GORDON, Charles George (1833-1885). 'Chinese Gordon'.
Autograph Letter Signed to his beloved sister Augusta, 1½ pages 8vo, Cairo, 29 March 1878. Written during his immensely busy time as governor-general of Sudan, when had taken upon himself, without assistance, responsibility for an area of more than a million square miles.
A selection of Gordon's letters to Augusta were published by her in 1889 and dedicated to Queen Victoria. These letters are very largely on religious questions, and the present letter is not included. Gordon here apologies for not yet having answered several letters from his sister, and outlines his immediate schedule before promising to write more fully and 'tell you all the most interesting affairs which passes at Cairo'.

'... I leave for Suez tomorrow, & thence to Aden and thence across to Berberah Massowah, to Suakin, thence to Kartoum, but if war breaks out, I shall perhaps have to return to my Reg[imen]t. I am quite well ...'

Gordon's immense journeys on camel-back are legendary, and this was to be no exception. He was to leave the Egyptian service and return to London in December of the following year.
With a carte-de-visite photograph of Gordon (with facsimile signature), another photograph issued as a memorial card, a facsimile of one of his tiny original arabic messages, and a further facsimile of his last letter.
[No: 22436]