To Colonel ffolliott. KARTOUM, 5 March, 1884.-I came up here very weak in human means, but have been much blessed by our Lord, and things will turn out for the best. It is odd to be here in this vast ruin of an empire, but my long lonely rides now bear fruit by His blessing. What a defeat Hicks's was! It is terrible to think of over 12,000 men killed; the Arabs just prodded them to death, where they lay dying of thirst, four days without water! It is appalling. What a hecatomb to death! I dare say you know all the details, from the papers, of his defeat. My resource is in constant prayer, to accept His will in all things without murmuring, that He may be glorified, these people blessed, and I humbled to the dust, for then I realize more of His indwelling; He will not dwell in a proud heart, which I have in excess; so you will know, if I get humbled and the people blessed, that my prayers are answered, and you will not mind the humbling for me. "Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power. . . thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee" (2 Chronicles xiv. 11). "We have no might. neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee" (2 Chronicles xx. 12). What comforting words, and how I need them! If God so wills, I hope to be out of the Soudan in five months; I shall not (if I can help it) go again to England, but to Brussels, and thence to the Congo. Respecting one of his young Nephews. I never pretended to him that I was consistent, for it would have been no good; also, I wanted him to see that it is nothing to acknowledge one's human failings; it is useless to try to keep up appearances, for you would be sure to fail. We all take kindness as due to us; he, like all of us, does the same, and that is why I wish him to write to the people I have named. I want him to understand that, even in a worldly point of view, it is worth while being civil to outsiders. I have been far more helped by little people than by great. I take more pains to answer letters from, and to help (if it is in my power), the small, than I would the great. I would refuse a great man's dinner, to give pleasure in having tea with my old housekeeper. Tell him, when in trouble, to read his Scripture promises: they meet all the diseases of the soul. I am sure that it will interest my readers to see some of the kind and feeling letters which were written to me, expressing sympathy in our loss. It has been most gratifying to receive such touching words of appreciation concerning my brother as those contained in the letters from His Highness. the Khedive, whom General Gordon so loyally served, and for whom he did all in his power to save his "lost Egypt," and I think all must feel the true tone of regret that runs through His Highness's letters. This feeling of sorrow at the loss of a "friend" is also clearly shown in the letters of those who served under my brother. The four officers, from whose letters extracts are given, were in the steamers which were sent by General Gordon to Metamma to meet the force advancing to the relief of Kartoum, and which also conveyed the six volumes of journals, my brother's last legacy to me, the final resting-place of which will be the British Museum. The chief command of these steamers was held by Nushi Pasha, an Egyptian, to whom all General Gordon's orders and instructions were given. Khashm-el-Moos Pasha is one of the Shagiyeh tribe, and still bears the title of "El Melik," the King, from his influence and family connections. Khashm was the highest of the four commanders. Mahmond Talaât Pasha and his brother, Ali Riza Pasha, are Circassians in the Egyptian service. Colonel Watson, in forwarding these letters, says: "You would be glad to hear how the officers who were with your brother at Kartoum speak of him. Ali Riza, who was an undemonstrative man, quite broke down in speaking of him, and says he never seemed to sleep, but was always working and looking after the people. Mahmond Talaât has also asked me to send you one of the gold Kartoum stars, which he thought you would like. It is not his own star; that, he says, nothing could induce him to part with. You will see in their photographs, as in that of Nushi Pasha, that they are wearing the Kartoum star. The three officers came down with Sir Charles Wilson; and the ranks your brother gave them were at once confirmed by the Khedive. They so much like talking of your brother, and of all he did at Kartoum. It is quite wonderful the influence he had with all who were there." LETTERS FROM HIS HIGHNESS THE Khedive.' ABDIN PALACE, CAIRO, 1 MADAM,—Although I do not wish to intrude upon the great sorrow which has befallen you in the death of your distinguished brother, the late General Gordon Pasha, yet, as Egypt and myself have so much reason to deplore his loss, I desire to convey to you my heartfelt sympathy in the terrible bereavement it has been God's will you should suffer. I cannot find words to express to you the respect and admiration with which your brother's simple faith and heroic courage have inspired me. The whole world resounds with the name of the Englishman whose chivalrous nature afforded it, for many years, its brightest and most powerful example-an example which, I believe, will influence thousands of persons for good through all time. To a man of General Gordon's character the disappointment of hopes he deemed so near fruition 1 These letters are printed with his Highness's sanction. and the manner of his death were of little importance. In his own words, he left "weariness for perfect peace." Our mourning for him is very true and real, as is our loss; but we have a sure hope that a life and faith, such as Gordon's, are not extinguishable by what we call death. I beg to renew to you, Madam, the assurance of my sincere sympathy and respectful condolence. MADAM, I thank you for the kind thought of sending me the portrait of your brother, General Gordon. It is a real pleasure to me to accept from you the likeness of the man whose character all the world admires, as it deplores his sad loss. I have hung the portrait in my room, and shall always value it as a remembrance of the hero who died for me and my lost Egypt, and as a proof of delicate attention from yourself. I beg you to accept in return my own portrait, which I send to you as a slight token of the dear esteem and sympathy of, Madam, Your sincere friend, MEHEMET TEWFIC. |