APPENDIX A. 
157 
wbicli would have soon placed a limit to this traffic ; unfortu- 
nateljj owing to the aversion of four-fifths of the Khartoumers, 
who live by it, he saw his reputation tarnished by false accusa- 
tions, his fellow-citizens, and friends misled on his account — he 
found no sufficient support, even before his superiors, who were 
doubtless prejudiced against him. 
The non-success of Mr. Petherick in his proceedings against 
certain persons accused of this traffic has given license to these 
slave dealers. Assured, henceforth, of impunity, and of the in- 
efficiency of the law, they have thrown olF the mask. 
“ It is an everlasting scandal to civilized Europe thus to 
authorize, by her silence, the infamous piracy which has stained 
the White Nile with blood; and for anti-slavery England, who, 
instead of declaring herself impotent by abolishing her Consulate 
at Khartoum, should have surrounded it with all the prestige 
possible, authorized severe measures, and extended a hand to 
enforce their execution. 
‘‘ Erom a review of the interests involved in the question, it 
may still be said there was a time when neither the number of 
British subjects established in the Soudan, nor the importance 
of English commerce in these countries, required that England 
should maintain a Consul at Khartoum. But now financial 
societies are being formed for the exploration of the Soudan, 
which, in a triple point of view — agricultural, industrial, and 
commercial — already attract the attention of Europe, 
“New routes of* communication by land and, perhaps, by sea, 
will soon be opened. In this movement, ought not the commerce 
of England to have a large interest, and will she be able to dis- 
pense with a Consulate in a country much more in its infancy as 
relates to the law and its administration, than to its industry 
and commerce ? Although personal considerations may be for 
us of secondary importance — and we are not the defenders of 
