Io6 ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND EGYPT. 



2. In sending the naval squadron to Alexandria. 



3. In bombarding the forts of the city, without a formal declaration of war, ad- 



dressed to the Sultan, as the Sovereign of Egypt. 



When the news of the bombardment reached London, several 

 Members of the House of Commons rose, one after the other, to put 

 questions to the Prime Minister as to whom the declaration of war 

 should be addressed, whether to the Sultan, the Khedive, or Arabi 

 Pasha ? Thereupon, Mr. Gladstone made the memorable reply : — 



" There is no war. The bombardment is a measure of security, a defensive act 

 on the part of the British Fleet." 



No declaration of war ! !A.nd yet, forsooth, it is estimated that this 

 " defensive act," not only led to the bombardment of an ancient and 

 renowned City, to its almost utter destruction, but alas ! to what 

 subsequently followed : the invasion of Egypt, the occupation of its 

 capital, Cairo, the invasion of the Soudan, and the slaughter of 

 40,000 of a brave people " struggling to be free."* And yet, " no 

 war ! " Only a " defensive act ! " 



Well might Mr. Bright declare, in the speech explaining his resig- 

 nation as a member of the Government fpr this barbaric act : — '■ 



" England violated both the Law of Nations, and the obligations of Treaties ; she 

 broke public faith, and infringed solemn engagements, "t 



Fifteen days after the bombardment of Alexandria, and the occu- 

 pation of the City by the blue-jackets and Marines, the Government 

 of England practically declared war against the de facto Govern- 

 ment of Egypt, of which Arabi was the Chief ; a declaration of war, 

 which was ratified by Parliament in the Vote of Credit of July 27th, 

 1882, and orders were immediately given for the despatch of troops 

 from England, India, Malta, Gibraltar, and other foreign garrisons, 

 with which Great Britain resolved to reconquer Egypt for the 

 Khedive, and for his Suzerain, the Sultan of Turkey. 



For the command of this invading Army of 40,000 men of all 

 ranks. Sir Garnet Wolseley was selected, and he was accompanied by 

 Sir John Adye, Sir Archibald Alison, General Graham, General 

 Drury-Lowe, all tried and trusted Generals of the Empire ; and in 

 addition the Duke of Connaught, for it was thought necessary that 



* Byron. 



t The resignation of Mr. Bright as a member of Her Majesty's Government was 

 tendered to Mr. Gladstone, and accepted by him on the 15th July, 1882, and his ex- 

 planations for taking this step were made in Parliament on the 17th July ; but the Fleet 

 was ordered to Alexandria on the 20th May, and the Admiral in Command received his 

 instructions from Her Majesty's Government to open the bombardment on the nth 

 July; and therefore, Mr. Bright must be held responsible for the decisions arrived at 

 in the Councils of Her Majesty's Government, and for the consequences which 

 unhappily followed. 



