pon Herat, this
treaty would have been binding on the English nation; but it soon became
evident that he extended them to Ghizni and Candahar. Mr. Ellis, who had
been sent to Persia as British envoy in the year 1835, thus wrote at the
commencement of the following year:--"The intention cannot be mistaken:
Herat once annexed to Persia, may become the residence of a Russian
consular agent, who would from thence push his researches and his
communications, avowed and secret, throughout Affghanistan. Indeed, in
the present state of the relations between Persia and Russia, it cannot
be denied that the progress of the former in Affghanistan is tantamount
to the advance of the latter, and ought to receive every opposition
from the British government that the public faith will permit." Russian
influence, was, in fact, predominant in the councils of Mohammed Shah,
and the power of Russia appeared to stand higher in the general opinion
than that of Great Britain. Moreover, the Russian ambassador was urgent
upon the shah to complete his designs against Herat, and he even offered
his military services in the expedition. Under these circumstances Mr.
Ellis signified to the Persian ministers the extreme displeasure with
which the English would look upon the prosecution of any extended
schemes of conquest in Affghanistan: without disputing their right to
obtain redress from the prince of Herat, he intimated that the British
government would be better pleased if that purpose could be effected
by negotiation; and offered to send a British officer to Herat for the
purpose of facilitating the adjustment of the existing differences.
To this proposal the Persian ministers at first assented, but they
afterwards rejected it altogether. In the meantime Uzeez Khan arrived
on a mission from Kohun Dil Khan and his brothers at Candahar, with the
object of effecting an alliance offensive and defensive, with the shah,
and uniting in the attack upon Kamrau. Towards the close of 1835, Dost
Mohammed Khan, the chief of Cabool, also dispatched an agent to the
court of Persia with letters, in which he offered to cooperate in an
attack upon Herat, and sought in general the protection of the shall
against the Sikhs. The real objects of the chiefs of Candahar was also
to obtain protection from the same enemies; and neither they nor the
chief of Cabool had any disposition to become feudatories of Persia.
Thus supported, the shah set forth on his expedition; but