"I am very sorry if I cannot give assent to your request; but I fully believe you will be no sufferer by the circumstance of not having the s.s. _Peace_. Yesterday I was able to come to a decision. "Mr. Baynes, of the Baptist Missionary Society, Holborn, will, he hopes, make to you any communication he judges proper. If you have any reverential regard for 'the Man of Sorrows,' the 'King of Peace' may He mercifully preserve and save your party. "I have no doubt of the safety of Emin--till his work is done. I believe he will be brought through this trial in perfect safety. God seems to have given you a noble soul (covers for the moment, if on your sad sin and mistakes), and I should like you should 'repent and believe the Gospel'--with real sense, and live hereafter in happiness, light, and joy--for ever. _Here_ delay in you is more dangerous than delay for Emin. "Your faithful friend, "(Signed) Robert Arthington." _January 16th._--Colonel J. A. Grant offered to arrange with Mr. J. S. Keltie, Editor of _Nature_, to discuss Mr. Thomson's offer. Letters accumulate by scores. All hands employed answering. _January 17th._--Wrote Sir Percy Anderson would call Wednesday 2 P.M. Correspondence increases. Mr. Joseph Thomson's offer discussed. Mr. J. S. Keltie is to write to him privately--decision of committee. Arranged with G. S. Mackenzie about Zanzibar matters. He despatched two telegrams. General Brackenbury wrote about coal being furnished requiring Treasury sanction. _January 18th._--Worked off morning's business. Travelled to Sandringham with Colonel de Winton to see His Royal Highness. With African map before us gave short lecture to their Royal Highnesses respecting route proposed to reach Emin Pasha. Had a very attentive audience. _January 19th._--Sir William Mackinnon mustered his friends at the Burlington Hotel at a farewell banquet to me. Have said "good-bye" to a host of friends to-day. _January 20th._--The S.S. _Navarino_ sailed this afternoon carrying goods of Expedition and officers. Lieutenant Stairs, Captain Nelson, and Mr. Mounteney Jephson. Mr. William Bonny started from my rooms with black boy Baruti to Fenchurch Station at 8 a.m. Arriving there he leaves Baruti after a while and proceeds to Tower of London! He says that returning to station at 2 P.M. he found boat had gone. He then went to Gray, Dawes & Co., shipping agents, and is discouraged to find that the matter cannot be mended. Baruti found deserted in Fenchurch Station, very hungry and cold. Colonel J. A. Grant finds him and brings him to me. _January 21st._--Dispatch Mr. Bonny by rail to Plymouth to overtake a steamer bound for India and instruct him to debark at Suez with boy and await me. Left London at 8.5 P.M. for Egypt. Quite a crowd collected to take a final shake of the hands and to bid me a kindly "God speed."