46o THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

Majesty Queen Victoria. The Porte, however, contended that though Abbas had, in virtue of the firman, a legal right to be invested as Khedive, he could not actually become Khedive till after his investiture.

This contention was not disputed in any effective manner by the British Government. It may be said, with truth, that the investiture was a mere formality ; but formalities count for much in all Oriental lands. The Khedive was not prepared to dispute the Suzerainty of Turkey, and therefore he may well have thought if he could secure the support of his Suzerain, he might succeed in escaping the sort of thraldom in which he was held under the British military occupation.

Moreover, his Highness was surrounded, on his return to Egypt, by a number of advisers, who, partly from personal interest, partly from political motives, were opposed to the British occupation. These advisers were mainly French or Levantines, and comprised not a few of the Consular representatives at Cairo. The tenor of their advice was that the young Khedive ought to withstand any pretension on the part of the British authorities in Egypt to direct or supervise the internal administration of the country ; that if he stood firm, the British Government would give way ; and that in the event of any pressure being brought to bear upon him, he could rely on the 3upport of the leading Continental Powers. I think myself the importance of these intrigues was somewhat underestimated at the outset by the British authorities in