General Wauchope, who was apparently unprepared for such a manifestation of public feeling, made the following reply:--'I can assure you that the splendid reception you have accorded me is one which I shall never forget. I know very well that much of it is owing to the fact that we have been neighbours now for many a long year, and there is nothing that gave me greater pride and satisfaction than being told two or three years ago that the people of New Craighall looked upon me as being one of themselves. In addition to that, there is another feeling that has prompted you in this reception, and it is that in me you recognised one--a humble one, perhaps, but still one--of those who tried to serve his country under, perhaps, difficult circumstances; and something is also due to the fact that we have been completely successful in planting our standards on the ruined palaces of Khartoum. At Yetholm I said, and I am going to say it again, that fact alone would be a great gain to civilisation and to the world. {159} If the Dervish power had been continued for any length of time, hundreds and, perhaps, hundreds of thousands of people who in the future will have a chance of living in comfort and peace, would never have been able to live at all. It was a power based on murder, rapine, and cruelty, and it was our bounden duty to put an end to that power, because Great Britain was responsible for the condition of things that existed in that part of the world. Scotland was well represented at the battle of Khartoum by two of our Highland regiments. (Here a voice shouted out, "Scotland Yet!") Yes, Scotland yet, and Scotland for ever, will be the cry; and I can speak for those two battalions that they in no way went behind from what other regiments had done in other fields of our great empire; and you may be sure of this, that our Scottish regiments will always be able to show that high and distinguished valour and discipline for which they have so long been noted.... It would almost seem by the splendid reception you have given me here, and which I have had in another part of Scotland, that you thought I had played a very great part in the campaign. I feel bound, as an honest man, to disabuse you of such a misapprehension. The campaign was carried out by a very great man, the Sirdar, Lord Kitchener, who is a man of great ability, and who in the future undoubtedly will shine as one of our great soldiers. The campaign was a marvel of organisation. It was marvellous how that railway was made across the desert. Great credit was due to the Sirdar, but I should like also to bring before you another name--that of the general of our division--General Gatacre, whose constant care and great power of leading men aided the successful issue of events. There is still another man I should like to mention. He is a Scotsman, General Macdonald, who led one of the {160} Egyptian brigades. He got his