umed the Envoy's place in cantonments, had been brought
to a head; for on the night of the 30th, Akber furnished me
with an Affghan dress, (Skinner already wore one,) and sent us
both back to cantonments. Several Affghans, with whom I fell in
afterwards, protested to me that they had seen Mahomed Akber
shoot the Envoy with his own hand; amongst them Meerza Baoodeen
Khan, who, being an old acquaintance, always retained a
sneaking kindness for the English.

"I am, my dear Eyre, yours very truly,

"C. MACKENZIE.

"Cabul, 29th July, 1842."

The negotiations were now renewed by Major Pottinger, who had been
requested by General Elphinstone to assume the unenviable office of
political agent and adviser.

"The additional clauses in the treaty now proposed for our
renewed acceptance were--1st. That we should leave behind our
guns, excepting six. 2nd. That we should immediately give up
all our treasures. 3d. That the hostages should be all
exchanged for married men, with their wives and families. The
difficulties of Major Pottinger's position will be readily
perceived, when it is borne in mind that he had before him the
most conclusive evidence of the late Envoy's ill-advised
intrigue with Mahomed Akber Khan, in direct violation of that
very treaty which was now once more tendered for
consideration."

A sum of fourteen lacs of rupees, about L.140,000, was also demanded,
which was said to be payable to the several chiefs on the promise of the
late Envoy.

Major Pottinger, at a council of war convened by the General, "declared
his conviction that no confidence could be placed in any treaty formed
with the Affghan chiefs; that, under such circumstances, to bind the
hands of the Government by promising to evacuate the country, and to
restore the deposed Ameer, and to waste, moreover, so much public money
merely to save our own lives and property, would be inconsistent with
the duty we owed to our country and the Government we served; and that
the only honourable course would be, either to hold out at Cabul, or to
force our immediate retreat to Jellalabad."

"This however, the officers composing the council, one and all declared
to be impracticable, owing to the want of provisions, the surrender of
the surrounding forts, and the insuperable difficulties of the road at
the present season." The new treaty was therefore, f