ple would not at first believe the sad reality, and for
a time every one hoped against hope. The news reached the War Office on
February 4th, and was communicated to the public during the following
day. No better proof exists of the tenacity with which many clung to
the hope that Gordon might possibly have survived, than the fact that
the Queen, whose womanly heart always prompted her to be one of the
first to send expressions of sympathy to the relatives of those who
fall at the post of duty, did not date her letter to Miss Gordon till
February 17th, and even then used the sentence, "I fear there cannot be
much doubt of it," in alluding to the hero's death. The Queen's letter,
which did but give expression to the feelings of the country on the
subject, was as follows:--

"OSBORNE, _17th February 1885._

"DEAR MISS GORDON,--_How_ shall I write to you, or how shall I
attempt to express _what I feel_! To _think_ of your dear, noble,
heroic Brother, who served his Country and his Queen so truly, so
heroically, with a self-sacrifice so edifying to the World, not
having been rescued. That the promises of support were not
fulfilled--which I so frequently and constantly pressed on those
who asked him to go--is to me _grief inexpressible_! indeed, it has
made me ill! My heart bleeds for you, his Sister, who have gone
through so many anxieties on his account, and who loved the dear
Brother as he deserved to be. You are all so good and trustful, and
have such strong faith, that you will be sustained even now, when
_real_ absolute evidence of your dear Brother's death does not
exist--but I fear there cannot be much doubt of it. Some day I hope
to see you again, to tell you all I cannot express. My daughter
Beatrice, who has felt quite as I do, wishes me to express her
deepest sympathy with you. I hear so many expressions of sorrow and
sympathy from _abroad_: from my eldest daughter, the Crown
Princess, and from my Cousin, the King of the Belgians,--the very
warmest. Would you express to your other Sisters and your elder
Brother my true sympathy, and what I do so keenly feel, the _stain_
left upon England for your dear Brother's cruel, though heroic
fate?--Ever, dear Miss Gordon, yours sincerely and sympathisingly,

"V. R. I."

Parliament at once voted L20,000, the sum usually given to a successful
general on the completion of a camp