The Soudan was darkened after his loss, After the setting of that Sun of Righteousness, Gordon Pasha, The gallant hero, abounding in virtues, The enricher of the destitute, the uplifter of the downfallen. He fell upon the enemy with a sharp-edged sword; And the Pasha Khashm el Moos with tearful eyes CAIRO, 8th February, 1886. DEAR MRS., I am very anxious to see you, but much grieved for the death of your brother. Ah! Alas! Aye-I am very sorry. How that grieved me! I am much pained at it. I was very anxious to see him before his death; but how unhappy I am, for all seems to go contrary to my wishes. After such misfortunes it only remains for me to die for the kind man whom nobody can equal. His death grieved all the inhabitants of the globe. So the trees, with the animals, felt the greatest sorrow at his death. What a misfortune for such a brave! Ah! there will be no more happiness for me in this world after his death, for we were one heart. The death of all my family did not grieve me like his; but what can we do now? That was our Creator's order. Be patient, and remember where are Adam and Eve, and also the high class of men. Are they not under the ground? Are we not going to die? I think we will all be the same. But myself prefers death than to suffer his departure. You send to me to send you my photograph with my name written upon it. Here it kisses your feet before your hands. If I had time I would offer it you myself, in order to express to you my displeasure and grief for his departure. I have the honour to be KHASHM EL MOOS, Dear; Be sure of my gratitude. Pasha. CAIRO, 10 July, 1886. DEAR MADAM,-I earnestly hope that you may, in your moments of leisure, be pleased to write once in a while to one who was fortunate enough to be favoured by the friendship of your regretted brother. Hardly ever out of your thoughts, he is constantly present to all those who knew him, for his is an image that never fades. . . I do not believe his desperate straits ever caused him a moment's dread, for he was a man utterly devoid of fear, actually not knowing what such a feeling was; and the prospect of death had no terrors for him. When shall we ever see his like again! . . The photograph you have sent me has caused me both pleasure and pains, because it has renewed the sorrows lying inside my heart. His Excellency, while at Kartoum, had issued decorations to all the Government employés, of which I received three; one I have given to H. E. the Acting Sirdar, in order to send it to you, and one I shall keep as a mark of distinction. The design of the decoration was drawn by General Gordon himself in Kartoum. He then caused several goldsmiths to cast a model from the drawing, and then chose the best one. He had the whole number of decorations struck under his supervision.1 I remain, dear Madam, MAHMOUD TALAÂT. I HAVE the honour to express to you my best thanks for the photograph of your late brother, which has caused me both pleasure and pains, because it reminded me of his good inclination and devotion to all. I have the pleasure of inclosing in return my own photograph bearing the decoration which was granted to me by your late brother, hoping that you would accept it for the sake of the decoration. 1. General Gordon used the Medjidie as a model, with an inscription in Arabic round the medal: "The siege of Kartoum," and date. D D The following letter, which I have lately received from Mr. E. A. Maund, contains particulars regarding The Dream of Gerontius, the book referred to above (p. 379), and other details which will be read with interest : LONDON, 30 January, 1888. DEAR MISS GORDON,-On my return from Africa, I heard you were writing reminiscences of your brother, General Gordon, and at the same time I recollected that there had been some controversy about that little book, The Dream of Gerontius, which he gave to Mr. Power at Kartoum, and which the latter mentions in his letters home and afterwards sent to his sister. It may be of interest to some to know how it was that General Gordon had this little Roman Catholic poem with him in Kartoum. The day he left, your brother related to me how his spiritual life was changed by what he experienced at his father's death-bed, as, gazing on the lifeless form, he thought: "Is this what we all have to come to?" This led to a long discussion on death, when I remarked that some of his ideas reminded me of Dr. Newman's little book, The Dream of Gerontius. Whereupon he said he should like to read it; and I promised to send it after him to Egypt. Your brother in a post-card, dated from Kartoum, 7 March, 1884, acknowledging the book, says: "MY DEAR MR. MAUND,-Your letter 25 January arrived to-day. I am glad my old friend is at rest, and I hope your kind family are comforted. What a sad trial you have all gone through for a year, far worse than the burden on me. Thanks for the little book. My progress shall now be for my old friend's family. I assure you that I intercede more for my friends, now I am up here, than when I was in Palestine. When Job prayed for his friends, then God turned his captivity (Job xlii. 10). Your prayers are my host. With kindest regards to all, "Yours sincerely, "C. G. GORDON." This card not only shows General Gordon's strong belief in intercessory prayer, but seems to convey an idea of his forlorn and almost hopeless state at Kartoum, even at that early date. That he had presentiments of failure, I knew; for, on parting, when I wished him God speed and success, he said: "Every one has to fail, or we should have too high a belief in our own powers. As yet I have been successful: I have still to fail. I wish for humility, for God's guidance, and for resignation to God's will." Believe me yours very sincerely, E. A. MAUND. I close this volume with a Greek epitaph on my brother, written by Professor Jebb, of the University of Glasgow, together with a translation which has been kindly furnished by a friend : |