LORD DUFFERIN'S REPORT. 332 not for the knowledge that his hands were tied. Yet it is impossible for any one, who understands the manifold difficulties created by our anomalous position in Egypt, not to regret the loss of the golden opportunity of simplifying our position there* which was deliberately thrown away at the time of the Duffer in mission. The readiness with which France acquiesced, after a formal protest, in the abolition of the Dual Control, and the transfer of its authority to the hands of an English official, showed clearly that at this period the Continental Powers were not prepared to offer active resistance to any modifications our Government might have thought it right to make in the relations between Egypt and other Powers. Yet, having the cards in our own hands, we deliberately declined to win the game. We left the whole fabric* of International administration in Egypt undisturbed. I The railways are still administered by an International Board. So are the Daira Sanieh and Domain lands. The receipts of the revenues affected to the service of the Public Debt, are still paid over to an International Commission, which, in its capacity of holder of the purserstrings, restricts and regulates the general policy of the country. Justice is still administered by International courts, in which the use of the English language is not. allowed in legal proceedings. Yet I have reason to know that the suppression of the International courts and their replacement by British courts was regarded by the members of these tribunals as a foregone conclusion after the