The cost of the Egyptian Expedition has, so far, not
been great. It appears from a Treasury Minute of February 17th that the total cost is 24,558,000, of which 23,416,000 is expended by the United Kingdom, and 21,142,000 by India. As com pared with other wars, this is a very small total, but the Eng- lish share is not quite so little as it looks. There is a feeling against saddling India with expenditure, and a grant of 2500,000 is therefore to be voted in reduction of her share. That is generous, but we are not sure that it is wise. But for India, Egypt would be nothing to us. The expenditure was ordered. mainly to protect the Indian gateway, and India ought to pay her share of what is practically her own expense. If she does not, we shall one day see a party spring up here which declares that India is a, burden to the finances, and had better be given back to its Native Princes. As it is, the cost of our wars with Russia, which are meaningless except as wars for the protection of India, is borne exclusively by Great Britain. We are bound to add, however, that if one state- ment of the Indian Government is true, and the average income of natives per hoed is only 22 14s. a year, almost any grant- in-aid may be justified. That is equal to only 213 10s. a year per house, or 5s. 2d. a week per family, a sum below the worst average of the poorest districts of Italy.
