Stanley knows it, I expect, by this time. The Mission will stay
there (Mtesa's) about three months: that will settle them, I think.
"Believe me, with kind regards
"Yours sincerely,
"C. G. GORDON."
Shortly after this, in December, Gordon determined to resign his official
position and return to England, as he had great difficulty in adjusting
matters, so far as finances were concerned, with the Governor-General at
Kartoum. He went to Cairo, and announced his intention of going home
to the Khedive (Ismail), who, however, induced him to promise that he
would return to Egypt. Burton wrote to ask Gordon to come, on his
journey back to England, round by way of Trieste, and talk over matters.
Gordon replied as follows:
"ON BOARD 'SUMATRA', December 17, 1876.
"MY DEAR CAPTAIN BURTON,
"I received your kind note as I was leaving for Brindisi. I am sorry
I cannot manage the Trieste route. I am not sure what will be my fate.
Personally, the whole of the future exploration, or rather opening, of
the Victoria Lake to Egypt has not a promising future to me, and I do not
a bit like the idea of returning. I have been humbugged into saying
I would do so, and I suppose must keep my word. I, however, have an
instinctive feeling that something may turn up ere I go back, and so
feel pretty comfortable about it.
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