Actually, Gordon had barely es-capot from Abyssinia with his life.
Yet with all these troubles on his mind, Gordon had time to write this letter to a Sergeant Driver:—
"My dear Driver—I have written io Sir Andrew Clarke; if he does anything, then mind and write to me again. Well, you are quite a credit to me, a sergeant so soon! end little Henry a lance corporal.
"How is it James is not? I hope he is steady. Is your mother still alive? Let me know if I can help any of You. I hope you do not forget God's indwelling in you—Yours sincerely, C. G. Gordon."
The envelope in which the letter was contained has been lost, and there is nothing to show who Sergeant Driver was. It seems, however, quite likely that he was one In June, 1880, Gordon arrived in India as private secretary to the new Viceroy, Lord Ripon. He has recorded that he regretted having accepted the post and resigned immediately.
He left Indif for China without knowing that his resignation had not been accepted.
Despite wary and anxiety, Gordon wrote this intimate note to Driver on Jone. 7, 1880:
My dear Driver,—Sorry not to have seen you and your wife. Let me know what you want, I leave for China in a few days. Tell your brother Henry he had better think over coming out. You can advise him. My address is care of Governor, Hongkong—Yours very truly, C. G. Gordon.
Gordon had been invited to China to advise on the projected war with Russia.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.