But even already, "the foundations of a great future
have been laid : a remote portion of the African race
hitherto excluded from the world's history has been



362 EGYPT A8 IT 18.
brought into direct communication with, the superior
and more civilised races ; legitimate trade has been
opened ; therefore, accepting commerce as the great
agent of civilisation, the vrork is actually in progress."*
If this were true five years ago, it is stUl more so now ;
and in the sole- fact that absolute power to direct this
peaceful campaign against barbarism is in the hands of
one of the best men and ablest administrators whom even
England could furnish for the task, we have the surest,
pledge that the work will be well and honestly done. In
selecting such a man, and entrusting him with such
powers, the Khedive, in his turn, has given the best pos-
sible proof of his own claim on the confidence of Europe,
and of his honest purpose not merely to do all that
humanly can be done to rescue these vast regions from
the curse of slavery, but to reclaim the whole to peaceful^
industry, settled government, and civilisation.
