Just at this time a divergence between English and French views in dealing with the situation had manifested itself, having its root in earlier history.  France, now as in 1840, was aiming at the policy of detaching Egypt from the control of the unprogressive Turks; England aimed at the maintenance of the much talked of integrity of the Ottoman Empire.  The French premier, Gambetta, was determined that there should be no intervention on the part of the Turks.  He drafted the “Identic Note” in January, 1881, and induced Lord Granville, the English Foreign Secretary, to give his assent.  This note contained the first distinct threat of foreign intervention.  The result was a genuine and spontaneous outburst of Moslem feeling.  All parties united to protest against foreign intervention, joined by the fellaheen, who now saw an opportunity of freeing themselves from foreign usurers, to whom they had become so unjustly indebted.  Riots broke out in Alexandria in 1881.  Gambetta was replaced by the hesitating Freycinet, who looked upon the intervention with alarm, and upon Germany with suspicion.  England was thus at the last moment left to act alone.  Past experience had taught her that the destiny of Egypt lay in the hands of the dominant sea-power of the Mediterranean, and that Egypt must not be neglected by the masters of India.  After a vain attempt to bring about mediation through Dervish Pasha, the special commissioner of the Porte, it was discovered that the Nationalist Party was too little under control to be utilised in any further negotiations.  Ahmed Arabi Pasha had greatly increased his influence, and had finally been appointed Minister of War.  On the 11th of June there was serious rioting, in which many Greeks and Maltese, four Englishmen, and six Frenchmen were slain.  Arabi now stepped forward to preserve order, being at this moment practically the dictator of Egypt.  While endeavouring to maintain order, he also threw up earthworks to protect the harbour of Alexandria, and trained the guns upon the British fleet.  The admiral in charge, Sir Beauchamp Seymour, who was waiting for the arrival of the Channel Squadron, sent word to the Egyptians to cease the construction of fortifications.  The request was not fully assented to, although it was reinforced by an order from the Porte.  An ultimatum was presented on July 10, commanding Arabia to surrender the forts.  The terms were refused, and eight ships and five gunboats prepared for action on the following day.  At the same time the French fleet retired upon Port Said.

The first shot was fired on July 11th, at seven o’clock in the morning, by the Alexandrians, and in reply an iron hail rained upon the forts of the Egyptians from the guns of the British fleet.  Arabi’s troops fought well and aimed correctly, but their missiles were incapable of penetrating the armour of the ironclads.  One fort after another was silenced.  Lord Charles Beresford, in command of the gunboat Condor, led a brilliant attack