§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Lord Wolseley has been instructed to proclaim the abandonment of the whole Soudan; and, if so, whether, and in view of General Gordon's statement that 905 the policy of abandonment was the chief difficulty in his way at Khartoum, Her Majesty's Ministers will withdraw the above instruction to Lord Wolseley, and will direct him to press on with all speed to the relief of Khartoum?
§ MR. ONSLOWdesired to know whether the Government before proposing the Vote of Credit in respect of the Egyptian Expedition would lay upon the Table copies of the instructions to Lord Wolseley defining the relative position of himself and General Gordon in the Soudan? If the Government wished it, he would give Notice of the Question.
MR. GLADSTONEWith respect to the Question of the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett), there are no instructions to Lord Wolseley bearing on the subject of his Question beyond those which are printed, and they do not contain the instruction that is supposed in this Question. It is not an instruction to Lord Wolseley; but he would have authority to proceed to Khartoum if he saw occasion. As to the time and manner of any such advance, that is left in Lord Wolseley's hands.