Lord Northbrook, on Thursday, at Liverpool, defended the policy of
the Government, in a speech which, though curiously reticent, was full of spirit, and on points most instructive. Ho maintained that the duty of putting down the military in- surrection in Egypt was admitted by the whole country, and beyond any need of defence ; and attributed that insurrection and the bitterness of Mandmmedan feeling generally to the steady refusal of the Turks .to allow any reforms in their Asiatic provinces, justifying his argument by evidence that the bitter- ness was not shared by the Mussulmans of India. The expedi- tion having succeeded, the Government had to decide upon their course, which in details, especially as to civil administration, was not yet settled. They, however, desired no annexation, had no in- tentions behind their words, but sought only to make sure that their work would not have to be done again, to secure the freedom of the Canal, to see that no other Power intervened in Egypt, and to establish in the country itself a " decent" Government, worked through Egyptian statesmen acting upon British advice. Lord Northbrook drew an animated picture of the grievances of the Egyptian peasantry, spoke kindly of the Control as bene- ficial, though "there was something" in the dislike to so many Europeans, and pointed out that the only changes introduced by the officers under Arabi were changes intended to increase their own emoluments and rank.
