274 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

/also Stated that the Ministry had determined to / reassemble the Chamber of Notables, and to hold nc further intercourse with the Khedive till the Chamber had decided on the question at issue between the Sovereign and his Ministers.

It was matter of common notoriety that the Notables were to be called upon to vote the deposition \ of the Khedive. For once, however, the members of the Chamber displayed something approaching to independence. They were mortally afraid of incurring the displeasure of the masters of the army. At the / same time they were equally afraid of giving grave umbrage to the reigning Sovereign, so long as it was s currently reported that an Anglo-French fleet was about \ to be sent to Alexandria with troops on board in order \ to uphold the authority of the Khedive; The Notables, \ therefore, on one pretext or the other, delayed coming ■ to any decision, and they were still deliberating when intelligence was received that the Anglo-French j squadron was already on its way. Forthwith the 'national party changed their attitude, and tendered their submission to the Khedive. On the 19th of / May the squadron actually arrived, and was found to \ consist of a French and English ironclad, accompanied by a couple of gunboats. There were no troops on board sufficient for any military operations inland The French Admiral had instructions only ** to give a v moral support to the Khedive." The British Admiral was ordered " to support the Khedive and to protect ; British subjects and Europeans." For the latter purpose, ■