Produced by Steven Gibbs, Richard J. Shiffer and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net [Transcriber's Note: Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and other inconsistencies. Text that has been changed to correct an obvious error is noted at the end of this ebook.] THE LIFE OF GORDON MAJOR-GENERAL, R.E., C.B.; TURKISH FIELD-MARSHAL, GRAND CORDON MEDJIDIEH, AND PASHA; CHINESE TITU (FIELD-MARSHAL), YELLOW JACKET ORDER. "_'Tis a name which ne'er hath been dishonour'd, And never will, I trust--most surely never By such a youth as thou._" --SWINTON ON ADAM GORDON. BY DEMETRIUS C. BOULGER AUTHOR OF "THE HISTORY OF CHINA;" "ENGLAND AND RUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA;" "LORD WILLIAM BENTINCK," ETC., ETC. WITH PORTRAIT VOLUME II LONDON T. FISHER UNWIN PATERNOSTER SQUARE MDCCCXCVI [_All rights reserved._] [Illustration: Portrait of C. G. Gordon with signature.] CONTENTS. VOLUME II. CHAP. PAGE VIII. GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE SOUDAN 1 IX. MINOR MISSIONS--INDIA AND CHINA 38 X. THE MAURITIUS, THE CAPE, AND THE CONGO 65 XI. THE LAST NILE MISSION 97 XII. KHARTOUM 136 CHAPTER VIII. GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE SOUDAN. When General Gordon left Egypt for England in December 1876 it was with the expressed determination not to return; but the real state of his mind was not bitterness at any personal grievance, or even desire for rest, although he avowed his intention of taking six months' leave, so much as disinclination to leave half done a piece of work in which he had felt much interest, and with which he had identified himself. Another consideration presented itself to him, and several of his friends pressed the view on him with all the weight they possessed, that no signal success could be achieved unless he were placed in a position of supreme authority, not merely at the Equator, but throughout the vast province of the Soudan. Such was the decision Gordon himself, influenced no doubt by the views of two friends whose names need not be mentioned, but who were well known for their zeal in the anti-slavery cause, had come to a few weeks after his arrival in England; and not thinking that there was any reasonable probability of the Khedive appointing him to any such post, he telegraphed to the British Consul-General, Mr Vivian, his determination not to return to Egypt. This communication was placed before the Khedive Ismail, who had a genuine admiration for Gordon, and who appreciated the value of his services. He at once took the matter into his own hands, and wrote the following letter, which shows that he thoroughly understood the arguments that would carry weight with the person to whom they were