all their former intentions of reform, or at all events most of them, and to be allowing this country to lapse into its old condition of misrule. Intrigues are rife all over the country, instigated to a great extent by the French, who are gradually assuming a very prominent position and checking our influence in every possible way. If we don't mind what we are about, we shall have a serious misunderstanding with them before long. They are, I understand, occupying, if they have not already done so, some fresh territory near a small settlement of theirs — Obok — outside the Red Sea; some of their troops on their way home from Tonquin will be passing there shortly, and may possibly land there with a view of extending their influence into the interior of the country, and ultimately in all probability in the direction of Khartoum. They have a Consul there who went up after Gordon did, though with no ostensible object, for they have no interests there to guard, but his presence there may give them an excuse for interfering in the relief of Khartoum. The finances of the country are, as you are aware, in a bad state. Taxes in many parts of the country cannot be collected and will have to be levied in kind with, of course, a heavy loss in the expense of transporting this produce to Alexandria before it can be turned into money, which when realised may keep the country going for a month or two. It will be some time before the results of the Conference ^3 will be known, and these will probably take the form of national control, in some modified form as regards France, over the government of the country; some satisfactory arrangement may be arrived at on this subject, but some fixed and settled system must be adopted in some form or other. You may think that I am painting things somewhat en noir, but I give you my impressions and I don't think they are exaggerated.... — Ever yours affectionately,
Fredk. Stephenson.
To Lady Elizabeth Romilly
Cairo, May 30, 1884.
... Affairs here are in a most unsatisfactorystate; the country is virtually without a government, Clifford Lloyd is gone, leaving the constabulary still unformed and the government of the provinces entirely in the hands of Nubar, who will revert to the old system of administering them, with its accompanying corruption and tyranny. Intrigues are rife all over the country, instigated by the French, Mahdi emissaries and communists, who are all doing their best to undermine our influence and get us out of the country. It is all very sad, for the English are becoming unpopular, and our prestige is on the wane.
The bad state the country is in is attributed to us, and in some respects with justice, for our Government sits still with folded arms and does nothing.
Just at this important moment our Consul- General is away, and Egerton, who acts for him, a hardworking, amiable, nice fellow, is of course new to the work, has still got to learn the ways and habits of the people and their rulers, and cannot exercise the same amount of influence as if he were permanently H.M.'s Agent....
... In the meantime the Egyptian army is being gradually pushed up the Nile to meet any threatened movements of the tribes in the Northern Soudan against the frontier of Upper Egypt.
Our house here is in rather a rickety state. After the collapse outside the verandah, it was thought desirable to examine the verandah itself; the beams supporting the floor were found to be rotten, and have been replaced by iron ones: this led to a further examination of the house, and now a portion of the roof will have to be removed...,
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To his Sister
Cairo, June 28, 1884.