The making of the Suez Canal was quite as much a political as a commercial move, and it has certainly added largely to their influence here; though, in this respect, a check was given to them by the purchase of the Khedive's shares in the canal by Lord Beaconsfield; a stroke which, however, greatly increased the enmity of the French here, and heightened their efforts to excite the animosity of the people against us.
"Well, I hope that whatever comes of all this, the question as to whose influence is to be paramount in Egypt will be finally settled.

Even French domination would be better than the constant intrigues and trouble, that keep the land in a state of agitation.

However, I fancy that it will be the other way, if an English fleet comes here and there is trouble.

I don't think we shall back down; and if we begin in earnest, we are sure to win in the long run.

France must see that, and if she refuses to act, at the last moment, it can only be because Arabi has it in his power to produce documents showing that he was, all along, acting in accordance with her secret advice." A week later, on the 20th of May, the squadrons of England and France anchored off Alexandria.