"Of course you will recollect sending me a presentation copy of your work, 'Arabia, Egypt, and India,' with 'To G. H., a grateful souvenir from Isabel Burton,' written on the title-page.... Well, I want you to send me another, as the other is out of my possession. Thus-- "In reading it I had been much struck with the chapter, 'A Peep into the Future of North-Western India,' and especially with the last forty-seven lines, as containing a proper solution of our difficulties with Russia. "I took the liberty of marking pages 394 and 395, and sending the book to Lord Salisbury twelve to fifteen months ago, during his short administration before the present one, and I asked him, if _what Mrs. Burton said was true_, whether an arrangement with China would not free us in the future from all the bother with Russia--and, if he thought so, would he not do it at once? I received an answer. Now, in _three or four weeks_ after I sent it, _I saw in the papers_ that _we_ had entered into an alliance, offensive and defensive, with China, in case of a war with Russia, and since then the collapse of Russia's pretensions, and _our_ own power in future, to remain in the _van of civilization_ as we list, without fear, are matters of history. "It is surprising how _plainly_ people see things _when they are once pointed out_. I believe you pointed it out at the right moment, and that I was a small instrument in the matter of getting it accomplished. And who shall say that a greater stroke of policy was ever accomplished? Its consequences are far-reaching indeed. "My brother-in-law, Major ---- of the ---- Regiment, whose regiment is stationed in India, although he is home on furlough, considers it a masterpiece of strategy, looking at the position we were in. However, let that pass; it is not the only good you have done, and I'll be bound to say are doing, in the world now. "Yours sincerely, "G. H----. "P.S.--How are the donkeys, horses, and the other animals you took under your protection in Trieste getting on? I often wonder. If you have time, please read pages 394 and 395 of your book, commencing, 'But our highest prospect,' etc." * * * * * "14th December, 1886. "MY DEAR LADY BURTON, "I am much pleased by receiving your note and hearing from you once again. "I enclose a copy of the two pages to which I called Lord Salisbury's attention, and you will say yourself, looking at the words in the light of subsequent events--to say nothing of the present position--it is hard to say what influence these words have had on the present and future of the whole world.