two confidential
representatives, Mustaufi Habibulla Khan and Wazir Shah Mahomed.

I am much obliged to Your Highness for sending me two such
well-known men, and of such character as the Mustaufi and the
Wazir. They have informed me of Your Highness's wishes, and I
quite understand all they have told me. It is unfortunate that the
season is so late, and that winter will soon be here; but there is
yet time for a British army to reach Kabul before the great cold
sets in.

The Viceroy of India is much concerned that there should have been
any delay in promptly acceding to Your Highness's request for
advice and assistance, as conveyed in Your Highness's letters of
the 3rd and 4th instant. It was His Excellency's earnest wish
that troops should march on Kabul at once, so as to ensure Your
Highness's personal safety and aid Your Highness in restoring
peace and order at your capital.

Unfortunately, the want of transport, and the necessity for
collecting a certain amount of supplies, have caused a few weeks'
delay; it is, however, a source of gratification and happiness to
the Viceroy to learn that Your Highness's safety is not at present
endangered, and His Excellency trusts Your Highness will be able
to keep everything quiet in your kingdom, until such time as
British troops may reach Kabul.

I am glad to be able to inform Your Highness that news reached me
yesterday of the departure of a considerable force from Kandahar
under the command of a brave and distinguished officer, and that
a large body of troops, under command of General Bright, were
advancing rapidly from Peshawar to Jalalabad and onwards _via_
Gandamak to Kabul. My own force will, I hope, be in a state to
march before long. As Your Highness is aware, the Shutargardan has
been occupied for some days. Meanwhile regiments of Cavalry and
Infantry and batteries of Artillery have reached Kuram to replace
those I am taking on with me, and to reinforce my own column
should a necessity for more troops arise--a contingency I do not
in the least expect.

The Viceroy of India, in His Excellency's anxiety for Your
Highness's welfare and safety, issued orders that each of the
three armies, now advancing from Kandahar, Kuram, and the Khyber,
should be strong enough to overcome any opposition Your Highness's
enemies