sides in the most determined manner, and the whole force emerged from the defile with hardly any loss whatever.

The whole of Affghanistan might now be considered as evacuated by British troops, and the war in that part of Asia at an end. Lord Ellenborough accordingly issued the following proclamation, which, both as to its subject matter and style, we do not hesitate to condemn, as unworthy of a Christian

statesman :

"Proclamation from the GovernorGeneral to all the Princes and Chiefs and People of India :"My Brothers and my Friends, -Our victorious army bears the gates of the temple of Somnauth in triumph from Affghanistan, and the despoiled tomb of Sultan Mahmoud looks upon the ruins of Ghuznee. The insult of 800 years is at last avenged. The gates of the temple of Somnauth, so long the memorial of your humiliation, are become the proudest record of your national glory-the proof of your superiority in arms over the nations beyond the Indus. To you, princes and chiefs of Sirhind, of Rajwarra, of Malwa, and Guzerat, I shall commit this glorious trophy of successful war. You

will, yourselves, with all honour, transmit the gates of sandal-wood through your respective territories, to the restored temple of Somnauth. The chiefs of Sirhind shall be informed at what time our victorious army will first deliver the gates of the temple into their guardianship, at the foot of the bridge of the Sutlej.

"My Brothers and my Friends, -I have ever relied with confidence upon your attachment to the British Government. You see VOL. LXXXIV.

how worthy it proves itself of your love, when, regarding your honour as its own, it exerts the power of its arms to restore to you the gates of the temple of Somnauth, so long the memorial of your subjection to the Affghans. For myself, identified with you in interest and in feeling, I regard with all your own enthusiasm the high achievements of that heroic army, reflecting alike immortal honour upon my native and upon my adopted country. To preserve and to improve the happy union of our two countries, necessary as it is to the welfare of both, is the constant object of my thoughts. Upon that union depends the security of every ally, as well as of every subject, of the British Government, from the miseries whereby, in former times, India was afflicted: through that alone has our army now waved its triumphant standards over the ruins of Ghuznee, and planted them upon. the Bala Hissar of Cabul.

May that good Providence which has hitherto so manifestly protected me, still extend to me its favour, that I may so use the power now intrusted to my hands, as to advance your prosperity and secure your happiness, by placing the union of our two countries upon foundations which may render it eternal !"

In another proclamation, dated "Secret Department, Simla, 25th October, 1842," Lord Ellenborough announces that all the Affghans then in the power of the British Government should be permitted to return to their own country, and that the Affghan chiefs who were thus released, were, before they passed the Sutlej, to present themeslves at the durbar (levee) of the Governor

[S]

General, in his camp at Feroze

pore.

CANDAHAR AND GHUZNEE. The insurrection which broke out at Cabul on the 2nd of November, was by no means confined to that quarter of Affghanistan. The whole country participated in it, and in the neighbourhood of Candahar, Ghuzuce, and other places occupied by our troops, the most hostile feeling was exhibited. When intelligence reached Candahar of the unfortunate position of affairs at Cabul, a brigade was immediately dispatched from that place for its relief, under the command of Colonel Maclaren. After marching, however, as far as Tazee, about 114 miles from Candahar, the inclemency of the season compelled the troops to retrace their steps, and the contemplated suc cour never reached Cabul.

General Nott was the officer in command at Candahar, and he had with him a force of nearly 10,000

men.

The hostility of the Affghans in this part of the country soon displayed itself, and a large body of insurgents, commanded by Mahommed Atta, invested Candahar, They were joined by Sufter Jung, one of the sons of Shah Soojah, but Timour, the eldest brother of that family, remained the nominal governor of Candahar. His fidelity, however, being afterwards suspected, he was placed in confinement. On the 12th of January, Mahom med Atta and Sufter Jung, took up a strong position on the right bank of the river which runs through the Achuzye country, about five miles from Candahar. They mustered about 5,000 men, Major-General Nott determined on attacking them, and marched out against them with a force consist

ing of five regiments and a half of infantry, 1000 horse, and sixteen pieces of artillery. The position of the army was formidable, protected in front by canals and a march, and both flanks resting on strong gardens. The fire of their matchlockmen, posted in the gardens and about the canals, was for a short time severe, but when bur troops had crossed the river, and our infantry advanced to the charge, the insurgents broke and fled. The enemy's cavalry attempted to make a stand, but were charged and dispersed in all directions.

This success produced the most beneficial effects on the neighbouring population, which now no longer flocked to the ranks of the insurgents, and the city of Candahar was plentifully supplied with provisions from the surrounding villages.

When General Nott received the dispatch from General Elphin, stone, ordering him to evacuate Candahar, and withdraw his troops from Affghanistan, in conformity with the terms of the treaty made between the latter officer and Akbar Khan, as we have previously narrated, he, like Sir Ro bert Sale, refused to comply. On the 7th of March he again marched out of Candahar, to attack the insurgents, who retired before him as he advanced, and when he had pursued them between thirty and forty miles from the city, they contrived to outflank him, and place themselves between him and Candahar, taking up a position about five miles from the walls. On the night of the 10th they made a desperate attack on the city, but were driven back with great loss. The next day they broke up their encampment, and totally disappeared from the neighbourhood of Canda

har. On the 13th General Nott returned there, having pursued the flying enemy and destroyed many of their villages.

But the situation of the British troops at Candahar, Khelat-i-Gilzie, and Ghuznee being thought pecarious in the midst of an insurgent population, Brigadier-General England, who commanded the forces in Scinde, determined to march to the relief of General Nott. A reinforcement and convoy were accordingly prepared in Scinde and Cutch, in three divisions; one under General England himself, which reached Quetta through the Bolan Pass from Dadur, on the 16th March, having lost 300 camels in the passage, out of 2,000. This detachment consisted of 1,200 men, with four guns. A second detachment of about equal strength, under Major Simmons, with 2,000 camels and treasure, likewise reached Quetta by the Bolan Pass from Dadur, arriving at the former place on the 4th April. A third portion of the brigade, under Major Reid, left Sukkur on the Indus, on the 10th or 12th of April, and would have reached Quetta in about a month. This detachment consisted of 1,100 men with 2,600 camels, besides a multitude of other beasts, bearing medical stores, ammunition, and treasure. The whole force when assembled, would have amounted to about 4,000 men. General England, who first arrived at the place of concentration, found it necessary, on the 26th March, to move towards the valley of Pisheen, twenty or thirty miles off, to obtain forage, and to protect the people (who were said to be favourably disposed to us,) against the insurgents. On the 27th he reached the village of

Hykulzie, and was received in the most friendly manner by the chiefs of the place, who, however, gave him not the slightest intimation that any impediments awaited the troops in their advance to Rujjuk Pass, although they must have known that the Pass, a few miles in front, was strongly barricaded, and that Mahomed Seedez, the commander of the insurgents, was posted in the hills close by with a strong force from Candahar. When the enemy were first seen on the hills, General England supposed them to be scouts or marauders, and thus was led into a snare. The barricades were found to be of great strength; the enemy were resolute, and the storming party were compelled to retire, with ninety-eight men killed and wounded, including two officers, out of 470 engaged, a large part of the force being left to protect the baggage. The insurgents, who suffered severely, are represented to have fought with the enthusiasm of religious zealots, and the accounts state, that a finer body of irregular horse than that which charged upon our squares was never seen in Affghanistan. Mahomed Seedez headed the charge in person, and was wounded. On our side the Sepoys manifested great bravery, and vied with the Queen's regiment (the 41st) in desiring to charge up the hill again. It was resolved to return to Quetta, which was reached with but little molestation, on the 30th. resolution was a prudent one, for it was discovered that the Kujjuk Pass (sixty-three miles from Quetta, and eighty-four from Candahar) was blocked up, the enemy having for months been engaged in constructing field-works for its defence. This attempt, therefore,

This

Abandoned as this garrison has been in the very centre of the enemy's country, cut off from all communication with any quarter, and without a sufficiency of water even at this season, with 200 men detached to hold an outpost which is destitute of water, and must have fallen in forty-eight hours, nothing but capitulation remained. From the outpost falling into the hands of the enemy, they would command our only well and commanding fort; the whole garrison would have been destroyed in a few days. The bearer has recived only subsistence on the road, and is to receive a handsome reward on delivering this letter. We have upwards of 100 sick and wounded, and 137 casualties. The officers, including Captain Burnett, 54th, and Lieutenant Crawford, S. S. Force, are all well.

"I have, &c.
(Signed) "J. PALMER,

Lt. Col. Pol. Agent, commg.
at Ghuznee.

"P. S. There is great reason to fear for our safety, as there are some thousands of Ghazees in the city, whom the chiefs cannot disperse. The snow is still deep. No tidings from the southward; but report says, the troops hold the city of Candahar and are daily fighting."

On the 6th of March, they marched out from the citadel, and were quartered in a portion of the town immediately below. But a new proof was immediately given of Affghan treachery; for the troops had hardly taken possession of the lodgings assigned to them, when they were suddenly attacked by the infuriated Ghazees; and it was with the utmost difficulty that they saved themselves from a total

massacre.

Day after day the murderous attacks continued, and the unfortunate troops were reduced to the last extremity of hunger and thirst, under a galling fire from the surrounding multitudes, when the Sepoys, who were the peculiar objects of the hatred of the Ghazees, on the 10th of March, announced their determination to force their way out of the town, and endeavour to get to Peshawur, which they fancied was distant not more than fifty or sixty miles. Accordingly, the officers seeing that they had lost all control over their men, surrendered that night to Shumsoodeen and the other Ghazee chiefs, who swore that they should be honourably treated, and sent to Cabul as soon as possible. A large party of Sepoys attempted to put their plan into execution, but soon becoming bewildered in the snow, were in the morning all cut to pieces, or made prisoners. The unfortunate officers were kept in rigorous confinement in a small room, swarming with vermin, and Colonel Palmer was tortured, in order to make him give up some treasure, which the Ghazees said the British troops had buried. It was not until the 19th of August, that the prisoners were taken from their dungeon, and sent in camelchairs to Cabul, where they joined their fellow prisoners under the custody of Akbar Khan.

When the time had arrived for the advance of the British troops, under the command of General Pollock, from Jellalabad to Cabul, General Nott determined to march upon the latter capital from Candahar, in order to co-operate with General Pollock, in case the resistance offered by Akbar Khan should be of such a nature as to render a reinforcement of the Bri