NEWS OF THE. WEEK.
THE news of the week from Egypt is almost nil. The Khedive* and his Ministers are gathering up the threads of the admin- istration, and punishing enemies in the provinces. The British Generals are sending home part of their troops, and finding healthy quarters for the remainder. The Egyptians themselves are getting in their cotton crop, and-the Correspondents are sending over gossip, much of it fictitious,—as, for instance, a story that servants of the Palace have slapped Arabi's face ; and some of it rubbish, as, for example, accounts of the comings and goings of the Duke of Connaught, whom it is evidently intended to write up into the reversionary inheritance of the Command. in-Chief. The chief topic of discussion is the fate of Arabi, who is to be tried for firing Alexandria, and whom half the corre- spondents pronounce guilty, and the other half innocent, with- out waiting for the evidence. At present, the great dispute is whether he should be allowed English counsel. The Egyptian Ministry object, because, they say, English barristers cannot talk Arabic ; but Arabi's friends desire it, because they say Egyptian counsel would be too timid. The point seems of little importance, as the counsel will be entirely dependent on Egyptian aid; but if Arabi is allowed English counsel, they ought to be allowed to all the other prisoners, who are much leas sure of receiving justice. Arabi is tried under the eyes of the whole world, but nobody will attend to the evidence ahout his accomplices.
