IO EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

Any Egyptian (fellaheen) soldiers on them can be converted into camel-drivers and come back here with unloaded camels.

As soon as Lord Charles Beresford reports that he is ready to proceed with one or more steamers to Khartum you will go to that place with him and deliver the inclosed letter to General Gordon.

I leave it open so that you may read it.

Orders have been given to Sir H. Stewart to send a small detachment of infantry with you to Khartum. If you like you can upon arriving there march these men through the city to show the people that British troops are near at hand. If there is any epidemic in town you will not do this. I do not wish them to sleep in the city. They must return with you to Metammeh. You will only stay in Khartum long enough to confer fully with General Gordon. Having done so you will return with Lord Charles Beresford in steamers to Metammeh.

My letter to General Gordon will explain to you the object of your mission. You will confer with him both upon the military and upon the political position. You are aware of the great difficulty of feeding this army at such a great distance from the sea. You know how we are off in the matter of supplies, the condition and distribution of the troops under my command, the dates when Major-general Earle will be able to move on Abu-Ahmed, &c. I am sending with you the three officers named in the margin,1 who will accompany you to Khartum, and will remain there to assist General Gordon until I am able to relieve that place. It is always possible that when Mohamed Achmet fully realizes that an English army is approaching Khartum he will retreat and thus raise the siege. Khartum would, under such circumstances, continue to be the political centre of our operations; but Berber would become our military objective. No British troops would be sent to Khartum beyond a few red-coats in steamers for the purpose of impressing on the inhabitants the fact that it was to the presence of our army they owed their safety.

The siege of Khartum being thus raised all our military 1 Major Dickson, Royal Dragoons; Lieutenant Stewart-Wortley, Royal Rifles; the third to be named on arrival at Metammeh.