THE BEGINNING OF A |NEW ERA. 125 government in Egypt, or in any Oriental country.

He had absolutely no sympathy with Midhat Pasha's scheme of reforming Turkey by the agency of an independent Turkish Parliament, or with any similar schemes entertained by the so-called Young Egypt party. His theory was that personal government was the only possible government, under existing conditions, for an Oriental population, and that these conditions were not likely to be materially changed within any period of which living statesmen could take account. On the other hand, he held most strongly that personal government must be subject to the supremacy of the law ; that this supremacy could only exist if supported by some authority independent of, and in the last resort superior to, the will of the personal ruler ; and that such support could only be provided by the presence in Egypt of a powerful European element, whose authority the ruler could not venture to dispute. As to the way in which this European element should be introduced, and as to the mode in which its authority should be exercised,, his view may have varied, and did vary, with the course of events. But I am convinced, the more fully the part is known which Nubar Pasha played in Egyptian affairs, the more it will be recognized that to the above principle he remained faithful to the end.

This much is certain, thatp ubar availed himself of* J ,. ' the question of the Capitulations to lay the foundation V , 1 of the reforms he had at heart. He proposed \