Seven stages may be discerned in the history of Lord Hartington's
influence upon the fate of General Gordon. At the end of the
first stage, he had become convinced that he was responsible for
Gordon's appointment to Khartoum. At the end of the second, he
had perceived that his conscience would not allow him to remain
inactive in the face of Gordon's danger. At the end of the third,
he had made an attempt to induce the Cabinet to send an
expedition to Gordon's relief. At the end of the fourth, he had
realised that the Cabinet had decided to postpone the relief of
Gordon indefinitely. At the end of the fifth, he had come to the
conclusion that he must put pressure upon Mr. Gladstone. At the
end of the sixth, he had attempted to put pressure upon Mr.
Gladstone, and had not succeeded. At the end of the seventh, he
had succeeded in putting pressure upon Mr. Gladstone; the relief
expedition had been ordered; he could do no more.
The turning-point in this long and extraordinary process occurred
towards the end of April, when the Cabinet, after the receipt of
Sir Evelyn Baring's final dispatch, decided to take no immediate
measures for Gordon's relief. From that moment it was clear that
there was only one course open to Lord Hartington-- to tell Mr.
Gladstone that he would resign unless a relief expedition was
sent.
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