The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-20
England and the soudan.

PRECAUTIONS TAKEN BIZ THE MAIIDI-GENE-
RAJ GORDON's PROCLAMATION AND WHAT 1T
MEASs--PARLIAMENT
A Cairo cable dispatch OF the 18th says:
Letters from FL Obeid bring the intelii-
gence that the Mahdi has delayed the cir
cumcisiOn OF his son until 1t can De per-
formed in the palace at Khartoum. FROM
fear OF assassins. the Mahdl mas sur
rounded himself with a life guard. Vlsi-
tors are permitted, to approach him oniy
on all fours, and even then must remain ~
considerable distance from his sacred
person. The Christian missionaries, COM
prising six nuns, two priests, ana one lay
brother, are in most deporable posltlon'
Another priest and lay brother nave ne
come Mussulmans. They receive m ontniy
stipend and dwell apart from the CHRIS
tians. The latter live IN straw-huts OUT
side the town and are destitute OF tood'
clothing. and money. Their negro novices
have either been enrolled in the army or
sold into slavery.
The people OF Khartoum have hailed
General Gordon as their deiverer.
A London special OF the same date says !:
The Times, in discussing General Gordon's
Khartoum proclamation, says: General
Gordon is well aware that steps are being
taken in Lower Egypt to discourage do
nestle slavery. He knows, too. than Eng
lands guarantee OF the Red Sea ports cuts
off the means OF exit, by which slaves nave
been disposed of to other countries, wblie
he believes that his own work IN the
Congo country will effectually check the
inflow of slaves. In view OF these facts
the clause in General Gordon's proclama-
ton removing all restrictions upon the
slave trade assumes character OF little
practical significance" j..
In reply to a question by the Marquis OF
Salisbury, Earl Granville. Foreign Sec
rotary OF State, stated that General Cor
don's proclamation allowing the restoration
of the slave trade was not exactly the same
| as that published by the newspapers. Gen
! eral Gordon would make no arrangement
which would operate in the interest OF the
slave trade.
Mr.. Gladstone. i'm replying to an inquiry
| by Sir Stafford Northcote. in the House OF
Commons to-day, regarding General Cor
don's action at khartOum, said that the ap-
pointment of the Mahdi as Sultan OF hor-
dofan and the remission Of taxes were
within General Gordon's powers. The
| true meaning OF the order regarding the
revival OF slavery could not be understood
| from the telegraphic summary which had
been published. The Government pre-
ferred to await the receipt OF the text OF
the original order. No telegram had been
received confirming the rumored disband-
ing Of the Egyptian army.
The debate on Sir Stafford N0rthcote's
motion censuring the Government for
their policy in Egypt was resumed. Sir
John Lubbock, Liberal member for Lon
don University, spoke in opposition TO
the amendment introduced last Thursday
by Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Radical, which
provided that the House decline to express
an opinion Of the Governments Egyptian
policy.
In the debate this evening Dlr. w. L.
Marriott Liberal, member for Brighton,
made violent attack upon the Govern
ment, accusing it OF vacillation and incon-
sistency. He declared that the Govern
ment had lost the confidence OF the coun-
try and Of the Liberal party. The truth o.
this he would test by voting for Sir stat.
| ford Northcote's motion and thea resign
ing his seat in the House and Offering him.
self for reelection. Mr.. Marriotts speech
was received with loud cheers by the OPP
position. The debate was adjourned.
The Marquis OF Harrington, Secretary
for War, stated this evening that the Gov
eminent had received no news OF the fall
Of Tokar. lie also stated that company
Of engineers had been ordered from Chat
ham TO Suakin.
a dispatch from Cairo contradicts the
report that the military council bad de
clded to disband the Egyptian army. The
council decided to reconstruct the brigade
Differed by Egyptians by disI0issing thu
officers and recruiting the brigade from
Turks, Circassians, and Albanans. The
Second brigade. composed OF Egyptians
under English officers, will retain its pre-
sent organization, and VIII go TO Assouar
as soon as the transport service, now de
pleted by the Suakin expedition, can be
strengthened.
The Irish Parliamentary party held ;
meeting this evening for the purpose o.
deciding how to vote in to-morrow's diyi
sion in the House OF Commons on the mo
ton censuring the Governments Egyptian
policy. Mr.. Parnell was absent. There
was some disagreement in regard to thu
course to be pursued. Mr.. Sexton made
a motion to vote against the Government
which was carried. The minority will alb
stain from voting. The detection OF thu
Irish vote has increased the discomfort ant
disruption in the Liberal party, and will
It is estimated, reduce the Government ma
IiOrity to 30. The Conservative whips or
beginning to hope for Government de
feat.
--~Es----