GENERAL GORDONS ORDERS. 53 or less their own fault. Handing back the districts to the old reigning families is also a politic act, as raising up a rival power to that of the Mahdi.

" 5. As it is impossible for her Majesty's government to foresee all the eventualities that may arise during the evacuation, it seems to me as the more judicious course to rely on the discretion of General Gordon and his knowledge of the country.

"6. I, of course, understand that General Gordon is going to the Soudan with full powers to make all arrangements as to its evacuation, and that he is in no way to be interfered with by the Cairo ministers. Also that any suggestions or remarks that the Cairo government would wish to make are to be made directly to him and her Majesty's minister plenipotentiary, and that no intrigues are to be permitted against his authority. Any other course would, I am persuaded, make his mission a failure.

"(Signed) D. H. Stewart, "Lieutenant-Colonel, nth Hussars!'

" I have received my orders," General Gordon had said just before leaving London. These orders, which were sent him from the foreign office on the iSth of January, were: — ■ " Her Majesty's government are desirous that you should proceed at once to Egypt, to report to them on the military situation in the Soudan, and on the measures which it may be advisable to take for the security of the Egyptian garrisons still holding positions in that country, and for the safety of the European population in Khartum.

You are also desired to consider and report upon the best mode of effecting the evacuation of the interior of the Soudan, and upon the manner in which the safety and the good administration by the Egyptian government of the ports on the sea-coast can best be secured.

In connection with this subject, you should pay especial consideration to the question of the steps that may usefully Intaken to counteract the stimulus which it is feared may possibly be given to the slave-trade by the present insurrectionary move-