THE PROPOSED CAMPAIGN. 195 from Lord Derby to Sir W. Robinson, dated the 4th inst., saying: "Her Majesty's government are carefully considering patriotic offer of troops. While disposal of further contingents during summei heat in Soudan would be most difficult to arrange, if a colony, either independently or acting jointly with others, can despatch force in August to arrive in Egypt in September, her Majesty's government will most gladly receive it. Desirable to know early probable number, description, and previous training of force; also whether advisable to supply from home any officers and noncommissioned officers experienced in field. Important, if possible, each colonial contingent should drill together during month or more before embarking. Early answer valuable. Send copy Governor of Victoria, Governor of Queensland."

A meeting was held at the war office on the 3d of March, the day of the departure of the Australian contingent, between the agents-general of the Australian colonies and the official representatives of the colonial and war departments. The meeting was attended by the secretary of state for war, the secretary of state for the colonies, his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, Lieutenant-general Sir A. Alison (adjutant-general), the Earl of Morley (parliamentary under-secretary of state for war), and Sir Robert Herbert, K.C.B. (permanent under-secretary of state for the colonies). The colonies were represented by Sir Saul Samuel, K.C.M.G. (agent-general for New South Wales), Sir Arthur Blyth, K.C.M.G. (agent-general for South Australia), Mr. Robert Murray Smith, C.M.G. (agent-general for Victoria), and the Hon.

J. F. Garrick (agent-general for Queensland). The object of the meeting was to obtain information as to the colonial contingents whose services had been offered to her Majesty's government, and to discuss the conditions under which they should be employed in the autumn operations in the Soudan.

Early in February it had oeen determined, that while the river column, under General Brackenbury, should push on that it might co-operate in attack on Berber with the troops of the desert column that were to be reinforced by the contingent under