No answer has yet been received from Paris as to
British proposals about Egyptian Finance. It was rumoured in the beginning of the week that Lord Granville had, agreed to give up the proposed reduction of the Coupon ; and probably some negotiation did take place upon the subject, for the Times fired an article out of the blue, representing the reduction as a trumpery detail,—which would be true if there were no prin- ciples in politics. It is now announced that Lord Granville adheres to his offers, and M. Ferry is evidently greatly per- plexed. He does not want to offend the British Government, which can seriously thwart him in China ; or tci affront the financiers, who, in the present condition of his Floating Debt, are all-powerful ; or to act without Prince Bismarck till the Berlin Conference is settled, and he can take action on the Congo. He therefore waits and waits ; and naturally the gentle- men who gamble on the Bourses amuse themselves by inventing stories which, if only believed for an hour, drive Egyptian stock up or down. To men without conscience, playing for thousands with loaded dice is the most attractive of occupations.
