172 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

knowledge the colonial government would prefer the immediate despatch of the contingent there was " no desire here to delay it." The Canadian government had, after inquiry, sanctioned recruiting for active service in Egypt or elsewhere; and the governorgeneral had on the 12th of February suggested that three battalions, each 500 strong, should be sent, one from the marine provinces, one from Old Canada, and one from the north-west.

In reply the Canadian government was informed that its patriotic ofifer was highly appreciated, and would be considered if operations were prolonged into the autumn. It was at the same time pointed out that the New South Wales offer was of a different kind, and that no preference for that colony was implied in accepting its fully-equipped force. On the 1 7th the offer of Victoria was repeated in a perfectly definite form. It was to send 600 or 700 men fully equipped, consisting of a naval brigade and mounted infantry, the latter a peculiarly valuable arm in the circumstances.

But on the 20th this, as well as the offer of South Australia and of Queensland, was declined with thanks, on the same grounds as those alleged in the case of Canada, and with similar explanations.

It was feared that a certain reticence exhibited by the Earl of Derby in replying to these offers, and in what was mistakenly imagined to be a slow recognition of the enthusiastic loyalty that prompted them, would cause very great dissatisfac.tion in Canada, and perhaps also in South Australia, when the offers of the colonial governments there were declined. Happily, however, the reasons for hesitatinof in both cases were not altocrether misunderstood.

Should the whole force in Egypt have to go into cantonments, or seek a refuge in a specially-localized camp during the hot season, an accession of a large number of men, for whom our government would have to be responsible, would represent an additional anxiety, and it was afterwards known that our Canadian countrymen deferred their offer, or rather left it over till a later date, when it was understood that should it be accepted there would be no difficulty in raising 2000 or 3000 men in the Dominion. The agent-general for Victoria received from the Hon. James Service, premier of the colony, a telegram: "Victoria