The Khedive of Egypt must be delighted with the war.
The Sultan has asked him for more troops, and he has accordingly called together the Committee of Egyptian Notables, which, when he pleases, he consults on public affairs. He explained to these gentlemen that he was bound to assist his Suzerain, and bound also to pay his Bondholders, and he could not possibly do both. He should like, therefore, an extra war-tax. The Committee, of course, assented, and an extraordinary war- tax of 1480,000 is therefore to be levied upon the wretched people, who suffer, perhaps, from Turks as much as the Christians, though in a different way. With this money, if it can be obtained, which is not certain, the Khedive will increase his contingent from 9,000 to 12,000 men,—very good soldiers, though not, perhaps, quite competent to encounter Europeans. Rumours have been circulated this week of some fanatical movement in Alex- andria, but they appear to be exaggerations, based upon some hot-headed preaching. Arabs do not love Turks, for reasons.
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