I 7S EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

estimate had been inconclusive, or that the condition of affairs in the Soudan had changed.

Dealing with the first declaration of the proposed resolution, that the course pursued by the government had not tended to support the success of General Gordon's mission, Lord Hartington pointed out that the mover omitted to state whether there was any possible course which, in the opinion of his colleagues, would have been more successful; but the speeches made in support of the motion went a great deal further — so far as to say that the course taken by the government tended not to promote but to defeat the success of General Gordon's mission. In examining these allegations Lord Hartington first referred to the representation that the military operations at Suakim exasperated the Mahdi and his followers. He contended that not only was there no syllable of proof of this having been the case, but that the telegrams were in an entirely opposite direction to such a conclusion, as when, on the 29th of February, Gordon, speaking of a rising of tribes near Kassala, telegraphed, " Hadendowa have raised tribes near Kassala, attacked Kassala, but were repulsed; road still closed. As Baker's defeat has caused this you ought to do something to draw these Hadendowa down to Suakim." On the 3d of March another telegram had said, " I have no doubt that Graham's victory will withdraw the enemy from the vicinity;" and on the 8th, " Kassala will hold out without difficulty after Graham's victory."

The proposal to send Zebehr was a question that did not need to be discussed at length, because it was not seriously maintained by the opposition that he should have been sent. The most that had been said was, that this beins: refused the government oucrht to have proposed something else, but after all the experience that had been acquired, the opposition had not suggested what ought to have been done. Mr. Forster, however, had said, " Gordon ought to have been asked to remain in Khartum himself, and to establish a settled government there and in the Soudan." To this Lord Hartington replied by asking what knowledge his right honourable friend possessed that it was in the power of General Gordon to do so; and what help it was possible, in February and March, to give