward Eastern Government and society.

But, so far as I am aware, no counterpart can be found to the special circumstances which have attended the work of Egyptian reform. Those circumstances have, in truth, been very peculiar.

In the first place, one alien race, the English, have had to control and guide a second alien race, the Turks, by whom they are disliked, in the government of a third race, the Egyptians. To these latter, both the paramount races are to a certain extent unsympathetic. In the case of the Turks, the want of sympathy has been mitigated by habit, by a common religion, and by the vise of a common language.^ In the case of the English, it has been mitigated by the respect

' All the Egyptian oflScials of Turkish origin now speak Arabic.

6 MODERN EGYPT oh,

due to superior talents, and by the benefits which have accrued to the population from British interference.

In the second place, it is to be observed that for diplomatic and other reasons, on which it is unnecessary for the moment to dwell, the Egyptian administration had to be reformed without any organic changes being effected in the conditions" under which the government had been conducted prior to the British occupation. Those conditions were of an exceptionally complicated character. A variety of ingenious and elaborate checks had been invented with a view to preventing a bad Government from moving in a vicious direction. These checks, when brought into action under a wholly different condition of affairs, were at times applied, under the baneful impulse of international jealousy, to hamper the movements of an improved Government in the direction of reform. " Je suis sans credit," said the "plumitif " in Voltaire's Ingenu, " pour faire du bien ; mon pouvoir se borne k faire du mal quelquefois." The phrase may rightly be applied to the working of international government in Egypt since 1882. It is, indeed, certain that whatever success has attended the efforts of reformers in Egypt has been attained, not in virtue of the system, but in spite of it. Those who hold, with the English poet, that " Whate'er is best administered is best," may perhaps find some corroboration of their theory in the recent history of Egypt. An experiment under somewhat novel conditions has, in fact, been made in Eastern administration, and, in spite of many shortcomings, this experiment has been crowned with a certain degree of success. It is this which gives to Egyptian reform its chief claim to the interest of the political student.

I have lived too long in the East not to be

I INTRODUCTORY 7

aware that it is difficult for any European to arrive at a true estimate of Oriental wishes, aspirations, and opinions.

Those who have been in the East and have tried to mingle with the native population know well how utterly impossible it is for the European to look at the world with the same eyes as the Oriental. For a while, indeed, the European may fancy that he and the Oriental understand one another, but sooner or later a time comes when he is suddenly awakened from his dream, and finds himself in the presence of a mind which is as strange to him as would be the mind of an inhabitant of Saturn.^

I was for some while in Egypt before I fully realised how little I understood my subject ; and I found, to the last day of my residence in the country, that I was constantly learning something new. No casual visitor can hope to obtain much real insight into the true state of native opinion. Divergence of religion and habits of thought ; in my own case ignorance of the vernacular language ; * the reticence of Orientals when speaking to any one in authority ; their tendency to agree with any one to whom they may be talking ; the want of mental symmetry and precision, which is the chief distinguishing feature between the illogical and picturesque East and the logical West, and which lends such peculiar interest to the study of Eastern life and politics ; the fact that religion enters to a greater extent than in Europe into the social life and laws and customs of the people ; and the further fact that the European and the Oriental, reasoning from the same premises, will often arrive at diametrically opposite conclusions, — all these circumstances place the European at a great disadvantage when he attempts to gauge Eastern

* Professor Sayce, The Higher Criticism and the Monuments, p. 658. ' I have a fair acquaintance with Turkish, but I do not Bpeak Arabic

8 MODERN EGYPT ch.i

opinion. Nevertheless, the difficulty of arriving at a true idea of the undercurrents of native opinion is probably less considerable in Egypt than in India. Notably, the absence of the caste system, and the fact that the social and religious fabric of Islamism is more readily comprehensible to the European mind than the comparatively subtle and mystical bases of Hinduism, diminish the gulf which in India separates the European from the native, and which, by placing a check on social intercourse, becomes a fertile source of mutual misunderstanding. On the whole, though I should not like to dogmatise on the subject, I am inclined to think that by constantly seeing people of all classes, and by checking the information received from different sources, a fair idea of native opinion in Egypt may in time be formed.

I would add that it is not possible to live so long as I have lived in Egypt without acquiring a deep sympathy for the Egyptian people. The cause of Egyptian reform is one in which I take the warmest personal interest. A residence of half a lifetime in Eastern countries has made me realise the force of Rudyard Kipling's lines —