The report of the victory of the Dongola troops over the rebel forces under El-Hoda, last Sunday week, receives fresh confirmation.

The story that Mr. Cuzzi has gone to Khartoum is further repeated.

I have, &c.

(Telegraphic.)

Inclosure 1 in No. 57.

Colonel Duncan to General Sir E. Wood.

Assouan, July 10, 1884, 8 P.M. NOTHING received from you; line out of gear. Officer returned from Derawe. He says Mahmoud Bey has messengers going and coming every day from all parts. He never writes letters; he knows everything that is going on, but is with the Government, and is going to Cairo at end of Ramadan to pay respects to the Khedive. He says he is sure Berber is fallen, and that if the British or Egyptian Government does not send a relieving army he will take 4,000 Arabs and do it himself. The officer went into the mountains and saw many Bishareens; they are all right as yet. Shemaun has been within three hours of Derawe, trying to raise them by letters from Mahdi, but without success. Arabs all say Berber has fallen and Dongola will follow; but they say next place attacked will be Korosko. They watch all the army movements, and are much afraid of English troops. Mahmoud Bey professes loyalty.

(Telegraphic.)

Inclosure 2 in No. 57.

Colonel Duncan to General Sir E. Wood.

Assouan, July 11, 1884.

WADY HALFA had better be reinforced, and by an English regiment. Inglefield wants two companies of English and two guns, because he believes that there are 3,000 rebels at Abu Hamad, meditating an advance.

Inclosure 3 in No. 57.

(Telegraphic.)

Colonel Trotter to General Sir E. Wood.

Wady Halfa, July 11, 1884. MESSENGER with letter to Nooreddin Bey, and Mamish Aga left 1 P.M., and will bring answer on tenth day if not delayed at Dongola. Should you wish to add anything, camel post leaves here 7 A.M. and takes seven days.

Merchant, six days' from Dongola en route Cairo, informs me his family left Debbah after fight on 6 Ramadan.

Deserter from Hedayé (El-Hoda) warned troops of attack, which was delivered 3 A.M.; great loss of enemy, who is not supported by other tribes, and has no rifles. Mudir left for Debbah with civilians, leaves on news of fight, but was back at Oordeh when my informant left, and Nooreddin and Mamish were away at Debbah.

Tranquillity prevails at Dongola, but merchants appear desirous to leave. He tells me he has seen men from Berber, which fell without resistance and few casualties, and rebel Chief was carrying on the government, assisted by the late Governor. He says Cuzzi was set free and left for Khartoum at his own request. Gordon is making daily sallies north, extent of which is only limited by rocks and shoals.

One hundred men from Khartoum had joined Hedayé, who armed them with sticks and spears. They deserted after fight and joined Mudir. I am inclined partially to believe my informant, but numbers killed, namely, 3,042, are startling. My messenger will go to Debbah if neither of your friends are at Dongola.

My Lord,

No. 58.

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received July 21.)

Cairo, July 13, 1884. I SEND, for your Lordship's information, two telegrams respecting the relief of Agig by the condensing steamer and the "Condor."

The question of the retention of Agig is one solely for the Egyptian Government, to be looked at mainly from a financial standpoint.

Should the salt revenue it produces repay the expenses of its retention, under present circumstances, it need not be abandoned unless Colonel Chermside, for other reasons, should change his views.

Osman Digna's power does not seem to be on the increase, and it may be that Agig will be left in peace. Consul Baker has also addressed to me the inclosed telegram on the subject of the abandonment of Agig.

I have, &c.

(Telegraphic.)

Inclosure 1 in No. 58.

Commodore Molyneux to Mr. Egerton.

Suakin, July 12, 1884. "WOODLARK" reports opportune arrival of condenser at Agig saved many lives. 2,000 inhabitants, mostly women and children, must be removed, or a condenser sent there fortnightly.

Chermside advises not to abandon the place, as the rebels would rob everything; but the people are now safe on an island, with fortnightly supplies of water. Admiral informed.

Inclosure 2 in No. 58.

(Telegraphic.)

Colonel Chermside to General Sir E. Wood.

Suakin, July 12, 1884.

"WOODLARK" returned. Rowaya all right. Osman's emissaries have been expelled. Arrival of ships at Agig most opportune, as part of inhabitants were on the point of leaving, after a loss of fifteen killed on mainland settlement. Donkeys and women's jewellery looted by Hadendowas. Inhabitants, 2,000, mostly women, young and infirm. Ships will leave fifteen days' water, all that storage allows; unless supplied with water the people may have to leave later in boats, abandoning many old men and women and children. Many reasons for retaining Agig; if so, land condensing engine is a necessity. "Condor" left for Kosseir and Jeddah to-day.

Inclosure 3 in No. 58.

Consul Baker to Mr. Egerton.

(Telegraphic.)

Suakin, July 12, 1884.

OF the 2,000 at Agig, 1,800 are women and children, whose husbands and fathers are away inland. If the women and children were brought here they could be more economically fed and protected, and would be hostages for loyalty of the men. 'therefore think it would be politic to send for them.

,,

I

No. 59.

Lord Ampthill to Earl Granville.-(Received July 21, 1.20 P.M.)

(Telegraphic.) Berlin, July 21, 1884, 12.50 P.M. DR. SCHWEINFURTH says that news telegraphed to London, referred to in your telegram of 19th, was derived second-hand from Nubians recently arrived at

Cairo, and cross-examined by a friend there. No exact date for their report of General Gordon's desperate position could be fixed, but Dr. Schweinfurth thinks it. could not be older than thirty or forty days.

He would not have telegraphed this information, which is by itself uncertain, had he not hoped thereby to revive interest in General Gordon's fate.

He begs you not to believe it possible that a caravan could reach Suakin from Khartoum by Berber under twenty days at least, and he considers the local insurrection in and around Khartoum the most dangerous in the entire Soudan.

No. 60.

(Extract.)

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, July 21.)

Cairo, July 21, 1884. WITH reference to my telegram of the 20th instant, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that Nubar Pasha is convinced that the letter of General Gordon to the Mudir of Dongola is genuine.

After consulting many persons on the subject, I agree with Nubar Pasha.

I have requested Nubar Pasha to instruct the Mudir by telegraph to forward to: Cairo General Gordon's original letter to him, and his Excellency has told him to send it by express messenger to Colonel Trotter at Wady Halfa.

No. 61.

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received July 21.)

(Telegraphic) Cairo, July 21, 1884, 7·15 P.M. A MERCHANT arrived at Assouan, sixty days from Kordofan, seventeen days from Dongola. He says he travelled with an Egyptian officer of Hicks' army to Dongola. That Mudir and people of latter place are loyal to Government. That many of Hicks' army are now in hills near Dadag and Tagala. That an artist who was with Hicks is with Mahdi; he is about 30 years, stout and dark. That Mahdi has left Kordofan in search of the soldiers in the hills. That Gordon left Khartoum and got as far as Shendy, but had to return as there was not enough water. That Khartoum had been surrounded by Mahdi's men, but they had been utterly defeated by Gordon, and their leader killed. That after this victory Gordon sent to the Mahdi to say that if he had any more men to send he would treat them in the same way... That letters pass regularly between Gordon and Mahdi, and this merchant used to see them arrive almost daily. That there are many of the Mahdi's people round Khartoum, but his influence is on the wane.

J.

No. 62,

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received July 22.)

(Telegraphic.)mas

Cairo, July 22, 1884, 12:10 A.M. CHERMSIDE anxious to prevent northern tribes (Amaras) from joining Hadendowa confederation. He reports that he learns, that Arabs are much afraid of Gordon, who has defeated four tribes between Khartoum and Berber, namely, Shendy, Magadeb, Girbosh, and another. Berber in great danger. People have gone to Bir Mahobeh, from fear of Gordon.

No. 63.

Consul West to Earl Granville.—(Received July 22, 2·45 P.M.)

(Telegraphic.) Suez, July 22, 1884, 1.20 P.M. A GREEK from Massowah reports that on leaving Kassala thirty-five days ago, he saw the Governor; a letter from Gordon, dated eight days before, commending his firmness, saying that assistance would reach him soon, and telling him to obtain funds from Cairo, if necessary. Kassala had supplies for six months.

No. 64.

My Lord,

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, July 22.)

Cairo, July 22, 1884. WITH reference to your Lordship's telegram of the 18th instant, I have the honour to report that Colonel Grant, the officer whom it was proposed to send to Dongola to open negotiations with the Kabbabish, is detained in Cairo to attend the court-martial on the mutinous Turks, and that Major Kitchener has been ordered to start at once for Dongola in his stead.

In reply to this officer's questions as to the limit of the sum he might offer for bringing General Gordon out of Khartoum, my answer is that it is impossible to fix such a limit; in my opinion 10,000l. might certainly be offered, and even double, should Major Kitchener think it absolutely necessary.

The matter must be left to Major Kitchener's judgment after he has seen Sheikh Saleh, and become acquainted with circumstances, for the Kabbabish tribe may act only as auxiliaries and not as sole agents in bringing out Gordon, and their reward should therefore be made to depend on the part they play. I am averse to fixing any limit, though I should think 20,000l. would be a most ample reward for Saleh and his tribe.

I have had the honour to request that your Lordship will telegraph any other immediate instructions or modifications of my language you may wish sent to Major Kitchener, as that officer will start on his journey from Wady Halfa to Dongola at

once.

If Major Kitchener, after seeing Sheikh Saleh, should consider the larger sum mentioned insufficient, he will have time to inform me.

My Lord,

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.—(Received July 23.)

Cairo, July 15, 1884. WITH reference to my despatch of the 13th instant, and also in correction of a view expressed therein, I inclose copy of a telegram received from Colonel Chermside, giving reasons for the retention of Agig, some of which reasons appear under the present circumstances to be valid.

It appears, however, from this telegram that there was a false impression in the Soudan Bureau in considering the abandonment of Agig as a question of abandoning salt revenues, as Colonel Chermside makes no mention of Agig being, like Rowaya, remunerative in this respect.

(Telegraphic.)

Inclosure in No. 65.

Colonel Chermside to General Sir E. Wood.

Suakin, July 14, 1884.

AGIG, on the Red Sea coast, is a port of the Beni Amer country; a federation of which tribes, though wavering, is most important.

It is also on the flank of the district of Tokar, which, in case of operations, may require occupation.

Agig is a safe and spacious harbour between Suakin and Massowah, and territorial right over it should not be abandoned.

The men of Agig have gone with their herds to the far mountains in the Habbab district, with the Rashida tribe, and their women and children cannot be left to their fate.

Agig supplies building timber, wood, lime, butter, sheep, and cattle.

Its evacuation would allow the smuggling of arms and liquor, and the running of slave-dhows to commence.

No. 66.

My Lord,

Viscount Lyons to Earl Granville.—(Received July 23.)

Paris, July 21, 1884. I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that I have this day addressed a note to the French Government in the terms of your Lordship's despatch of the 15th instant relative to the Decree about to be issued by the Egyptian Government for the control of the press.

No. 67.

I have, &c. (Signed)

LYONS.

My Lord,

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, July 23.)

Cairo, July 23, 1884. WITH reference to my despatch of yesterday, I have the honour to report that Major Kitchener has asked for an advance of money for the expenses of his expedition to Dongola and to treat with the Kabbabish.

Sir E. Wood suggests the sum of 500l. I have telegraphed to ask your Lordship to inform me whether I am authorized to advance this sum, or any part of it, to Major Kitchener. The matter is urgent, as that officer should start at once from Wady Halfa.

I have, &c.

(Telegraphic.)

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received July 23, 7.45 P.M.)

Cairo, July 23, 1884, 5·45 p.m. IN view of desertion of Egyptian troops at Wady Halfa and of late mutinies, General Stephenson is very strongly of opinion that further demands must be made on the British forces, and British reinforcements sent up the river, probably to Wady Halfa, Korosko, and Assouan. I fear I cannot disagree with him that it does not seem more prudent now to depend on Egyptian troops alone to hold the two former positions.

No. 69.

Earl Granville to Mr. Egerton.

Foreign Office, July 24, 1884.

Sir, I HAVE received your telegram of the 20th instant, forwarding a translation of the letter received by the Mudir of Dongola from General Gordon, and the request of the Mudir to be informed as to the reply which he should send to Khartoum.

Her Majesty's Government desire, in the first place, that the messages sent to General Gordon on the 23rd April and the 17th May should be repeated to him, unless