A little domestic drama, comedy or tragedy as it may
be, has been performed this week in Egypt. The Minister of Finance, it appears, was hotly opposed to Mr. Goschen's scheme for placing the finances under European control, and on the Khedive accepting it, sent his master a violent letter, accusing him of selling his country to infidels, and threatening him with the vengeance of the Faithful. The Khedive, apparently believing from the tone of this letter that the Minister must have force at his back, ordered his son, Prince Hassan, to arrest him, went himself to see it done, and exiled him to Don- gola, in Upper Egypt. Next day, on his way thither, the Minister was reported dead from "excessive drinking,"—pro- bably a sarcastic way of stating that he had been drowned in the Nile. The correspondent of the Standard, in the latest telegram, reaffirmed the Minister's death, adding that his property would be confiscated ; but it is officially stated that the rumour is wholly untrue, though the unlucky Minister is in bad health from worry and too much liquor. Everybody seems exceedingly glad that he is gone, and the Khedive has appointed his own son Finance Minister, possibly in order to prevent the outer world knowing too much about the Treasury. Mr. Goschen's propositions have been accepted, but the Commis- sioners of the Debt do not receive their money.
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