aster clearly indicated that an abler man was required at the
head of the Ever-Victorious Army, and forthwith Major Gordon was
appointed. A letter written home at the time shows that he was
conscious that his father would not be pleased at the step he had
taken:--

"I am afraid that you will be much vexed at my having taken the
command of the Sung-kiang force, and that I am now a Mandarin. I
have taken the step on consideration. I think that any one who
contributes to putting down this rebellion fulfils a humane task,
and I also think tends a great deal to open China to civilisation.
I will not act rashly, and I trust to be able soon to return to
England; at the same time, I will remember your and my father's
wishes, and endeavour to remain as short a time as possible. I can
say that if I had not accepted the command, I believe the force
would have broken up, and the rebellion gone on in its misery for
years. I trust this will not now be the case, and that I may soon
be able to comfort you on the subject. You must not fret over the
matter. I think I am doing a good service.... I keep your likeness
before me, and can assure you and my father that I will not be
rash, and that as soon as I can conveniently, and with due regard
to the object I have in view, I will return home."

Gordon's father has been much misrepresented by some biographers. It
has been practically said that he was not able to appreciate his son's
nobility of character; but there is not a word of truth in this. The
old man saw that the post accepted by his son was one of great danger,
made all the more dangerous by that son's daring, and the fact that he
did not understand the language of the people and was not cognisant of
their manner of conducting warfare. He also was of opinion that the
Chinese Government ought to be able to deal with their own internal
affairs, and put down any rebellions that might occur without making a
cat's-paw of his son. One cannot blame the father, who only looked at
the matter in a natural way, judging the circumstances from his own
standpoint. It is impossible to consider the whole facts, and to read
the letters concerning them, without feeling that neither father nor
son had anything of which to be ashamed.

One of the most painful things in life is for a man who is fond of his
parents to have to take a step which he feels will not meet with their
approval,