104 Egypt
return to a personal despotism. His foreign advisers ap-
proved his rejection of the Constitution, but drew the
line at his restoration of despotism. He was accordingly
induced to recognise Ismail's rescript (August 28, 1878),
establishing responsible Ministers. He was told to ap-
point as President of the Council Riaz Pasha, a Moslem
of Jewish race belonging to the '' Turkish " party, who
had the confidence of the British. The Ministry was a
Coalition. Headed by Riaz—it included Osman Rifky
as War Minister—a reactionary, who despised the
Egyptian regimental officers, and also two Constitu-
tionalist Nationalists, one of whom was Mahmoud Bey
Sami, of whom more anon. The Khedive was given the
right of presiding over the Council, and the change may
be summarised as a reaction to the old triumvirate of
autocratic Khedive, " Turkish " oligarchy, and foreign
controllers.
But the elimination of the Constitutionalists and of the
Chamber resulted in relegating the sole representation of
the national movement to the army. And here again we
find an unfortunate misconception by foreign opinion. It
was assumed that the nationalist activities of the army
that now ensued were the same in cause and in character
as the military mutiny previously excited by Ismail. Thus
the mobbing of Nubar and Wilson is generally referred
to as the First Mutiny and the military actions under
Arabi at Khasr-el-Nil and at Abdin as Second and Third
Mutinies. But the second two were quite distinct from
the first. The disorders in 1878 were made by Turco-
Circassian officers of the old military caste for pay and
privilege. They were really the last of the old mutinies
of mercenaries common in the days of. Mehemet AH,
The demonstrations under Arabi were orderly political
operations with popular support. They were performed