A TERRIBLE MESSAGE. 1 35 and I shall endeavour to carry out your instructions to General Earle, with which I am fully acquainted." The government was anxiously inquiring whether Lord Wolseley had learned any more of Gordon, and on the irth he telegraphed : " Up to date have no reliable particulars about Gordon's fate.

Press reports are based on rumours gathered by Wilson's party when descending Nile from Omdurman to Gubat. The mudir and all natives persist that Khartum has not fallen; but Wilson is positive, and there can be little doubt on the point. Hope in a few days to have back messengers sent to ascertain facts."

Sir E. Baring had heard nothing more than this, but on the same day the following terrible message was sent from General Lord Wolseley to the Marquis of Hartington.

"Following received from General Brackenbury: 'Kirbckan, Febi'tiary ii.

' Following is translation of a document found to-day by a private soldier of Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in a donkey's saddle-bag about 400 yards behind the position v.e captured yesterday. Document begins : 'A copy of a letter received from the governor-general of Berber to the governor of the section. In the name of God, &c., from Mohammed Kheir Abdullah Khoy Fall, Emir-general of Berber, to his friend Abdul Magiel Abi El Lekalek and all his men. I inform you that to-day, after the mid-day prayer, we received a letter from the faithful Khalifa Abdullah Eben Mohammed in which he tells us that Khartum was taken on Monday, the 9th Rabi, 1302, on the side of El Haoui, in the following manner: The Mahdi (pray upon him his dervishes and his troops) advanced against the fortifications, and entered Khartum in a quarter of an hour. They killed the traitor Gordon, and captured the steamers and boats. God has made him glorious. Be grateful and thank and praise God for his unspeakable mercy. I announce it to you.

Tell your troops.' Document ends.

"It is dated the 13th Rabi, &c. On it is written, 'Received