2o8 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

( position, from the fact that they had accepted office, y as Ministers of the Khedive, while they still remained [ members of the Commission of Inquiry, and therefore could not well take any steps for the suspension of its labours without the consent of their fellowmembers. In consequence, the Commission reassembled on the 14th of December. Various meetings were held, at which much difference of opinion was expressed, but the final result was that the Commission determined to resume its labours, and the Khedive, at the request of his Ministers, issued a decree on the 6th of January, 1879, by which the Commission was granted authority to prepare draft laws for the regulation of all matters which had formed, or might form, the subject of their investigations. The readiness with which his Highness consented to issue the decree in question is probably explained by the fact, that he had already made up his mind to get rid of his responsible Ministers, and thereby cut short the career of the Commission of Inquiry. f With the dismissal of Nubar, the Ministry had <Clost its reason of being, and its few remaining weeks of office were occupied with futile endeavours to carry on the work of administration with an empty treasury. At last, as a temporary expedient, they proposed to postpone for one month the payment of a number of short loans then falling due. They obtained the sanction of the Commissioners of the Public Debt and the approval of the Commission of Inquiry, but they were met with