338 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

has to Study the jealousies and susceptibilities of foreign nations, who possess a number of what may be called political strongholds in the form of International Boards, Councils, and Commissions. He has, it is true, in case of need, the army of occupation at his back. But, for obvious reasons, the power thus afforded of disarming opposition, native or foreign, can only be employed in cases of the gravest emergency. The nature of the obstacles the present representative of Great Britain at the Khedivial Court has been called upon to confront will be made manifest in the course of my narrative.

But I have thought it just, in recording the com mencement of his long career as H.B.M. Ministe Plenipotentiary in Egypt, to record how greatly in my opinion, our country is indebted to th courage, ability, and judgment displayed by Cromer.

The news of the destruction of Hicks's army di not reach Cairo till the 22nd of November, 1884.* Though, of course, there was anxiety at the prolonged absence of tidings, the utter annihilation of th Egyptian force was a contingency not even contem -plated. So late as the 3rd of October, the Egyptiar« Ministry, under Cherif Pasha, had come to an agree- -=-ment with the British authorities to the effect tha" -the army of occupation should be reduced to thr thousand, and should be removed from Cairo an stationed at Alexandria during the remainder of thei 'S sojourn in Egypt. Nine days later, at the Guildha77