3 o2 - RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



eye have been kept upon the Mosque of El-Azhar, 

 the centre from which the Mussulman propaganda has 

 been spread all over Africa. Isolated and abandoned 

 to fetishism, the races of the Soudan are of little 

 account ; but converted to Islam they become foci of 

 intense fanaticism. From want of foresight, we have 

 allowed an Arabia much more dangerous than the 

 true Arabia to be formed west of the Nile. Has it 

 not surprised you, Sir, that there is not yet in that 

 spot a common sensorium of the great interests of 

 the world ? It is clear that there is a guardian 

 angel of humanity who prevents it from stumbling 

 into all the ditches lining its way. If there were 

 only diplomatists, I would as lief see our poor 

 species intrusted to the care of a band of truant 

 schoolboys. 



The origin of your enterprise dates from the com- 

 mencement of that dynasty of Mehemet-Ali which 

 saw the light under the auspices of France, and 

 which, upon the other hand, has been severely shaken 

 by a passing declension in the fortunes of our country. 

 Your father was the first French agent who resided in 

 Egypt after the departure of our army. He was 

 charged by the First Consul and by M. de Talleyrand 

 with the task of counterbalancing the tyranny of the 

 Mamelukes, which had the approval of the English. 

 Your father's chief of the Janissaries brought to him 

 one day, as being capable of combating the prevailing 

 anarchy, a young Macedonian who was then in com- 



