Introductory

Objects of this book---The narrative portion---The effects on Egypt of the British occupation---Chief point of interest in Egyptian reform---Difficulty of ascertaining Eastern opinion

PART I ISMAIL PASHA 1863-1879

The Goschen Mission November 1876

Financial position in 1863---And in 1876---Suspension of payment of Treasury Bills---Creation of the Commission of the Public Debt---Decree of May 7, 1876---The Goschen Mission---Decree of November 18, 1876---Appointment of Controllers-General---Sir Louis Mallet---I am appointed Commissioner of the Public Debt---Ismail's predecessors---Crisis in the career of Ismail Pasha---Accounts Department

The Commission of Inquiry November 1876-April 1878

Condition of Egypt---The law of the Moukabala---Petty taxes---The Egyptian public service---The fiscal system---Floating debt---Efforts to pay interest on the funded debt---Famine---The coupon of May 1, 1878---The Khedive proposes a partial inquiry---The Commissioners decline to take part in it---The Khedive accepts a full inquiry

The Nubar-Wilson Ministry April 1878-November 1878

Difficulty of the task assigned to the Commission of Inquiry---Cherif Pasha declines to appear as a witness---Defects in the system of administration---The floating debt---The Rouznameh Loan---Loans from the Wakf and Beit-el-Mal Administrations---Ultimate reforms proposed by the Commissioners---Immediate reforms necessary---Enforcement of Ministerial responsibility---The Khedive's Civil List---Cession to the State of the Khedivial properties---The Khedive accepts the proposals of the Commissioners---Nubar Pasha forms a Ministry---Sir Rivers Wilson and M. de Blignieres named Ministers---Loan authorised on the security of the Khedivial estates

The Fall of Nubar Pasha November 1878-February 1878

Difficult position of the new Ministry---Support of the British and French Governments---The Khedive declines all responsibility---Convocation of the Chamber of Notables---The principle of Ministerial responsibility---Contest between the Khedive and Nubar Pasha---The Khedive intrigues against the Ministry---Mutiny of the officers---It is quelled by the Khedive---Nubar Pasha resigns---Immediate consequences---Remote consequences---State of discipline of the army---The Khedive's responsibility for the mutiny

The Coup d'Etat April 1879

Triumph achieved by Ismail Pasha---His parliamentary projects---Necessity of maintaining the reformed administration---Attempts to reinstate Nubar Pasha---Relations between the Khedive and the new Ministry---Position of the British and French Governments---Common policy---Different methods of executing the policy---Dissension at Cairo---Position of Prince Tewfik---Mistaken principles of the new Ministry---The payment of the coupon on the 1864 loan---The Khedive prepares a separate financial scheme---Dismissal of the Ministers---Proposal to revive the Control---Letter of the Khedive to Cherif Pasha---Character of the new Ministers---Comments on the Khedive's proceedings

The Report of the Commission April 1879

Declaration of bankruptcy---Principles of the settlement---The Khedive's Civil List---The Ouchouri land-tax---The Rouznameh loan---The law of the Moukabala---Reductions of taxation---Composition with the creditors---Comments on the report---The Commissioners resign---The Khedive's counter-proposals---Revival of the practices of the old regime---The Commissioners of the Debt institute legal proceedings against the Egyptian Government---My departure from Egypt

The Fall of Ismail Pasha April-June 1879

Embarrassment of the European Powers---Turkey---England---France---Italy---Russia---Germany and Austria---The French and British Governments demand the reinstatement of the European Ministers---The Khedive declines to reinstate them---Question of re-establishing the Control---The German Government protest against the proceedings of the Khedive---The British and French Governments advise abdication---The Khedive appeals to the Sultan---The Sultan deposes the Khedive---lnauguration of Prince Tewfik---Ismail Pasha leaves Egypt---Remarks on his reign

PART II THE ARABI REVOLT August 1879-August 1883

The Inauguration of Teweik August-November 1879

State of the counry---Cherif Pasha's Ministry---The Khedive assumes the Presidency of the Council---Ministry of Riaz Pasha---Relations between the Khedive and his Ministers---The Sultan cancels the Firman of 1873---Objections of France and England---The Mohammedan law of succession---The right to make Commercial Convertions, and to contract loans---The Army---The Khedive's investiture---Appointment of Controllers---Relations between the Government and the Controllers---Division of work between the Controllers---The Commission of Liquidation

The Dual Control November 1879-December 1880

Working of the Control---Relations between the two Controllers---And between the Controllers and the Egyptian Government---Delay in paying the Tribute---Interest on the United Debt paid at 4 per cent---Financial scheme proposed by the Controllers---The Budget for 1880---Reforms in the fiscal system---Confidence inspired by the Control---Reports on the state of the country---The Law of Liquidation---The military danger.

The Mutiny of the Egyptian Army January-September 1881

Discontent amongst the officers---They petition Riaz Pasha---Mutiny of February 1---Dismissal of the Minister of War---Imprudent conduct of the Khedive---Conduct of the French Consul-General---Increase of discontent in the army---Mutiny of September 9---Sir Auckland Colvin---Demands of the muti-neers---Dismissal of the Ministers---Reluctance of Cherif Pasha to accept office---Nomination of the Cherif Ministry---Cherif Pasha supports the European Control---Arabi is the real ruler of Egypt---His conduct due to fear---Situation created by the mutiny

The Cherif Ministry September-December 1881

The Porte wishes to interfere---Objections of France and England---Despatch of Turkish Commissioners to Cairo---Effect of their mission---British and French Ships sent to Alexandria---Arabi leaves Cairo with his regiment---Remarks on Turkish interference---Divergent views of France and England---Despondency of the Khedive---Cherif Pasha's policy---Sir Auckland Colvin's views---Arabi's policy---Insubordination in the army---Violence of the local press---Attitude of the civil population---Summary of the situation at the end of 1881

The Joint Note January 1882

Proposal to establish an Anglo-French Military Control---Change of Ministry in France---M. Gambetta proposes joint action---Lord Granville agrees---Sir Edward Malet consulted---Sir Auckland Colvin's recommendations---M. Gambetta prepares a draft note---Lord Granville agrees---Instructions sent to Cairo---Proposed increase in the army---Reorganisation of the Chamber of Notables---Effect produced by the Note---Remarks on the Note

The Effects of the Joint Note January-February 1882

The British Government wish to explain the joint Note---The French Government object---The Chamber of Notables claims the right to vote the Budget---Proposals of the British Government---Objections of the French Government---The Consuls-General instructed to oppose the Chamber---The Chamber demands a change of Ministry---Appointment of a National Ministry---The French Government press for an Anglo-French occupation---The British Government favour a Turkish occupation---Resignation of M. Gambetta---Remarks on his policy

The Arabi Ministry February-May 1882

Proposal to revise the Organic Law---Mr. Wilfrid Blunt---M. de Blignieres resigns---Concessions made to the army---Disorganisation in the provinces---The Porte protests against the Joint Note---The Powers are invited to an exchange of views---M. de Freycinet wishes to depose the Khedive---Lord Granville proposes to send Financial Commissioners to Egypt---Alleged conspiracy to murder Arabi---The Ministers resign, but resume office---M. de Freycinet assents to Turkish intervention---Arabi requested to leave Egypt---He refuses to do so---The Ministers again resign---The Khedive reinstates Arabi---And asks for a Turkish Commissioner

Appendix.---Note on the relations between Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Wilfrid Blunt

The Bombardment of Alexandria May-July 1882

State of the country---Vacillation of the Porte---A Conference proposed---Dervish Pasha and Essad Effendi sent to Egypt---The Alexandria massacres---Failure of Dervish Pasha's Mission---Panic in Egypt---The Conference meets---The Ragheb Ministry---The British Admiral demands that the construction of batteries at Alexandria shall cease---The French decline to co-operate---The bombardment of Alexandria---The town abandoned and burnt

Tel-el-Kebir July-September 1882

State of the country---British policy---Vote of credit---Negotiations with France---Fall of the Freycient Ministry---France declines to co-operate---Negotiations with Italy---Italy declines to co-operate---Negotiations iwth Turkey---Tel-el-Kebir---General remarks

The Dufferin Mission September 1882-August 1883

British policy---Trial of Arabi---Resignation of Riaz Pasha---Exile of political prisoners---Courts-martial---The Alexandria Indemnities---The abolition of the Dual Control---Rupture of the Anglo-French understanding-Lord Dufferin's Report---My arrival in Egypt

PART III THE SOUDAN 1882-1907

The Hicks Expedition January-November 1883

Extnet of Egyptian territory---Misgovernment in the Soudan---Slave-hunting---Said Pasha's views---Colonel Stewart's Report---The Mahdi---Military and financial situation---Interference from Cairo---Attitude of the British Government---Destruction of General Hicks's army

The Abandonment of the Soudan November 1883-January 1884

My position---I press the British Government to depart from a passive attitude---Lord Granville's reply---The Egyptian Government decide to hold Khartoum---Colonel Coetlogon recommends a retreat on Berber---Opinions of the military authorities at Cairo---The Egyptian Government wish to invoke the aid of the Sultan---The British Government recommended withdrawal from the Soudan---The Egyptian Ministers resign---Nubar Pasha takes office---Observations on the policy of withdrawal from the Soudan

The Rebellion in the Eastern Soudan August 1883-Marsh 1884

Prevailing discontent---Annihilation of a force sent to Sinkat---And of one sent to Tokar---Defeat of the Egyptians at Tamanieb---It is decided to send the Gendarmerie and some black troops under Zobeir Pasha to Suakin---Instructions to General Baker---He arrives at Suakin---His instructions are modified---Zobeir Pasha retained at Cairo---General Baker advances to Tokar---His defeat---Fall of Sinkat---It is decided to send a British force to Tokar---Fall of Tokar---General Graham advances---Action at El Teb---The British troops return to Suakin---Battle of Tamai---Results of the operations

The Gordon Mission December 1883-January 1884

The situation in Egypt---Sir Frederick Stephenson---General Earle---Sir Edgar Vincent---Sir Evelyn Wood---Foreign Office support---First and second proposals to send General Gordon---They are rejected---Third proposal to send General Gordon---It is accepted---No British officer should have been sent to Khartoum---General Gordon should not in any case have been chosen---The responsibility of the British press---And of the British Government---General Gordon's optimism---My regret at having assented to the Gordon Mission

Gordon at Cairo January 24-26, 1884

General Gordon wishes to go to Suakin---He goes to Cairo---Consequences which resulted from the change of route---General Gordon's views as to the Soudan---His London instructions---Instructions issued at Cairo---General Godon appointed Governor-General of the Soudan---And furnished with certain Proclamations---Reasons why General Gordon's instructions were changed---The Darfour Sultan---General Gordon proposes that Zobeir Pasha should accompany him---Interview between General Gordon and Zobeir Pasha---It is decided not to employ Zobeir Pasha---General Gordon leaves Cairo

Gordon's Journey to Khartoum January 26-February 18, 1884

Contradictory nature of General Gordon's proposals---The Darfour Sultan---General Gordon proposes to visit the Mahdi---Or to retire to the Equator---He issues a Proclamation announcing the independence of the Soudan---The Slavery Proclamation---General Gordon arrives at Khartoum---He is sanguine of success---Colonel Stewart's warning

Zobeir Pasha February 18-March 16, 1884

The turning-point of General Gordon's Mission---General Gordon's Memorandum of February 8---Change in General Gordon's views---He asks for Zobeir Pasha---I advise that Zobeir Pasha should be General Gordon's successor---The Government reject this proposal---General Gordon proposes to ``smash up'' the Mahdi---Conflicting policies advocated by General Gordon---His Proclamation stating that British troops were coming to Khartoum---General Gordon's neglect of his instructions---I again urge the employment of Zobeir Pasha---Difficulty of understanding General Gordon's telegrams---Colonel Stewart recommends that Zobeir Pasha should be sent---I support this view---General Gordon recommends that the Berber-Suakin route should be opened---The Government object to the employmentn of Zobeir Pasha---I again urge the employment of Zobeir Pasha---General Gordon's communications to the Times correspondent---The tribes round Khartoum waver---The Government reject the Zobeir proposal---I instruct General Gordon to hold on to Khartoum---I again urge on the Government the necessity of employing Zobeir Pasha---The proposal is rejected---I remonstrate---Final rejection of the Zobeir proposal---Were the Government right in their decision?

The Proposed Dash to Berber March 16-April 21, 1884

Sir Gerald Graham proposes to move on Sinkat---Lord Granville approves---The proposed movement on Wadi Halfa---Proposal to send a British expedition to Berber---It is reected---The order to move on Sinkat is cancelled---Remarks on this decision---Proposal to despatch a force to Wadi Halfa---General Gordon recommends the employment of a Turkish force---The Government reject the proposal---Necessity of preparing for a Relief Expedition

The Relief Expedition April 21-October 5, 1884

General Gordon's motives---Spirit in which the question should be approached---Did General Gordon try to carry out the policy of the Government?---The situation at Berber---Messages to General Gordon and his replies---Sir Frederick Stephenson instructed to report on the Relief Expedition---The Suakin-Berber Railway---The fall of Berber---The vote of credit---Lord Wolseley appointed to command the Nile expedition---He arrives at Wadi Halfa---Remarks on the above narrative

Apendix.---Note on the Khedive's telegram to General Gordon of September 14, 1884