REASONS WHY. I 57 of the towns. The military information in the possession of her majesty's government showed that it was unsafe to send a small body of cavalry from Suakim, and impossible to send a large force. They could not, therefore, authorize the advance of any troops in the direction of Berber until they were informed of the military conditions on which it was to be made, and were satisfied that the expedition was necessary for General Gordon's safety, and would be confined to that purpose. This decision was reconsidered, at the request of Sir E. Baring, on learning that General Gordon was still expecting" the arrival of troops at Berber, but having regard to the danger of the climate and the extraordinary military risk, her majesty's government did not feel justified in altering it.

"General Gordon has recently suggested the employment of Turkish troops lent by the sultan, variously estimating the number required at from 2000 to 4000 men.

" The employment of Turkish troops in the Soudan would be contrary to the views advocated by him on former occasions.

I need not remind you that in his proclamations issued at Berber and Khartum, of which copies were inclosed in Sir E. Baring's despatch of the 17th March, he declared that he had averted the despatch of troops by the sultan, and had come in person to prevent further bloodshed.

" Moreover, such a course would involve a reversal of the original policy of her majesty's government, which was to detach the Soudan from Egypt, and restore to its inhabitants their former independence.

" The request is not founded on any necessities of defence in Khartum, as according to Sir E. Baring's telegrams of the 9th April, General Gordon considered himself safe for a certain time; the town was provisioned for some months, and the market was well supplied. It is clear from his messages to Sir E. Baring and also to Sir S. Baker, reported in the telegrams of the 18th and 19th ultimo from Sir E. Baring, that his object in asking for thi troops is to effect the withdrawal of the Soudan garrisons by military expeditions, and to bring about the collapse ol the Mahdi.

" Her majesty's government, while labouring under the dis-