tanding between the two Powers. The Maharaja, with the
characteristic confidence which he has uniformly placed in the faith and
friendship of the British nation, at once assented to the proposition of
the Governor-General, to the effect that in the mean time hostilities
on his part should be suspended.

"It subsequently came to the knowledge of the Govenor-General that a
Persian army was besieging Herat; that intrigues were actively
prosecuted throughout Affghanistan, for the purpose of extending Persian
influence and authority to the banks of, and even beyond, the Indus; and
that the Court of Persia had not only commenced a course of injury and
insult to the officers of Her Majesty's mission in the Persian
territory, but had afforded evidence of being engaged in designs wholly
at variance with the principles and objects of its alliance with Great
Britain.

"After much time spent by Captain Burnes in fruitless negotiation at
Cabul, it appeared that Dost Mahomed Khan, chiefly in consequence of his
reliance upon Persian encouragement and assistance, persisted, as
respected his misunderstanding with the Sikhs, in urging the most
unreasonable pretensions, such as the Governor-General could not,
consistently with justice and his regard for the friendship of Maharajah
Runjeet Singh, be the channel of submitting to the consideration of his
Highness; that he avowed schemes of aggrandizement and ambition
injurious to the security and peace of the frontiers of India; and that
he openly threatened, in furtherance of these schemes, to call in every
foreign aid which he could command. Ultimately, he gave his undisguised
support to the Persian designs in Affghanistan, of the unfriendly and
injurious character of which, as concerned the British power in India,
he was well apprised; and by his utter disregard of the views and
interests of the British Government compelled Captain Burnes to leave
Cabul without having effected any of the objects of his mission.

"It was now evident that no further interference could be exercised by
the British Government to bring about a good understanding between the
Sikh ruler and Dost Mahomed Khan; and the hostile policy of the latter
chief showed too plainly that so long as Cabul remained under his
government we could never hope that the tranquillity of our
neighbourhood would be secured, or that the interests of our Indian
empire would be preserved inviolate.

"The Governor-General deems it in th