LETTERS FROM GENERAL GORDON'S OFFICERS.1 CAIRO, December 12, 1885. MADAM, I consider it a great happiness for me that the echo of the sincere attachment I was animated with towards your regretted brother, the Right Honourable late General Gordon Pasha, has had the favour of being noticed by you. I have been utmostly honoured with the portrait of the late General, which you have kindly sent me, and I really do not find sufficient words for expressing my gratitude for your remembering me with such a precious object, representing that single man in the world, who sacrificed his fortune and life for his country and for humanity. It was only through my bad luck that I could not get the same fate as the gallant General, in partaking his glorious death. Will you, Madam, be good enough to oblige me by accepting my humble photograph, which I respectfully address to you herewith as a proof of my everlasting fidelity to the memory of the Hero? (Signed and Sealed) MOHAMED NUSHI, Pasha. 1 I have preferred, in giving the letters of these four officers, to let the translations which accompanied the Arabic originals stand just as they sent them. The simple style, even though ungrammatical, pleases me. CAIRO, February 16, 1886. MADAM,—I gratefully acknowledge the receipt of the letter of which the gracious lines were kindly traced in my name by the respectable sister of that single man who sacrificed his matchless life to the altar of civilisation. I thank you most warmly for the goodness you have shown in accepting my humble photograph, and chiefly for your intending to put it with the late General Gordon's relics. By this generous action you will have fulfilled, beyond my real hope, the ambitious feelings I ever was animated with and which I durst not profess openly. The Lord will overwhelm you with blessings for the care you are taking of approaching my photograph to our precious martyr's precious relics, for such a circumstance has indeed the power of attenuating somewhat the pain and regret I always felt since I was unfortunately deprived of partaking the character of the fate which covers his name with an everlasting glory. I beg of you to accept of my distinguished respects, and allow me to be, Madam, Your sincerest and most obedient servant for ever, (Sealed) MOHAMED NUSHI. Khashm el Moos, Pasha, to Miss Gordon. ASSOUAN, 24 August, 1885. AFTER presenting my compliments—I am highly pleased and honoured to receive the photographs of one, than whom I never had a better friend and adviser, and whom I will ever remember with great admiration and respect. These likenesses will ever remain amongst my most valuable treasures. I am, moreover, extremely proud to make the acquaintance of the sister of that illustrious hero, hoping it may be my fortune at some future time to have the honour of meeting Miss Gordon personally, so as to be able to better express my sense of unexceptional love and esteem to her dear brother. I strongly urge resignation and acceptance of God's will, and am positive of Gordon Pasha's resting place-Paradise. As to the sad event, Miss Gordon may rely with confidence on my statements; and, as to the last stage of the drama, I can truly say that Gordon Pasha only died after he had done his duty like a man, or after he could resist no longer; to say nothing of the sufferings of famine he so bravely stood. General Gordon Pasha leaves a name indelibly chronicled on the heart of even every Soudanese. MY LADY,—This is a consolatory ode on the Governor-General of the Soudan, Gordon Pasha. I beg your acceptance of the same. I wish you well. (Dated A.H. I302.) The Soudan was darkened after his loss, After the setting of that Sun of Righteousness, Gordon Pasha, The gallant hero, abounding in virtues, The enricher of the destitute, the uplifter of the downfallen. He fell upon the enemy with a sharp-edged sword; Weak-heartedness never led him astray-God forbid ! And the Pasha Khashm el Moos with tearful eyes CAIRO, 8th February, 1886. DEAR MRS.,—I am very anxious to see you, but much grieved for the death of your brother. Ah! Alas! Aye-I am very sorry. How that grieved me! I am much pained at it. I was very anxious to see him before his death; but how unhappy I am, for all seems to go contrary to my wishes. After such misfortunes it only remains for me to die for the kind man whom nobody can equal. His death grieved all the inhabitants of the globe. So the trees, with the animals, felt the greatest sorrow at his death. What a misfortune for such a brave! Ah! there will be no more happiness for me in this world after his death, for we were one heart. The death of all my family did not grieve me like his; but what can we do now? That was our Creator's order. Be patient, and remember where are Adam and Eve, and also the high class of men. Are they not under the ground? Are we not going to die? I think we will all be the same. But myself prefers death than to suffer his departure. You send to me to send you my photograph with my name written upon it. Here it kisses your feet before your hands. If I had time I would offer it you myself, in order to express to you my displeasure and grief for his departure. I have the honour to be KHASHM EL MOOS, Dear; Pasha. 1 Be sure of my gratitude. CAIRO, 10 July, 1886. DEAR MADAM,-I earnestly hope that you may, in your moments of leisure, be pleased to write once in a while to one who was fortunate enough to be favoured by the friendship of your regretted brother. Hardly ever out of your thoughts, he is constantly present to all those who knew him, for his is an image that never fades. . . . I do not believe his desperate straits ever caused him a moment's dread, for he was a man utterly devoid of fear, actually not knowing what such a feeling was; and the prospect of death had no terrors for him. When shall we ever see his like again! . . The photograph you have sent me has caused me both pleasure and pains, because it has renewed the sorrows lying inside my heart. His Excellency, while at Kartoum, had issued decorations to all the Government |