THE NORTHBROOK MISSION. 397 displeasing to Tewfik, who resented bitterly the enforced evacuation of the Soudan, and who entertained a suspicion that his chief Minister was acting rather in the interest of England than of Egypt. ' Tewfik, however, was too sensible not to perceive that, while Egypt was occupied by a British army, he could not afford to incur the displeasure of England. He therefore acquiesced reluctantly in any suggestions from the British authorities in Egypt which Nubar declared could not be disregarded without giving umbrage to the British Government.

But, though he gave way, he yielded unwillingly ; and Nubar, as he said to me at the time, had to be the buffer between the British and Egyptian Governments. There was about Nubar a sufficient amount of Oriental suppleness to enable him to fill the post of a buffer with success ; but there was also too much of personal independence of character to allow him to fill such a post without mortification and regret.

The financial crisis in Egypt became so acute in April, 1884, that Sir Evelyn Baring was summoned to London to consult with the Government about the measures which must be adopted in order to save Egypt from bankruptcy. After the collapse of the London Conference, of which I have already spoken. Lord Northbrook was sent out as High Commissioner to Cairo, in the month of August, 1884, to make some arrangement which might rescue Egypt from her financial difficulties. By his advice, the Egyptian