The Jubilee has suppressed polities for the week. The country
has drawn a deep breath of relief at the momentary dis- appearance of the Irish nightmare, and scarcely any news, good or bad, has come in from abroad. A rumour obtained currency, it is true, on Tuesday, that France and Russia had formally threatened the Sultan with war if he signed the Convention about Egypt ; but it was too absurd to believe. Russia has no interest in Egypt, and France is not going to force an alliance between Great Britain and Germany. Russia, and Prance are resisting British proposals as a means of worrying England, but they are not going to war over a question to them of tenth-rate importance. It is not certain yet that the Sultan will yield, and refuse his ratification, as his pride is greatly soothed by a Convention which acknowledges his right of occupying Egypt in certain contingencies, and he wants the money obtainable by repledging the Tribute ; but at present it seems possible that he may. In that case, the old condition of affairs revives, and England must, as before, wait on in Egypt tranquilly. Time is not her enemy there.
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