Seeing the delay in the arrival of reinforcements, and certain that our assurances were not true, but that Khartoum and Berber were invested, the inhabitants have dispatched, special messengers to Assouan to make certain of the truth with regard to reinforcements. These messengers have returned, and report that reinforcements are not on their way. Since then the inhabitants of the two districts of Merawi have ceased to listen to our counsels, and have revolted and cut the telegraph wire and burnt the posts within the limits of the two districts. They have collected in a large body and keep advancing northward while awaiting the arrival of a certain El-Hoda, who is said to have received from the Mahdi the investiture of Dongola, and to be about to bring with him considerable forces. After his arrival they expect to get possession of the town of Dongola and kill the soldiers. Owing to their strength, many of the inhabitants of this Mudirich will join them on their march. The Government knows that we have here only four companies, and the corps of Noureddin Bey. The remaining corps are for the most part formed of the inhabitants whom we can no longer trust. Too weak to repulse the enemy, we fear the same fate as that of the troops in Kordofan, who were reduced by siege to such extremities as to eat dogs and asses, and who were after the capitulation (many of them) put to death, their wives dishonoured, their goods and those of the loyal merchants pillaged. These troops were, however, in imposing strength. In such circumstances, does the Government consent to see us seized by the enemy, ourselves killed, our wives dishonoured? We cannot protect the loyal subjects, their goods, and their honour. The enemy is pitiless. If our august Sovereign has any regard for us, let him send us quickly a large force, with artillery and provisions; if not, we are lost. It is our duty to warn the Government that this El-Hoda does not only expect to get possession of Dongola, but that he has promised the Mahdi the submission of Egypt as far as Cairo, relying on his large forces. We are taking this step unknown to the Mudir, for he wishes to force us to do what is impossible; we demand succour and an answer that we may know what we have to expect. My Lord, No. 81. Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville-(Received May 20.) Cairo, May 13, 1884. I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith, extracted from the "Moniteur Egyptien" of the 12th instant, a Decree appointing Colonel Chermside Governor of Suakin. Sur la proposition de notre Ministre de la Guerre et l'avis conforme de notre Conseil des Ministres ; Décrétons: Article 1er. Le Colonel Chermside est nommé Gouverneur de Souakin. MÉHÉMET TEWFIK. WE, Khedive of Egypt, Decree. At the instance of our Minister for War and on the advice of our Council of Ministers in conformity therewith; Decree: Article 1. Colonel Chermside is nominated Governor of Suakin. Art. 2. Our Minister for War is charged with the execution of the present Decree. Done at the Palace of Abdin, the 14th Redjeb, 1301 (10th May, 1884). MÉHÉMET TEWFIK. · FIK No. 82. My Lord, Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received May 20.) Cairo, May 13, 1884. I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copy of a note from Nubar Pasha, forwarding the opinion of the Council of Ministers on the Soudan expenditure and the impossibility of the Egyptian Government meeting it, and begging me to submit the question to the appreciation of Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c. J'AI l'honneur de vous transmettre ci-inclus copie d'une délibération du Conseil des Ministres prise dans sa séance d'hier au sujet des dépenses du Soudan, et de l'impossibilité dans laquelle se trouve le Trésor Égyptien d'y faire face. Je vous prie, M. le Gérant, de vouloir bien soumettre cette question à la haute appréciation du Gouvernement de Sa Majesté et de me faire connaître la décision qu'il aura prise à cet égard. Cairo, May 13, 1884. Sir, I HAVE the honour of transmitting to you herewith a copy of a Resolution of the Council of Ministers, adopted at its sitting yesterday, on the subject of the expenses of the Soudan, and the impossibility of the Egyptian Treasury being able to meet them. I beg you, Sir, to be good enough to submit this question to the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, and to acquaint me with their decision on this subject. Inclosure 2 in No. 82. M. le Conseiller Financier appelle l'attention du Conseil sur l'état de pénurie du Trésor et déclare qu'on ne pourrait plus payer les traitements des fonctionnaires de l'État si l'on devait continuer à faire face aux dépenses du Soudan. Le Conseil délibère et décide de communiquer cette déclaration de M. le Conseiller Financier au Représentant du Gouvernement de Sa Majesté la Reine, afin qu'il veuille bien la soumettre à la haute appréciation du Gouvernement de Sa Majesté, en le priant de vouloir bien ordonner telles mesures qu'il croira nécessaires en présence des événements du Soudan qui menacent l'Égypte propre. (Translation.) Resolution, May 12, 1884. The Financial Adviser calls the attention of the Council to the state of poverty of the Treasury, and declares that the salaries of the State officials can no longer be paid if it must continue to meet the expenses of the Soudan, The Council deliberates and decides to communicate this declaration of the Financial Adviser to the Representative of Her Majesty's Government, in order that he may submit it to the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, and beg them to give orders for such measures as they may consider necessary in presence of the events in the Soudar which menace Egypt proper. Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, May 20.) My Lord, The whip, when used, is the ordinary whip which was found as part of the prison properties, but its use has been restricted to cases of violent and mutinous crimes committed within the prisons, and whereas previously an unlimited number of strokes were given-even as many as 200 or 300-the punishment is now limited to twentyfour strokes. I have, &c. My Lord, Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, May 20.) Cairo, May 20, 1884. I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that in a telegram addressed by Hussein Pasha Khalifa's son to Nubar Pasha, he mentions that it is at El-Sharik where Aly Bey Wahby and Mr. Cuzzi are reported to be prisoners. (The word used by him is "besieged.") After conversation with General Stephenson and Sir Evelyn Wood, it is judged best to give instructions to Major Kitchener, who is collecting Foggara Arabs at Korosko, to go to Abou Hamad if possible. He will be told to do his utmost to save the refugees, and he may be able to buy up Hegel. He will also endeavour to come to terms with the Bishareen. Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, May 20.) My Lord, Cairo, May 20, 1884. RECENT telegrams from Suakin report that the followers of Osman Digna have been raiding cattle in the outskirts of the town, and harassing the population by a musketry fire at night. As far as I can gather, the main incentive for these attacks is the presence of a large quantity of sheep and cattle which have been collected round the town by the friendly league of natives under Mahmoud Ali, who, after their recent defeat near Tawashim, have taken refuge in Suakin. Colonel Chermside wishes strongly to get rid of the friendly natives, whom he has found to be both troublesome and unreliable as well as the cause of danger to the town; and he further advocates that the mainland of Suakin should be held merely as a tête de pont. I understand that this opinion was not shared by Sir Evelyn Baring and Sir Evelyn Wood some time ago when the question was raised; the latter, however, is now inclined to modify his view in consequence of Colonel Chermside's Report. I venture to think that if, without any breach of faith to the natives, Colonel Chermside is authorized to use his discretion with respect to these "friendlies," a difficulty which may hereafter compel us to send reinforcements, may be got over, presuming as I do that the bait of cattle is the main cause for attacks. I have the honour to beg your Lordship to favour me with early instructions on this point. I have, &c. (Signed) EDWIN H. EGERTON. Sir, No. 87. Earl Granville to Mr. Egerton. Foreign Office, May 20, 1884. WITH reference to previous correspondence relative to the command of British and Egyptian troops when quartered together, I have to inform you that in order to enable officers of Sir E. Wood's army to assume when necessary the command over British troops according to their seniority, and also in order to avoid the risk of confusion or of conflict of authority in any measures which may be necessary for the protection of Egyptian territory, Her Majesty's Government have decided that any officer in command of an Egyptian force employed on any duty south of Cairo should be placed under the orders of the General Officer commanding Her Majesty's troops in Egypt. Any such officer should report to and receive orders from the General Officer commanding Her Majesty's troops on all questions relating to the employment of the troops under his command, but in matters relating to their pay, clothing, equipment, and discipline, he should continue to correspond direct with the Officer in command of the Egyptian Army. I have to instruct you to communicate this decision of Her Majesty's Government to the Egyptian Government, Sir E. Wood, and General Stephenson. I am, &c. Foreign Office, May 21, 1884. Sir, I HAVE been requested by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inquire whether you consider it safe for the Commander of Her Majesty's ship "Monarch" to proceed to any point on the Nile above Wady Halfa. As at present arranged, Commander Hammill will await at Wady Halfa the further instructions which the Board of Admiralty will send to him on receipt of information from you. I am, &c. Sir, Foreign Office, May 21, 1884. BY your telegram of the 13th instant you inform me that the Council of Ministers decided on the previous day to bring to the notice of Her Majesty's Government the declaration of the Financial Adviser, that the state of the Egyptian Treasury does not allow of the payment of the official salaries if the expenditure for the Soudan continue, and to beg Her Majesty's Government to order such measures as they may consider necessary in view of the events in the Soudan, which the Egyptian Govern ment state are menacing to Egypt proper. It appears, moreover, from your telegram of the 12th instant, that you had received an official communication from the Egyptian Government to the effect that the Council of Ministers, considering Her Majesty's Government since the mission of General Gordon to have taken in hand the retreat of the population and garrisons of the Soudan, thought it advisable to ask what course Her Majesty's Government considered should be taken with reference to the populations and garrison of Dongola. Her Majesty's Government have been at all times ready to assist the Government of the Khedive with their advice as to the best means of withdrawing from the Soudan the Egyptian garrisons, and such of the civil population as might desire to retire from these provinces, and for that purpose they consented to the mission of General Gordon; but the Egyptian Government must bear in mind that the presence of Egyptian garrisons in the Soudan, Equatorial and Bahr-Gazelle Provinces, is in no way due to any act of Her Majesty's Government, and that they cannot hold themselves responsible for the measures which those on the spot may think fit to take with a view to facilitate their withdrawal, or for the consequences of their possible failure to effect that object. I am, &c. My Lord, Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, May 22.) Cairo, May 21, 1884. I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a telegram received by Sir Evelyn Wood from Major Kitchener, dated to-day, from Korosko. I have, &c. (Telegraphic.) Major Kitchener to Major-General Sir E. Wood. Korosko, May 21, 1884. I AM informed that Hussein Pasha Khalifa has made an arrangement with the representative of the Madhi, that he will hold out as long as Khartoum does, and that in the meantime no active hostilities should take place, but when Khartoum falls, will surrender everything to the Mahdi. Hussein Pasha Khalifa has 1,300 soldiers and over 600 Foggara Arabs with him at Berber. If I find when I go to Abou Hamed, as I expect, that the state of the country between there and Berber has been much exaggerated, I should like to be authorized to send orders to Hussein Pasha Khalifa to march out in square with all his men to Abou Hamed. I hope to be able to arrange for the Bishareens to co-operate. No. 91. Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, May 22.) My Lord, Cairo, May 22, 1884. WITH reference to your Lordship's telegram of yesterday's date asking whether I considered it safe for the Commander of Her Majesty's ship "Monarch" to go above Wady Halfa, I have the honour to state that at the present moment it is safe, as the news received from Dongola is reassuring; the dispatch of the troops to Wady Halfa has had a good effect, and the Mudir is apparently inclining to stick by the Government as the stronger side. The Mudir considered it too dangerous to attempt the evacuation when he was instructed to make terms, and had kept these instructions secret, having hopes of restoring order in the south. After discussion with Nubar Pasha, Lieutenant-General Stephenson, and Sir Evelyn Wood, it was even decided this morning to send to the Mudir the arms he has been |