LORD DUFFERIN»S REPORT. 335 ever came of the constitutional programme beyond its formal enactment by a Khedivial decree, but it served its purpose of furnishing the British Government with a brief, on the strength of which they could reconcile the continuance of the occupation with their avowed purpose of bringing it to a close at no distant period.

Even before the appearance of the Dufferin report, the Queen's Speech at the opening of Parliament contained a statement that " order is now re-established in Egypt, and the British troops will be withdrawn as promptly as may be permitted by a prudent examination of the country." In May, Lord Dufferin quitted Egypt, and in the course of the same month Sir Evelyn Baring returned to Egypt on his appointment as Consul-General and Minister Plenipotentiary.