General C.G. Gordon | Autograph letter signed, to Carl Giegler, 1878

General C.G. Gordon

Autograph letter signed, to Carl Giegler

discussing the administration of the Sudan, his plans for development, and local resistance to his government ("...The people of Kordofan are a very bad lot, and need an Arab to govern them, they are furious with me, about the suppression of the slave trade..."). and explaining to Giegler his new role as a Vakeel [deputy] ("...If some people think that you are able to act on your own account, even to a small degree, there will be no end of intrigues, and for certain, misunderstandings between us [...] To my mind, the duty of a Vakeel, are [sic] to see orders carried out, and only in case of great urgency to act, without reference..."), 4 pages, folio, Edura, 29-30 March 1878, puncture hole through both leaves, weak at folds

[with:] typed transcript of letter

"...I am sure you will see this yourself, there can be only one Captain in a ship..."

Carl Christian Giegler (1844-1921) was an engineer specialising in telegraphs who had joined the Sudan telegraph administration in 1873. Gordon, who was Governor-General of Sudan from 1877 to 1879, appointed him both director-general of Sudan telegraphs and deputy governor-general of Sudan.

PROVENANCE

Christie's, London, 21 June 1989, lot 100