By an _irade_ of October 2, 1875, the Sultan had promised to _all_ his Christian subjects a remission of taxation and the right of choosing not only the controllers of taxes, but also delegates to supervise their rights at Constantinople.
In taking these promises seriously, Disraeli stood almost alone.

But his speech of November 9, 1875, at the Lord Mayor's banquet, showed that he viewed the Eastern Question solely from the standpoint of British interests.

His acts spoke even more forcibly than his words.

That was the time when the dawn of Imperialism flushed all the eastern sky.
H.R.H.the Prince of Wales had just begun his Indian tour amidst splendid festivities at Bombay; and the repetition of these in the native States undoubtedly did much to awaken interest in our Eastern Empire and cement the loyalty of its Princes and peoples.

Next, at the close of the month of November, came the news that the British Government had bought the shares in the Suez Canal, previously owned by the Khedive of Egypt, for the sum of L4,500,000[94].