64 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

I may be permitted to add that my personal knowledge of the combined daring and prudence of General Stewart's character inclines me to believe that, given the conditions I imagine, this course of action would commend itself to him as best calculated to impress the rebels with a dream of the white soldier's unconquerable power, and his gallant men with his own high sense of confidence. Should he have adopted this course, we may have no certain tidings for at least another week, as Stewart could not afford to weaken his small force by detaching an escort with despatches until firmly established. Some slight confirmation of my supposition is given by a letter from the late Major Carmichael, who fell in the glorious fight of Abu-Klea, stating that in his opinion Stewart's force would move straight to Khartum."

The old proverb, " circumstances alter cases," was, however, exemplified in this instance; and whatever may have been the plans originally proposed, here was our small expedition again diminished by the continuous fire of the enemy upon their position, the general placed hors dc combat, and with an immediate necessity for pushing on, even in face of a probable repetition of the tactics displayed at Abu-Klea. The command devolved upon Sir Charles Wilson as the senior officer, whose appointment had been rather to the direction of the intelligence department, and to what may be called the military scientific duty of exploration, inquiry, and topographical information, than to direct duty on the field. Not a moment was lost, however, and Sir Charles showed both tact and judgment in asking the next senior officer, Colonel Boscawen, to take executive command of the square, Lord C. Beresford remaining to take charge of the force left to garrison the seriba, consisting of the 19th Hussars (whose horses were too worn out to act as cavalry), the royal artillery with their guns under Norton and Du Boulay, half the royal engineers under Dorward, the naval brigade, immediately commanded by Lord C. Beresford, and half the heavy camel regiment under Davison of the i6th Lancers, Major Barrow, under Lord Charles Beresford, being in command of the whole force.

Sir Herbert Stewart, though he had an impression that his