GORDON AND THE MAHDI. 160 the subjugation of which a British armyhas been vainly endeavouring to effect, at an immense expenditure of blood andtreasure,by thesword. Alwaysacordial friend to England during the many years he occupied with dignity and power the Khedivial throne, Ismail Pasha might assuredlybe reliedupon to respectBritish interests inEgypt shouldGeneral Gordon's wishbe realised, and a "ruler or regent capable of maintaininga really strong and efficient government" be re-appointed in theperson of hishighness. There is every reason to believe that the nominationof Ismail— still in the prime of life,for he is only54— would be readily acquiesced in by the Sultan, who,it must not be forgotten,is at any rate the titular sovereignof the country, whileit is quitecertain that the ex-Khedive's restorationwould be acclaimed by theEgvptian people.

A further proof of the high estimation in which General Gordon held the KhediveIsmail was furnished at the end of April last, when the ex-Khedive receivedat Naples a smallpacket whicha Soudanese messengerhad contrivedto conveytotheItalian Consul General atCairo. Itcontained anArabicletter,signedandsealedby General Gordonseven weeksbeforehisdeath, andawell-executed decoration. The followingis a translation of the letter, whichnow possesses a touchinginterest:— andcircumstances ofthefellah than a monthlyorquarterly cess. AnEgyptianpeasant is proverbially improvident. Heis fond of spendingfreely the outcome of his toil, and unless the taxes are gathered when he is in funds, as of yore, he will evenruin himself with the villagemoneylender now. The bestanswerto theallegationis areference to the crying question of the fellah's debts. When Ismail went into exile they amounted to two millions sterling; to-day, asIwrite, theyprobably exceed twelve. They have thus increased and multiplied since Ismail wasreplaced byhis son, yetMr. Wallace wouldevenhold him responsiblefor this misfortuneas well. "Then as to the 'tyranny'of Ismail," continues Mr. Broadley. " The kourbash existedbeforehis time, andit has survived his departure. There was,however, more banishment, exile, and imprisonment, during the two years of Riaz's paternal administration than in all Ismail's reign. If the soles of the peasants' feet can testify-against the father, the shores of the White Nile are equallyeloquent witnesses against the son. Ismail, likemany otherrulers,onlyjust missedachievingagreat success. When he realised his error, and the extent to whichhehad beenbetrayed, he resolvedto giveEgyptian Nationalism a fair trial. Europerefused to allow him to complete the experiment,and he went into exile. Darker days have overtaken Egypt since he quitted it, and the once strongruler is now very generally- regretted."

A few days beforeGeneral Gordonstartedfor theEast onhis noblemissionto extricatethe beleaguredEgyptian garrisons and restore peace tothe Soudan, a gentleman well-knownin thepoliticaland literary world— then on a visitin the neighbourhoodof Southampton,whereGordon wastemporarilystayinginthe houseofhis sister— sought and obtainedaninterviewwith thesoldier-philanthropist. In the course of this interview,at whichEarl De laWarr waspresent, GeneralGordonthus expressedhimselfwith reference to the KhediveIsmail:— "To his Highness the august Ismail Pasha, ex-Khediveof Egypt.

[May Godprotect him.] "Amongst the many honours which your Highness was pleased to shower uponme during your glorious reign, you have bestowed on me many decorations of which Iam proud and for whichIam grateful. Havingbeen appointed Governor of the Soudan, Irepaired at once to my post, andarrived safe and sound at Khartoum. Two months later communication withthe North was cut off and the city was besieged. During the siege it has been my lot to witness many cases in which soldiers, civil employe's, and leadingmenof the country have displayed courage and self-sacrifice in valiantly undergoing difficulties andprivations. To reward their commendable conduct and fidelity Ihave caused decorations to be made for distribution amongst them. Ihad previously sent a specimen of this decoration to your Highness bythe steamer Abbas;but as Ifearitmay never have reached you,Isend to-dayanother foryour acceptance. "Nothinghas somuch contributedtomaketheMahdi's cause popular and his success possible as the weak administration, or pretence at administration, which has gone on at Cairo ever since Ismail was deposed. With the Arabs nothing is so strong as power. Nubarmaysucceed,becauseheis capableof resistingthe intrigues of Tewfik,whichhave hithertobeen fatal to every oneofhis Ministers. It was myknowledge of Tewfik's weakness, and the certaintyIfelt of his failure, which inducedme to throw up mycommandat Khartoum four yearsbefore. WhenIheardthatmyfriendIsmail wasnolongerKhedive ofEgypt,IfirstdeterminedtoholdtheSoudan,inhisname, against allcomers. HowcouldIforsakeonewho was ever loyal inthe supporthe gavemeinmy waragainstslavery andtheslave-dealers!Iprayedfor guidance,andasIwould not incur the weightyresponsibility of a great shedding of blood,Ipreferred to retire. Nubar's dreamis as old as Ismail's time. He would ruleEgypt atanyprice as an Armenianregent. To achieve thishe would everbeloyal to England. But thismustnot be allowed. IfEgypt is to havearulerorregentcapableofmaintaininga reallystrong and efficientnative government,Ismailmust be theman. Heis the worst usedman in Europe. He was the best andmost capable rulerEgypt everhad withallhis faults, and the calamities we are witnessing are the natural con-" Receiveit, Highness, in remembrance of my affectionate devotion. with the respectful homage of your gratefuland faithful servant.

(Signed) " C. G. GORDON. "Khartoum, Dec. 3,1884."

sequences of the withdrawalofhis master-hand." " This was on Monday, January 14. Five days later Gordon was onhis way toKhartoum." Inthe faceof this stronglyemphaticrecommendation on the partof the lateGeneralGordon,itmaywellbegravely consideredwhether theKhedive Ismailis not the oneman capableby long experience and personalinfluence of restoringbothprosperity to Egypt and orderto theSoudan,