upholding British intervention.[7] Labby among the prophets indeed! After the retirement of Arabi from Alexandria, he issued a proclamation stating that "irreconcilable war existed between the Egyptians and the English, and all those who proved traitors to their country would not only be subjected to the severest penalty in accordance with martial law, but would be for ever accursed in the next world." Three more towns were plundered and the European inhabitants massacred. British public opinion was now thoroughly aroused, and probably no Government could have stayed in power without taking some overt action. The action taken by Mr. Gladstone's Government was very definite. On July 22 the Prime Minister obtained, by a majority of 275 to 19, a vote of £2,300,000. A force of 6000 men was sent to Egypt from India; 15,000 men were despatched to Cyprus and Malta. Sir Garnet (afterwards Viscount) Wolseley was placed in command in Egypt, "in support of the authority of His Highness the Khedive, as established by the Firmans of the Sultan and the existing international engagements, to suppress a military revolt in that country." The French Government, while declining to co-operate with the British troops, assured Lord Granville of their moral support. In the month of September the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, in which the Egyptian army was completely routed, was fought. By this event British intervention was justified {198} in the eyes of the world, and what became in the long run hardly distinguishable from British rule was established on the banks of the Nile. It was the battle of Tel-el-Kebir that convinced Mr. Labouchere of what would be, and in fact what came to be, the end of the course on which the Government was embarked, for he very soon sold his Egyptian shares. "They fell off his back like Christian's burden in _Pilgrim's Progress_, and Labby became an honest politician," said Mr. Wilfrid Blunt to me. The following letter to Sir Charles Dilke very clearly expresses his new views on Egyptian policy: REFORM CLUB, October 10, 1882. DEAR DILKE,--The great ones of the earth who, like you, live in Government Offices, never really understand the bent of public opinion. This is probably a dispensation of Providence by means of which Ministers are not eternal. Personally, I should be glad to see the Liberal Party, after passing a Franchise Bill, sent about their business, and the country divided between Conservatives and Radicals. I speak, therefore, from the Radical standpoint, and viewing the matter from that point, I see that the dissatisfaction against your Egyptian policy is growing. Arabi (like most patriots) was "on the make." His force consisted in siding with the Notables in their legitimate demands.