My dear Agnes, —... We are living in interesting times out here, and if passing events do one no other good they at all events make one at home in the geography of these parts; for I find that there is nothing like being upon the spot to impress upon the memory the localities of any part of the world. The distances between them here are immense and are difficult to realise — one measures them by hundreds of miles, or at least by degrees. I gather from Sir C. Dilke's speech of the 22nd of January that the policy of our Government with regard to the Soudan will undergo some modification, and that instead of abandoning the country altogether they will endeavour to establish governments there under the suzerainty of Egypt, which will at the same time resign all attempts at governing any portion of it themselves, with the exception of the Red Sea ports, and perhaps one or two others, Zeila and Berbera, just outside the Straits of Bab-el-Mendeb. I think if some such arrangement as this could be arrived at it would be the best solution of this difficult question. There are some important points connected with the evacuation of the Soudan which are not easily disposed of and may give some trouble to our Government as well as to Egypt. In the first place this policy results in allowing this vast tract of country to lapse again into barbarism, which is an ugly charge for a liberal and progressive Government to face. Next, the slave trade will revive in full force, checked only, and I should fear inadequately, by our cruisers in the Red Sea. Lastly, there is the uncertainty as to who Egypt's next neighbour is to be. These are all difficult subjects to deal with, and will have im-
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portant consequences in the future. Our Government has committed itself to non-intervention in the Soudan, though it has not worked very consistently upon those lines, and has compelled the late Egyptian Government to resign, because they would not adopt the policy of abandoning the country. No retention of any portion of it can therefore be made with the slightest regard to consistency and fair dealing, so that at the present moment I can see no solution except in the direction I have hinted at. Both General Baker's and Gordon's movements, which we are now watching here with much interest and some anxiety, will, if successful, as I feel confident they will be, materially help us out of these troubles. The success of the former will alienate, I expect, many of the tribes on the eastern coast of the Red Sea from adherence to the Mahdi. Gk>rdon's negotiations will, I trust, effectually destroy all allegiance to him to the eastward of the White Nile. We shall see. My friends the Romillys leave us on Tuesday; we had a parting dinner for them on Friday, with a dance afterwards. Last night we had a farewell dinner at a certain Princess Nazli's, a first cousin of the Khedive; she is attractive both in looks and intellect, and is the only native lady who receives and entertains. To-morrow a number of officers and others give a fancy ball, for which they use this house.... — Ever yours affectionately,