A fight of two years between the Foreign Office, the
India Office, and the Treasury is over at last, and the Cabinet is going to do a very fine and chivalric thing. Sir Bartle Frere is to be despatched to Zanzibar with the fullestpowers, a great war steamer, very large pecuniary means, and orders to put down the slave trade in Eastern Africa. England and India between them are to pay the tribute due to Muscat, £8,000 a year, the Sultan is to be enlisted on our side, and the Banians are to be reminded that it is not so easy as they think to defy the Government which has possession of their homes. Sir Bartle takes a large staff with him, and is himself the very man for the work. He thoroughly understands it, he hates being beaten, he will not stand upon trifles, and he enjoys popularity. If he should on his way to the East African lazar-house make a remark to the Khediv6 about his slave-dealers, find out exactly what the Egyptians are at in Bogos, and send in a report upon the non-seizure of slave ships at Aden, it will be all in the way of his business, and all beneficial.
