NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Pi:British Government has directed the Khedive to abandon , Soudan, and to confine his efforts to the defence of Egypt up to the Second Cataract. The Khedive has consented, and -orders for the retreat of all garrisons, including that of Khar- toum, to Wady Haifa have been issued. Cherif Pasha and his colleagues, who are tired of the situation, have seized on this excuse for resigning, and it was expected at first that their places 'would be filled by British officers. The Cabinet, however, still adheres to its policy, and Nnbar Pasha has accepted the Premier- ship, with four or five second-rate pashas as colleagues. In the Departments of Finance, Interior, and Public Works, however, Europeans are to be appointed Under-Secretaries, and are, it is understood, to be obeyed in all things. Our objections to this make-believe system are stated elsewhere, but the retrocession of the Soudan is a decided and a wise act. Nominally, of course, it falls back to the Sultan, as Khalif ; but though the British Government will not oppose his entrance vie/ Souakim,.he is far too astute to send troops to a province where there is no revenue to collect or rayahs to plunder. The Soudan will fall to the Mandi, who will probably govern it quite as well as any other Massnlman, and be more readily obeyed. Till he ascends the river to the Second Cataract, there is no reason for inter- fering with him.
