ON THE ROAD TO KHARTOUM, 495 to Major Marchand to haul down the French flag at Fashoda, and to return to Europe. After all, in the conduct of public affairs, there is no safer policy for the British Empire than to act upon the motto, Nemo me impune lacessit. The action of our Government increased the respect we had acquired abroad by the success of our arms. The fact that, in case of need, we were ready to run the risk of war with France, created a profound impression abroad, and especially in Egypt. For the first time in our complicated relations with the Khedivial Government, we had avowed distinctly and unmistakably that to assail Egypt was to assail England ; and the obvious advantage thus accruing to Egypt from the British occupation contributed largely to reconcile the Khedive to the diminution of his own personal authority, inseparable from a foreign occupation. It was a curious coincidence that the news of the French Government having withdrawn from an untenable position was received in London on the 9th of November, and was communicated by Lord Salisbury to the audience at the Guildhall, at the Lord Mayors dinner, Lord Kitchener, who had just arrived from Egypt, being amongst the guests of the evening.

With the fall of Khartoum, the war was over. But, as under somewhat similar circumstances in South Africa, the termination of the campaign was followed by a period which could hardly be called a reign of peace. The Khalifa, after his escape from Omdurman,