It was announced on Thursday that, after consultation with Sir
Eldon Gorst, the Khedive had appointed Boutros Pasha to succeed Mustapha Pasha Fehmi as Prime Minister of Egypt, and that the British Government had expressed approval of the appointment. Boutros Pasha will retain the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, but there will be several other changes in the Ministry. The interest of this piece of news centres in the fact that Boutros Pasha is a Copt, and that thus for the first time in history a member of this interesting community— they are said to represent more nearly than any other section the ancient Egyptians—has been given high power in Egypt. Before the British occupation the Copts, in spite of their great natural ability, especially in matters of finance, were the most depressed portion of the population. Boutros Pasha is. recognised on all hands as a man of quite exceptional ability and intelligence. Sir Eldon Gorst,. we must conclude, had good reason for assenting to the appointment ; but prima facie one would have thought that, considering the course of events in Turkey, and their inevitable influence on Egyptian affairs, it would have been more appropriate just now to have placed the Premiership in the hands of a Mohammedan.
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