Lord Northbrook, on Thursday, in the House of Lords, referred
angrily to the telegram from Alexandria and to an article on it in the Times, both of which he declared to be "in- correct in several essential particulars" and "most prejudicial to the interests of Egypt." He also postponed his statement on the Navy from Monday to Monday week. This is understood by the public to mean that the Cabinet is not agreed as to the Report, whatever its tenour; and on the same night, Lord Granville called the Report " confidential ;" but Mr. Glad- stone, in the House of Commons, explained that a project based upon the Report was being prepared, and must be sub- mitted to the Powers concerned before it was laid before Parliament. The Government had been so occupied with domestic matters that some time had been lost, and the Naval proposals must be delayed ; but they would advance as fast as they could. The House, of course, granted time to the Premier ; but there has been a general expression, especially in provincial
Liberal papers, of dislike to the suggestions attributed to Lord Northbrook. The English people have always resented the-im- portance assigned to the Bondholders in the affairs of Egypt, and would view any arrangement which left them their full interest, while assuring them of British support, with invincible repugnance.
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