commissions which Mott had authority to offer. New York was not
large enough to keep MacIver and Mott long apart, and they soon
came to an understanding. The agreement drawn up between them
is a curious document. It is written in a neat hand on sheets of
foolscap tied together like a Commencement-day address, with
blue ribbon. In it MacIver agrees to serve as colonel of cavalry in
the service of the Khedive. With a few legal phrases omitted, the
document reads as follows:

"Agreement entered into this 24th day of March, 1870, between
the Government of his Royal Highness and the Khedive of Egypt,
represented by General Thaddeus P. Mott of the first part, and H.
R. H. MacIver of New York City.

"The party of the second part, being desirous of entering into the
service of party of the first part, in the military capacity of a
colonel of cavalry, promises to serve and obey party of the first
part faithfully and truly in his military capacity during the space of
five years from this date; that the party of the second part waives
all claims of protection usually afforded to Americans by consular
and diplomatic agents of the United States, and expressly obligates
himself to be subject to the orders of the party of the first part, and
to make, wage, and vigorously prosecute war against any and all
the enemies of party of the first part; that the party of the second
part will not under any event be governed, controlled by, or submit
to, any order, law, mandate, or proclamation issued by the
Government of the United States of America, forbidding party of
the second part to serve party of the first part to make war
according to any of the provisions herein contained, _it being,
however, distinctly understood_ that nothing herein contained