THE PURSE OF FORTUNATUS Early life of Ismail — Visit of Sultan to Egypt — Title of Khedive granted — Change in law of succession — Lavish outlay both public and private— Immense appropriation of lands — Amount of indebtedness.

At the time when Ismail Pasha commenced his reign, he was still a comparatively young man, even for the East, where men and women age far more rapidly than they do with us. He had not, in as far as I can learn, received any special education for the position he was called upon to fill. It was not, indeed, till 1859, that Ismail, owing to the death of his elder brother Achmed, became heir-presumptive to the Vice-regal throne, and even then his prospect of succeeding to the throne seemed remote, as his uncle Said, the reigning Viceroy, was not much older than he was himself. During the visit of Said Pasha to England, Ismail held the post of Regent for a few weeks, but after that he took no part in public affairs, and occupied himself in administering his lands, and kept as much as possible away from the Court. Between him and Said no love was lost, and the latter used to speak of his heir as a trader, keen about paltry gains. In common with most of the members