I direct your attention to two points, viz.--the suppression of
slavery, and the improvement of the means of communication.

"Abyssinia extends along a great part of the frontiers of the
Soudan. I beg of you, when you are on the spot, to carefully
examine into the situation of affairs, and I authorise you, if
you deem it expedient, to enter into negotiations with the
Abyssinian authorities with the view of arriving at a settlement
of pending questions.

"I end by thanking you, my dear Gordon Pasha, for your kindness
in continuing to Egypt your precious services, and I am fully
persuaded that, with the aid of your great experience and your
devotion, we shall bring to a happy end the work we are pursuing
together.

"Believe, my dear Gordon Pasha, in my sentiments of high esteem
and sincere friendship.--Your affectionate

ISMAIL."

Nothing could be more gracious than this letter, which made General
Gordon independent of the men who he feared would thwart him, and
responsible to the Khedive alone. It was followed up a few weeks
later--that is to say, after the new Governor-General had left for his
destination--by the conferring of the military rank of Muchir or
Marshal. At the same time the Khedive sent him a handsome uniform,
with L150 worth of gold lace on the coat, and the Grand Cordon of the
Medjidieh Order, which, it may be worth noting here, General Gordon
only wore when in Egyptian uniform. These acts on the part of the
Khedive Ismail show that, whatever may have been his reasons for
taking up the slavery question, he was really sincere in his desire to
support Gordon, who fully realised and appreciated the good-will and
friendly intentions of this Egyptian ruler. When an unfavourable
judgment is passed on Ismail Pasha, his consistent support of General
Gordon may be cited to show that neither his judgment nor his heart
was as bad as his numerous detractors would have the world believe.

Having settled the character of the administration he was to conduct,
General Gordon did not waste a day at Cairo. The holiday and rest to
which he was fully entitled, and of which there can be no doubt that
he stood greatly in need, were reduced to the smallest limits. Only
two months intervened between his departure from Cairo for London on
coming down from the Equator, and his second departure from Cairo to
the