ious works. Full reports appeared in the _Times_, and other
journals, during the movements of the Royal party on the Continent, in
Egypt, and Palestine. Reference is made to this interesting and
memorable tour in several of the speeches made by the Prince after his
return; and at a later time, as when he spoke at the meeting about the
neglect of the Crimean graves, and at that for the memorial to Dean
Stanley.

Only one incident of the tour, and the one of greatest historical
interest, may be mentioned, the visit to the Cave of Machpelah and the
Sepulchres of the Patriarchs. In this event, not only the personal
interest, but the national importance of the Prince's Eastern Tour, may
be said to culminate. Never before had Christian pilgrims, since the
days of the Mohammedan conquest, or of the Crusades, been allowed to see
so much of the holy tombs of the Patriarchs. The sanctity with which the
Mussulmans have invested the place is a living witness of the unbroken
veneration with which men of Jewish, Christian, and Mohammedan creeds
have honoured the memory of Abraham, the father of all the faithful.
Hebron is known among the native population by no other name than
El-Khalil, the Friend of God.

It was the high position of the Prince of Wales, as son of Queen
Victoria, that obtained for him the rare privilege of access to this
sacred spot. Nor was it obtained for him without some difficulty. Mr.
Finn, the English Consul at Jerusalem, prepared the way by requesting an
order from the Porte; and the reply of the Grand Vizier left the matter
very much to the discretion of the Governor, the Pasha of Jerusalem. He
gave his consent on the condition that only a small number should
accompany the Prince; and precautions were taken that the experiment
should be made with as little risk as possible. The approach to Hebron
was lined with troops, and guards were posted on the house-tops, in case
of any outbreak of fanatical opposition to entering the holy places. A
guard attended the Prince up to the entrance of the sacred enclosure.
Even then two of the Arab Sheiks were inclined to give annoyance, but
these the Governor of Hebron ordered out, or rather escorted them out
himself, and the remainder were very courteous and complimentary to the
Prince, saying that they were glad to have the opportunity of showing
any civility in their power to one of the Princes of England, to whom
their Government and people were so much indebted for ki