16 JUNE 1883, Page 1

As regards the actual guilt of Suleiman Sami, the evidence

would appear to be conclusive. He himself admits it, to begin with, and only pleads that he acted under Arabi's orders. He was, moreover, seen ordering thebnrnings by scores of witnesses. The Khedive, too, affirms that the Commission which examined the charges was not ill-affected to the rebels, and its members unanimously found Suleiman guilty, while the court-martial, which was equally unanimous, contained Major Morris, an Englishman, and Federigo Bey, an Austro-Italian, while Major Macdonald watched the proceedings. That the burning was not a " military measure " was, moreover, proved by the fact that the spot where the English would land was the spot which was not burned. In truth, the only plea worth a moment's attention was that Suleiman was acting under Arabi's orders, and that, even if true—as all Arabi's friends deny—is worthless. Suppose that the dynamitenrs plead that they all acted under the orders of O'Donovan Rosso, and that the Irish of New York are at war with the British Government.