Mr. Gladstone replied that so far as he could judge,
Sir Staf- ford .Northcote, though he professed his desire that our occupa- tion of Egypt should not be permanent, really desired a per- manent occupation; for he had argued that even if we established. good institutions in Egypt, they would be of no use unless we stayed there to support them. Mr. Gladstone deprecated that view as earnestly as ever; but he said that though in the first instance Lord Northbrook's mission would be to inquire and advise, there was nothing to prevent his mission assuming more active functions before it terminated. Still, no step would be taken committing the country to a new and far-reaching policy, without the consent of Parliament, which Mr. Gladstone pledged himself once more to ask before any change of moment in the Egyptian policy of the Government should be effected. There was nothing to mark a new departure in the Prime Minister's speech.
