That is a very curious story sent from Constantinople to
the Times about the agitation against the Sultan raised by the ex-Khedive. Ismail, who is a much more important person in Turkey than Europe quite perceives, is striking straight at Abdul Hamid's sacred authority as Khalif, by circulating pamphlets in the capital in which his right to the Klialifate is denied, in consequence of his refusal to allow the Egyptian ladies to enter his dominion.
The Khalif, Ismail asserts, has broken the Sacred Law. he accusation is unsound technically, as the Khalif can un- doubtedly pronounce sentence of exile from the heritage of Islam, without reason assigned ; but it is as formidable, when made by such a man, as an accusation of heresy raised against a Pope by a Cardinal, and not only means, but does mischief. A Mussulmau mob, military or civil, is far more ready for insur- rection when the ruler is accused of heresy ; and many signs make it certain that influential Mahommedans have thought of superseding the House of °Orman by the House of Mehemet Ali. It is not forgotten that Ibrahim Pasha intended to make a stroke for the Khalifate, or that his family is the only one at once "royal" and Turk. Besides, Tewfik Pasha would just suit the Bondholders, who evidently smell somethiug iu the wind.
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