attempts
made to strengthen the armament of the fortifications.... Met by
fraud and falsehood in its demand, it required surrender with a
view to immediate dismantling, and this being refused, it
proceeded to destroy.... The conflagration which followed, the
pillage and any other outrages effected by the released convicts,
these are not due to us, but to the seemingly wanton wickedness of
Arabi....

Such being the amount of our act, what has been its reception and
its effect? As to its reception, we have not received nor heard of
a word of disapproval from any Power great or small, or from any
source having the slightest authority. As to its effect, it has
taught many lessons, struck a heavy, perhaps a deadly, blow at the
reign of violence, brought again into light the beginnings of
legitimate rule, shown the fanaticism of the East that massacre of
Europeans is not likely to be perpetrated with impunity, and
greatly advanced the Egyptian question towards a permanent and
peaceable solution. I feel that in being party to this work I have
been a labourer in the cause of peace. Your co-operation in that
cause, with reference to preceding and collateral points, has been
of the utmost value, and has enabled me to hold my ground, when
without you it might have been difficult.

The correspondence closed with a wish from Mr. Gladstone: "Believe in the
sore sense of practical loss, and the (I trust) unalterable friendship and
regard with which I remain, etc." When Bright came to explain his
resignation in parliament, he said something about the moral law, which
led to a sharp retort from the prime minister, but still their friendship
did appear to remain unalterable, as Mr. Gladstone trusted that it would.

When the question by and by arose whether Arabi should be put to death,
Bright wrote to the prime minister on behalf of clemency. Mr. Gladstone in
replying took a severe line: "I am sorry to say the inquiry is too likely
to show that Arabi is very much more than a rebel. Crimes of the gravest
kind have been committed; and with most of them he stands, I fear, in
_presumptive_ (that is, unproved) connection. In truth I must say that,
having begun with no prejudice against him, and with the strong desire
that he should be saved, I am almost driven to the conclusion that he is a
bad man, and that it will not be an injustice if he goes the road