5i6 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

the southern littoral of the Mediterranean. Algiers has been annexed to France ; Tunis has been placed under a French protectorate ; 'the occupation of Morocco is ambitioned both by France and by Spain ; and the acquisition of Tripoli is the avowed object of Italian policy. The principle upon which the partition of the Dark Continent is based, is that the occupation of a strip of African coast confers on the occupying European Power the right of claiming all the Hinterland not already occupied. It is inconceivable that in any general partition of North Africa, Egypt, the richest and most unwarlike of the States, whose territories border on the Mediterranean, should be left uncoveted and unappropriated. It is obvious that England could never permit any Continental Power to command her highway to India ; and therefore, sooner or later, it must have become imperative upon this country to assume a position in Egypt similar to that which, owing to the chapter of accidents, she now occupies.

It may be well to say here, as I have said in my writings elsewhere on this subject, that I have never been a supporter of the theory that our occupation can be defended solely on the ground of the benefits it was expected to confer — and to a great extent has conferred — on Egypt. What I have contended throughout is, that our occupation of the valley of the Nile is justified by the exigencies of our Imperial position in India. In upholding this contention, I have been fortified by the belief that, under