THE SOUDAN.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4753, 1 April 1884, Page 2

THE SOUDAN.

Caibo, March 30,

Tfilegrams from the Soudan state that Gordon Pasha made a sortie from Khar^ toum on the 16ih inst., at the head of a strong force of Egyptian troops. The latter proved perfectly untrustworty, and fled, at the first charge of the Arab cavalry, 2CO being killed.

London, March 30.

The King of Abyssinia, at the head of an array of 25,000 men, has wet and welcomed Admiral Hewitt, who recently proceeded there on a secret mission,,

Major-General Graham distrusts the sincerity of tho professed friendly Arabs, and is not in favor of a British advance being made on Berber.

[Specials to the Pbess Association]

London, March 28

The Duke of Albany (Prince Leopold), slipped on the stairs of the club-house, and sustained an injury to the knee. He was removed to Captain Percivall's resi> dence close by, and put to bed. Nothing serious was feared, and he read the papers, conversed freely with those around, and partook of supper. Dr Boyle was in attendance, aod slept in tho same room, and at two o'clock in the morning was startled by the Duke's heavy breathing, and found him in an epileptic fit, and he died in six minutes in the arms of his host, Captain Percivall. The immediate cause of death was effusion of blood on the brain. He was previously in splendid health, and wrote cheerfully to his wife on Thursday. She is at Claremont, awaiting her confinement, The

Queen is seriously prostrated, and tin; fX Jitnpress Eugenic was with her for several hours. London, March 29, Sir Stafford Northcote and Earl Cairns have recovered from their illnes3. The friction supposed to have existed' on Egyptian affairs between members of the Cabinet has been reduced. It is believed that Mr Gladstone's medical adviser will order him abroad. The Government, in the House of Commons, having refused to separate their local taxation and local government reform proposals, have, on a motion by Mr Alfred Pell, M.P. for South Leicesteri shire, been defeated by a majority of eleven in a large House. A Paris message in the Daily Telegraph states that Earl Granville ha* strongly protested against the French Government allowing convicts to escape from New Caledonia. Earl Roseberry, speaking in the House of Lords, testified to the horror and dismay with which the Australian colonists regarded the prospect of the recidivistes scheme being carried out. He said it was impossible to exaggerate the strength of the feeling entertained, and the excitement was double that which existed when England proposed to discontinue sending convicts to Australia. Lord Carnarvon said that private letters he had received confirmed Lordßosebery's statements, and he agreed with Lord Bosebery in urging the Government to bring diplomatic pressure to bear. It would be a great mistake to treat the subject as one of small importance. Earl Granville, in reply, repeated the statement that M. Ferry had assured Lord Lyons that the bulk of the recidivistes would be sent to Cayenne, aDd that only a small number of manual laborers would be sent to New Caledonia.

London, March 30,

The French Minister of Marine has informed the recidmste committee of the Senate that the Government is willing to send convicts to New Guinea, but that it is only possible to receive 2000 of them at present. He asked that the operation of the law will be delayed for a year. The Pall Mall Gazette doubts whether the Australian Government seriously threaten such a step as to exclude Frenck ships from Australian ports.

Mr Gladstone's health is improving, and he is now enabled to take outdoor exercise.