no aid, and paying his
own way. We are quite entitled to say, 'Your hostile advance on Herat
has not our approval, and we must show that you are making it without
our sanction.' This we do in the most emphatic manner, by withdrawing
the only British official who is with him. But I do not like to go
farther in the direction of interference. It is impossible to say how
matters may terminate in Afghanistan. It is possible that the Ameer
may get the whole country into his hands. It is possible that he may
come to an understanding with Sultan Jan, who is his connection by
marriage. It is very desirable that we should be free to accept the
_status in quo_, whatever it may be.

* * * * *

_To Sir Charles Wood._

Calcutta, September 9th, 1862.

[Sidenote: Lord Canning's policy.]

A doubt naturally suggests itself as to whether the received notion
respecting the relations which Canning sought to establish between the
native chiefs and the British Government in India be altogether
correct, or, (as it perhaps would be more accurate to say) altogether
complete--whether, in short, that portion of it which was a policy of
circumstance has been duly distinguished from that which was a policy
of principle: a doubt by no means unimportant, now that this policy,
whatever it be, is crowned by the double aureole of success and death;
so that while, on the one hand, it is naturally set up as an example
for imitation, on the other, we have not the author to refer to when
difficulties arise respecting its application.

[Sidenote: (1) Clemency.]

In approaching the consideration of this very momentous question we
must, in the first place, be careful lest we suffer ourselves to draw
erroneous conclusions from the warm expressions of gratitude and
affection lavished upon Canning by the natives generally. If I were to
venture to compare great things with small, I should say that their
feelings towards him were due to causes somewhat similar to those
which earned for me the good will and confidence of the French
Canadians in Canada. Both he and I adopted on some important points
views more favourable to the subject races than those which had been
entertained by our respective predecessors. So far we established
legitimate and substantial claims on their regard. But it was not