Trying to save himself by
the proviso which he had inserted into the resolution, he
declared that he was still unconvinced of the necessity of any
operations at all. 'I nearly,' he wrote to Lord Hartington, 'but
not quite, adopt words received today from Granville. "It is
clear, I think, that Gordon has our messages, and does not choose
to answer them."' Nearly, but not quite! The qualification was
masterly; but it was of no avail. This time, the sinuous creature
was held by too firm a grasp. On August 26th, Lord Wolseley was
appointed to command the relief expedition; and on September 9th,
he arrived in Egypt.
The relief expedition had begun, and at the same moment a new
phase opened at Khartoum. The annual rising of the Nile was now
sufficiently advanced to enable one of Gordon's small steamers to
pass over the cataracts down to Egypt in safety. He determined to
seize the opportunity of laying before the authorities in Cairo
and London, and the English public at large, an exact account of
his position. A cargo of documents, including Colonel Stewart's
Diary of the siege and a personal appeal for assistance addressed
by Gordon to all the European powers, was placed on board the
Abbas; four other steamers were to accompany her until she was
out of danger from attacks by the Mahdi's troops; after which,
she was to proceed alone into Egypt.
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