THE CHAMBER OF NOTABLES. 269 the order of things established in Egypt, did not doubt j that the assurance publicly given of their intention in this / respect would tend to divert the dangei to which the I Govemnient of Egypt might be exposed, and which would ) certainly find England and France united to oppose \ them." / These were "brave words, my masters," and\ would have probably produced the result anticipated, / if the men, who at this period directed the action I of Egypt, had believed in their sincerity. Un- / fortunately, the leaders of the mutiny received, assurances from their friends in England that the British Government did not contemplate armed ] intervention, and these assurances were confirmed/ by the discovery that, almost immediately after the British Government had agreed to sign the joint note. Lord Lyons, the British Ambassador in Paris, received orders from the Foreign Office to inform the French Government that, by signing the note, England did not understand she had committed herself to any particular mode of action. The plaitTEflitir is, that Mr. Gladstone was bitterly opposed to any form of active intervention in Egypt In order to avoid the hateful necessity, England suggested the expediency of Turkey being invited to restore order in Egypt by the despatch of a Turkish army. This suggestion was dropped in deference to the positive refusal of France to entertain the idea of a Turl occupation of Egypt. Suddenly the Gambetta Ministry was turned out of office by one of the cabals, / I