THE NATIONALITY MOVEMENT. 261 a claim upon the Liberal party for long and loyal service at Westminster. What is more important, he had many personal friends among the leaders of the party, and by their aid he was appointed Governor of Ceylon. It was not long after his retirement from this post that he came out to Egypt, at the period when Arabi was just coming into notice as the ringleader of the military mutiny. I fancy Sir William had hoped to have further promotion given him after his Governorship had expired. He discovered, however, on his return to England, that other men had come to the front in his absence, that the whole aspect of British politics had been changed by the Home Rule agitation, and that under Mr.

Gladstone's leadership the Palmerstonian Liberals had lost their political influence. He was still a man in the full vigour of life, conscious of high talents, and very reluctant to be placed on the shelf.

No one can blame him severely if he welcomed any opportunity of attracting the attention of the British public, and such an opportunity appeared to be offered by coming forward as the champion of Egtian nationality, represented in the persons of Arabi and his fellow-conspirators.

Thus it came to pass that these two British gentlemen constituted themselves the self-appointed advisers of Arabi ; and it was through their instru-\ mentality that he was led to present himself before / the British public in the guise of a reformer anxious ?

to redress the grievances of his fellow-countrymen, of J