e purpose
of effecting that annexation, could not but render more difficult
of accomplishment the original intention of your Majesty, publicly
announced to the world, of withdrawing your Majesty's troops from
Afghanistan as soon as Shah Sooja should be firmly established upon
the throne he owes to your Majesty's aid.

These considerations alone would have led Lord Ellenborough to desire
that the execution of the orders given on the 4th of June should at
least be delayed until your Majesty's confidential servants had had
time to consider maturely the Policy which it might be their duty to
advise your Majesty to sanction with respect to the countries on the
right bank of the Indus; but financial considerations strengthened
this desire, and seemed to render it an imperative duty to endeavour
to obtain time for mature reflection before any step should be taken
which might seriously affect the tranquillity of Europe, and must
necessarily have disastrous effects upon the Administration of India.

It appeared that the political and military charges now incurred
beyond the Indus amounted to L1,250,000 a year--that the estimate of
the expense of the additions made to the Army in India, since April
1838, was L1,138,750 a year, and that the deficit of Indian Revenue
in 1839-40 having been L2,425,625, a further deficit of L1,987,000 was
expected in 1840-41.

Your Majesty must be too well informed of the many evils consequent
upon financial embarrassment, and entertains too deep a natural
affection for all your Majesty's subjects, not to desire that in
whatever advice your Majesty's confidential servants may tender to
your Majesty with respect to the Policy to be observed in Afghanistan,
they should have especial regard to the effect which the protracted
continuance of military operations in that country, still more any
extension of them to a new and distant field, would have upon the
Finances of India, and thereby upon the welfare of eighty millions of
people who there acknowledge your Majesty's rule.

[Footnote 98: President of the Board of Control.]

[Footnote 99: For the progress of affairs in Afghanistan,
_see_ Introductory Notes for 1839-1842.
(to Ch. VIII; Ch. IX; Ch. X; Ch. XI)]

_Queen Victoria to Lord Ellenborough._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th September 1841._

The Queen thanks Lord Ellenborough for this clear and interesting
Memorandum he has sent. It seems to the Queen that the course intende