394 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

rudely shaken. During the two years which had elapsed since Tel-el- Kebir had made us the dominant Power in Egypt, we had done little, or nothing, to manifest our intention of making our ascendency permanent. On the contrary, England had done everything in her power to create the impression that she was only a temporary occupant of the valley of the Nile.

Again, the material advantages accruing from a reign of law and order under British protection, whether temporary or permanent, had not as yet made themselves manifest. The financial position was again surrounded with embarrassments. The Arabi insurrection, the Alexandria indemnity, the outbreak of cholera, the falling off of the revenue, and the cost of the Egyptian military campaign in the earlier days of the Mahdi's rising, had rendered it impossible for Egypt to meet the liabilities she had agreed to accept in return for the reductions effected by the Law of Liquidation. A fresh loan was imperatively required in the interest of Egypt, but no loan could be raised without the consent of the Continental Powers, and this consent was not forthcoming so long as England refused to show her hand in regard to Egypt.

Under these circumstances, the personal position of Nubar was one of extreme difficulty. However strongly he disapproved individually of the policy of the British Government, he had officially, as Prime Minister, to accept the responsibility for the various