ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND EGYPT. II3 



They knew he was in peril, that he was fighting against base 

 treachery within, and fierce conflicts without Khartoum, that he was 

 gradually being hemmed in by the hosts of fanatical warriors, like 

 sleuthhounds thirsting for his blood. They knew all this in April, 

 1884, yet, in spite of his earnest entreaties for help, they allowed 

 May, June, July, and August to roll by, ere they could nerve them- 

 selves up to a brave resolution to send an expedition of relief; and 

 alas ! when that brave little army, which was well described as " an 

 army of heroes,'' under Wolseley and Stewart, fought their way over 

 the burning sands of Africa, through the embattled hosts of the 

 Mahdi, and gained, at last, the banks of the Nile, within touch of 

 Khartoum, they were too late! 



Too late 1 by three days, in the " haste to the rescue," for 

 Khartoum had fallen, and Gordon was no more ! One more 

 victim of the 40,000 victims that have been sacrificed at the bloody 

 shrine of this most deplorable war ! By the death of poor Gordon, 

 and the surrender of Khartoum, the relief expedition of Lord 

 Wolseley collapsed. 



This relief expedition had fought sanguinary conflicts at Abu-Klea, 

 Gubat, and Metammeh, it had inflicted heavy losses on the Arabs, 

 whilst it sustained severe losses, especially in officers, and amongst 

 the slain, were Generals Earle, Burnaby, and Stewart. 



This was a terrible retribution, which did not, however, stop there, 

 for the English people were exasperated at the constant succession 

 of disasters, from the bombardment of Alexandria to the abandon- 

 ment of poor Gordon, brought about, as they believed, by the 

 vacillation of an incapable Administration in Power, and at the 

 General Election of August, 1885, the electors inflicted a crushing 

 defeat, a retribution which it was believed they deserved. 



EGYPT IN 1885. 



With the advent of the Marquis of Salisbury to Power in 1885, 

 happily, these revolting scenes of bloodshed ceased, the roar of the 

 cannon was hushed, and the voice of diplomacy was heard, for it 

 was time that — 



" The pen should supersede the sword, 

 And right, not might, should be the word." 



The first diplomatic step promoted by the Government of the 



I 



