284 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

in recognition of the services he had rendered to Islam ; and the order was personally handed to the Minister by his Highness, the Khedive.

This may be said to have been the culminating point of Arabi's short-lived triumph. Fortunately, the excesses committed by his partisans — whether with or without his direct sanction — had overshot the mark.

Throughout all the time that Englishmen were being beaten to death in the streets of Alexandria a British fleet was lying in the harbour. The officers in command were debarred by their instructions from landing troops for the rescue of their fellow-countrymen.

/"yOn the news of the massacres, perpetrated within / cannon shot of the British fleet, reaching England, \ there was an outburst of popular feeling, which no \ Government and no party could resist At last Mr.

Gladstone was compelled to give his consent to armed / intervention in Egypt. The Channel Squadron was despatched to Alexandria. The alleged object of its despatch was represented to be the obtaining of compensation for the losses sustained by British subjects iduring the massacres, and no sign was given of any action being contemplated for the restoration of order in Egypt by the aid of the British fleet Even so mild a proposal as that suggested by our Foreign Office failed to command the adhesion of the French vGovernment The truth is, as I have mentioned before, that M. de Lesseps* influence, which at this period was very great in French political circles, was exercised in opposition to any joint intervention