orrespondence with an old
friend in China; an old officer in Gordon's "Ever victorious Army," Li
Hung Chang. While Gordon is feeling unwell, and disposed to send his
resignation to the Khedive--he writes in his journal:--

July 21st, 1879.

"I shall (D.V.) leave for Cairo in ten days, and I hope to see you
soon; but I may have to go to Johannis before I go to Cairo. I am a
wreck, like the portion of the 'Victory' towed into Gibraltar after
Trafalgar; but God has enabled me, or rather has used me, to do what I
wished to do--that is, break down the slave trade. "Those that honour
me I will honour." May I be ground to dust, if He will glorify
Himself in me; but give me a humble heart, for then he dwells there in
comfort. I wrote you a letter about my illness and tore it up. Thank
God, I am pretty well now, but I have passed the grave once lately,
and never thought to see Khartoum. The new Khedive is more civil, but
I no longer distress myself with such things. God is the sole ruler,
and I try to walk sincerely before Him."

The letter from Li Hung Chang was to him a source of great satisfaction
and pleasure, as it showed his example had affected for good this eastern
ambassador, who visited this country only a very few years ago.

The letter ran thus:--

TIENTSIN,
_March 22nd_, _1879_.

"To His Excellency Colonel C. G. Gordon,
Khartoum, Egypt.

"Dear Sir.--I am instructed by his Excellency the Grand Secretary, Li,
to answer your esteemed favour, dated the 27th October, 1878, from
Khartoum, which was duly received. I am right glad to hear from you.
It is now fourteen years since we parted from each other. Although I
have not written to you, I often speak of you, and remember you with
very great interest. The benefit you have conferred on China does not
appear with your person, but is felt throughout the regions in which
you played so important and active a part. All those people bless you
for the blessings of peace and prosperity which they now enjoy.

Your achievements in Egypt are well known throughout the civilized
world. I see often in the papers of your noble works on the Upper
Nile. You are a man of ample resources, with which you suit yourself
to any emergency. My hope is that you may long be spared to improve
the conditions of the people amongst whom your lot is cast. I am
striving hard to advanc