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 France her moral support in a war, if France engaged not to interfere with Russian designs.

It is worthy of remark, and remarkable as showing the temper of the Liberal party at this time, that they not only laughed to scorn the idea of a coalition of the powers named, but they openly avowed their determination to reverse the work carried on by their predecessors. Amongst other things that Sir Stafford Northcote's Government had done was the placing of garrisons at Quettah in Afghanistan, and at Peshawar, and the commencement of a strong fort in the Khyber Pass. The Liberals, on their accession to office, lost no time in withdrawing the garrisons, and stopping the works that had been begun in the Khyber, and in accordance with their former traditions under the Gladstone régime they re-opened negotiations with Russia for pledges that she would not make any further advances towards Afghanistan. Of course, these pledges were readily given, and the Liberals, as they had always done, had faith in them.

If the Marquess of Hartington's policy of opposition to the course pursued by the Conservatives had ended here all might have been well. But, urged on by the extreme Radicals of his party, he pursued a still more fatal course. The Conservatives had, during their short term of office, endeavoured to restore the financial condition of Egypt, and, to protect that unhappy country from the Soudanese, they had, therefore, seized and held Souakim and Berber, besides strengthening the garrisons of Cairo and Alexandria. A promise had been made that the suspension of the Sinking Fund should be removed, a strong native Government had been placed in power, and it seemed probable that at last light would break through the darkness that had so long enveloped the country. But the Liberals at once abandoned Souakim and Berber, and seriously reduced the garrisons of Cairo and Alexandria. The result was, the Soudan once again rose in revolt and threatened Egypt, and matters were soon restored to the condition they were in when the Liberals went out of office. The Marquess of Hartington, inspired by the spirit of his old master, showed a nervous, fretful desire to be done with Egypt altogether,—to scuttle out of the country, in point of fact, and leave it to those who