38o THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

gold in England will not affect the rise and fall of the Nile, or the duration of the hot and cold seasons in Egypt Time is a most important element in this question, and indeed it will be an indelible disgrace if we allow the most generous, patriotic, and gallant of our public servants to die of want or fall into the hands of a cruel enemy, because we would not hold out our hands to save him."

I have underlined two passages in this letter, because they seem to me to confirm a statement made to me at the time, by one likely to know the facts, that the despatch of the expedition was delayed by the extreme reluctance of Mr. Gladstone to authorize the financial arrangements required for its departure, and that it was only when Lord Wolseley announced his intention of resigning the command, if the orders were not signed, that the Prime Minister gave way.

Meanwhile, the position of affairs at Khartoum had become well-nigh desperate. Berber and Shendy had been evacuated by the Egyptian garrisons and taken possession of by the insurgents A large number of the Egyptian troops in the Soudan had deserted, and joined the rebels. The authority of the Egyptian Government was only recognized in Khartoum, and this last stronghold was already invested by the Mahdi. After the investment ail direct communication was intercepted between the General and the British authorities in Cairo. What little record remains of subsequent events at Khartoum is derived from the diary of " the most generous, patriotic, and gallant of our public servants," while