ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND EGYPT. 93 



In January 1840, however, a Ministerial Crisis occurred in 

 France, and England hoped that a change of Administration would 

 bring a change of policy ; but this hope was not realised, as the new 

 Ministry was less disposed to withstand Mehemet Ali, than was its 

 predecessor. 



For twelve months, negotiations were carried on with a view to the 

 pacification of the East, though with no good result, because France, 

 alone, opposed the concerted action of the Great Powers, and in face 

 of this hesitation and vacillation of France, England was forced, 

 reluctantly but resolutely, to come to a decision, and on the 15th 

 July, 1840, a Convention was signed between England, Russia, 

 Prussia, Austria, and Turkey, without the sanction and co-operation 

 of France. 



By this Convention, the Five Great Powers advised the Ottoman 

 Porte to grant to Mehemet Ali the hereditary rule of Egypt, also the 

 Government of a portion of Syria, and with it the title of Pasha of St. 

 Jean D'Acre, and if these propositions were not accepted by 

 Mehemet Ali in ten days, he should be offered only the Government 

 of Egypt, and . if, at the expiration of ten days further, he refused all 

 terms, then he was given to understand that he would have to abide 

 the issues of War, a War to be waged by the strength of the United 

 European Powers. 



The terms of this important Convention, signed by Russia, Austria, 

 Prussia, England and Turkey, on being communicated through M. 

 Guizot, the French Ambassador in London, to the Government of 

 France, caused considerable ebullition of feeling throughout France, 

 and the French Press stimulated the national outburst. 



With a view, however, to allay the excitement in the minds of the 

 French people. Lord Palmerston, from his place in Parliament, made 

 some important statements ; for he declared that England had not 

 isolated France, but that France had isolated herself from the rest of 

 Europe, that she had refused to co-operate with Europe, and 

 that therefore, Europe had been compelled, reluctantly, to act 

 without her. 



This speech of Lord Palmerston, instead of allaying the excitement 

 in the minds of the French people, caused still further disquietude, 

 for it proved to be pouring oil upon the flames, which in consequence, 

 burned fiercer and fiercer. 



M. Thiers, the Prime Minister of Louis Philippe, was deeply 

 wounded ; for he had prided himself on the astuteness of his 

 diplomacy, and on his power to force England to adopt his policy. 



