INTERNAL REFORMS. 19

CHAPTER IV.

INTERNAL REFORMS.

Tel-el-Kebir fought, and Arabi safely shut up in Ceylon, nothing of any very sensational character occurred for some months. The murder of Pro¬ fessor Palmer (Professor of Arabic, at Cambridge), Captain Gill and Lieuten¬

ant Charrington, who had been sent to various Arab tribes by the English Government ostensibly for the purpose of purchasing camels, but in reality probably to learn the attitude and gain the good will of the Bedouins, was avenged on the 28th of February by the execution of five prisoners who were convicted of the crime ; and many of the pillagers of Alexandria and the per¬ petrators of the atrocities that followed its bombardment were tried and punished. An army of occupation was still retained in Egypt, a measure which evoked much criticism in Parliament and some comment from foreign

powers. The attitude of these latter towards England has been described as

“ one of acquiescence tempered by expectancy.” There was no denying the rapidity and success with which the rebellion had been quelled, and the declared purpose of England had been to uphold the then existing regime. Few, however, conceived it either likely or possible that the status quo ante

bellum would be restored, and the announcement of England’s intentions was awaited with some anxiety. The suspense was speedily relieved by a circular note issued to the Great Powers by Lord Granville early in January of 1883. Lord Granville first proposed various measures to secure at all times the freest possible navigation of the Suez Canal, its strict neutrality in time of war, and equal rights therein to all nations ; second, the attainment of greater economy in the management of the Daira estates ; third, the treatment of foreigners on the same footing as natives with regard to taxation ; fourth, the continuance for the present of the system of mixed tribunals for civil suits between natives and foreigners ; fifth, the formation of a small Egyptian

army, with British officers, lent for a time, to fill the higher posts, and of a separate force of gendarmerie and police ; sixth, some new arrangement in lieu of the dual control ; seventh, the prudent introduction of representative institutions in some form adapted to the present political intelligence of the people, and calculated to aid their future progress. (See Annual Register for

1883.) Lord Dufferin was now sent out to elaborate a scheme of administrative and social reform. With the usual astuteness with which this famed diplomat