would maintain the oppressive systems if they were in power. If there were no bondholders, the backs of the miserable fellaheen would smart under the lash of the oppressor. The despotism is Egyptian, not English. English rule would gradually emancipate the oppressed classes. Nowhere, not even in Ireland, has England conquered a people without improving the condition of the poor. The interest on debts which she surrenders in the valley of the Nile does not go to the relief of the peasants; it is squandered in the harems of Cairo and Alexandria. The issue is strictly between the splendid, many-concubined lords in Egypt and the honest and self-denying people who have lent honest money on the faith of England. Which way, then, will events march? Toward a war between Islam and Christendom, or back to the old imperial policy of England? It would seem that the world’s hope lies in a restoration of the ancient policy of the British empire. The events of 1885 in Moslem land will be full of interest, perhaps pregnant with destiny. A larger English army, perhaps 25,000 men, will soon be in Egypt. It will probably face a better trained foe. There will be more English graves in Egypt. To what end? The London _Times_ says: “Gordon must be avenged.” England repeats the cry. But what end will the vengeance serve? And what if Arabi Pasha and the Emirs killed in the late battles, and the 30,000 to 40,000 Moslems slain, should be avenged? Soon or late—if she does not attempt it too late—England must return to her historical policy and stand among Christian powers the foremost ally of the sons of Mohammed. It is the inexorable logic of her greatness. Let us shut our eyes upon the horrible vision of the new crusades, as useless as the old and far bloodier. Christendom can hope for no more fortunate disposition of Mohammedanism than that it should be locked fast in the iron arms of the British empire; and on the other hand the failure of the British empire would involve the greatest possible disasters for Christendom. Many foolish things have been promised in the name of “manifest destiny.” Perhaps destiny is never so manifest that it may be read off by uninspired prophecy; but there is no other Power which seems fitted to play England’s imperial rôle; and it does not appear how the progress and happiness of mankind can go forward without such an imperial force as England has been for two centuries. While we deprecate the effects of the Jingo spirit which Disraeli fostered, and repudiate the indifference to the progress of Christianity which the Hebrew statesman scarcely concealed, we can not look with complacency upon changes of British policy which would disintegrate the empire. Let England’s drum-beat go round the earth with the sun; for the sunrise of progress and civilization will awaken wherever that martial music falls upon the ear of mankind. THE ART OF FISH CULTURE. BY PROF. G. BROWN GOODE. PART I.