to bring in a bill to continue the office of
commissioners for six months only; namely, till 31st July, 1842. In the
course of the discussion, Mr. Lefroy bore testimony to the generally
successful working of the Irish poor-law. On the house going into
committee, Mr. R. Yorke moved an instruction to the committee, to
the effect that the poor-law commissioners should not be empowered to
enforce separation between man and wife, except where application for
relief arose from idleness, vice, or crime. The honourable member quoted
the injunction of Scripture against separating those whom God had joined
together, and called on members on the ministerial side to redeem the
pledges they had given to their constituents. After some discussion,
this instruction was negatived.

The bill went through the committee and passed.

Parliament was prorogued by lords-commissioners on the 7th of October.

EAST INDIA AFFAIRS, ETC.

It has been seen in the last chapter that Dost Mohammed was still in
arms. About the close of the last year his army was completely routed
at Bamean by Brigadier Dennie, and he then fled across the Hindoo
Koosh into the Khoohun territory. In the mean time, Sir Robert Sale was
employed in reducing the strongholds of the partizans of the ex-king in
Kohistan; a work in which he experienced considerable difficulty, owing
to the determined manner in which the forts were defended. Dost Mohammed
subsequently summoned his son Afzul Khan to join him, and he moved
from the Nijrow towards the Ghorebund Pass, leading into the Kohistan
valley, to effect the junction. Sir Robert Sale, hearing of this
movement, resolved to frustrate its object, and breaking up his camp at
Bolan, proceeded towards Purwau. At Purwau a battle took place, and Dost
Mohammed again received a signal defeat. His soldiers refused to make
any further efforts against the British forces, and Dost Mohammed threw
himself upon the generosity of his foes, surrendering himself to
Sir William M'Naghten on the 3rd of November. His confidence was not
misplaced; he was permitted to take up his residence at Loodianah, and a
yearly pension of three lacs of rupees (L30,000) was granted to him. His
treatment was so generous that he wrote to his three sons, who were
in different parts of the country, to follow his example, and deliver
themselves up to the British. During the remainder of this year
Afghanistan remained comparatively tranquil; nothing occurred of