telegrams in the Far Enst, we can well With the weakened reputation of Reuter's
understand that doubts should exist in the ublic mind as to whether Colonel Charles forge Gordon, the commander of the Ever-Victorious Army," is on his way to China, having accepted an appointment under the Peking Government. The main difficulty is to reconcile subsequent events with the telegrams received, and these we think have a tendency to com-firm the news sent to us by Reuter. An impression seems to prevail that it was not "Gordon Pasha," or " Chinese"
Gordon, that accepted the post of Private Secretary to Lord Ripon, the new Indian Viceroy, but another Colonel with the same Surname. Of this, however, there need not beany doubt. We make this assertion on the authority of the Commander of the steamer Ancona, who knew Colonel Gordon years ago in China, and the same Colonel Gordon travelled with him as one of the suite of the Viceroy from England to Bombay. During the passage they conversed together on past events in China, but he whose name is indelibly associated with the most important of those events never betrayed by sign or word that he was likely to again take the helm to assist this country out of another national crisis. But at the time it is likely that he was unaware of the news awaiting his arrival at Bombay, possibly the outcome of conversations, or perhaps negotiations, he had had with his old friend in China Dr. Macartney and the Marquis Tsing. He landed in Bombay on the Ist June, as the Secretary of the Viceroy, and sharily afterwards, we hear, he received a communication from the Marquis Tseng. What this communication was will probably never be made public, but Colonel Gordon himself told the Com: mander of the Ancona that he had received aletter and a photograph from the Marquis. This seems strange, as the letter would be brought by the steamer on which Colonel Gordon was a passenger. Subsequent events created the impression that the Colonel had received further important news by telegraph—news which caused him to resign his appointment with the Viceroy." On the 2nd June the Commander of the Ancona was a guest at a dinner and reception given at Government House, Bombay, and nothing apparently was then known of Colonel arden's intention to resign. But, according to the Bonbay Gazette, after the reception, Colonel Gordon sent a letter to the Viceroy, stating that he was constrained to resign his position, and expressing his deep regret at having to take the step. The matter was discussed and the resignation accepted on the following morning, the 3rd of June, three days after the arrival of the Viceregal party in Bombay, and on the 4th June Reuter telegraphed Colonel Gordon's resignation from London to China. The appointment of Colonel Gordon to the Private Secretaryship to the Marquis of Ripon was received in India with express sions of satisfaction by the united Press of the Empire. At the same time the acceptance of the post by so distinguished an officer, as the Bombay Gazette says, "caused a general feeling of incredulity, as the antecedents and known character of Gordon Pasha seemed to mark him out for an office where initiative and personal force would be at least not positively in the way. But when it was recollected that a war with barbarians was in progress, and would have somehow to be brought to mn, and that the question of the of the army would have to be taken up in a serious spirit, the fitness of Colonel Gordon's appointment was generally admitted, and it was looked forward to with interest and good will." His sudden and unexpected resignation was therefore received with surprise and regi But what may be India's loss proveChina's gain, That some explanation was necessary for severing his connection in so remarkable a manner with Lord Ripon, Colonel Gordon himself thought necessary; and we find the following letter—peeuliarly characteristic of the man—from him in the Bombay Gazette of the 4th Tune To the Editor of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.