„2 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

earlier, a request had reached him from the Cape government to assist in terminating the war in Basutoland.

Gordon had offered his services a year before— that is to say, while he was taking his brief holiday at Lausanne in the spring of 1SS1 he had received an intimation from the government of the Cape of Good Hope offering him the command of the Colonial forces at a salary of 1500 a year. But he was not inclined to undertake military service merely, as he believed that the condition of affairs in Basutoland would offer a field for his talent in mediation and the removal of the causes of hostilities; he had, therefore, telegraphed to the premier of the Cape government, "Chinese Gordon offers his services for two years at 700 a year to assist in terminating war and administering Basutoland." This overture was not accepted, but a year later, affairs in Basutoland having become serious and another Colonial government having come into authority, it was thought to be of the utmost importance to secure the services of some one of proved ability, firmness, and energy; and on the 23d of February, 1882, Sir Hercules Robinson telegraphed to the Earl of Kimberley to inquire whether Colonel Gordon, R.E., C.B., would be permitted to go out to the Cape for the purpose of consulting with ministers as to the best measures to be adopted with reference to Basutoland, and should he be prepared to renew the offer made to their predecessors. Leave was immediately granted by the war-office, and the premier of the Cape then telegraphed to Gordon asking him if he was disposed to renew the offer which he made to the former ministry in April of the previous year. They did not expect him to be bound by the salary then stated, and urged him, should he agree, to go out at once in order to learn the facts, the knowledge of which would be requisite for him to render them advice and assistance. By so doing, they said, he would confer a signal favour on the colony, leaving his future action unimpeded. This seemed to be plain enough. Gordon had refused the mere command of the forces, but had offered to assist in terminatinq- the war and administering the country. That was the offer which the Colonial government had now accepted if he could be induced to repeat it, and, in