deadened the weight of the blow.  All the companies of the storming party, however, got in well, except the last, the light company of the Bengal European regiment, and they had a desperate fight, the enemy having returned to the gate in great numbers, and twenty-seven men of the company were laid low in no time.  After this every company that came in had a shindy at the gate; the fact was, that the enemy took every company for the last, and therefore made a desperate attempt to escape through it.  Our company, with the advance, pushed through the town, clearing the tops of the houses.  We only lost one man of our company; we thought he was done for at first, but he is still alive, and, I am glad to say, likely lo do well; he was shot right through the breastplate, and the ball went round his body and was taken out of his back; he is to wear the same breastplate in future.  On coming to the end of the town we halted, and were agreeably surprised, shortly after, to see the British flag waving on the top of the citadel:  the fact of the matter was, that the enemy never thought of retiring to the citadel at all, but endeavoured to make their escape directly they found we were inside the gates; the 17th and 13th, therefore, quietly marched up and took possession of it.

We now returned by the ramparts, taking a great number of prisoners, and on reaching the large street where the horses were, the scene was perfectly ridiculous; the horses were loose, and running and charging about in all directions, kicking, fighting, &c.  On getting near the gate we entered by, the effects of our fight became more apparent, as dying and dead Afghans testified.  There were eight lying at one particular spot, where a tumbril had blown up, and their bodies were still burning from the effects.  I never saw finer men than some of these Afghans—­they were perfect models.  The plunder now began, though to little purpose, as prize agents were at the gates and made most of us refund.  I managed, however, to get through a rather handsome spear, which I took from before the tent of one of the chiefs.  If the carelessness of my servants will allow it I mean to keep it till we get back whenever that may be, and send it home by some trusty person, when perhaps you may think it worthy of a place among your curiosities at Brookhill.  The 13th and 17th, however, had the best of it in the citadel, which was also the palace, and where all young Dost’s women were.  I hear that the soldiers have possession of some very handsome articles which they boned there I believe.  After this, young Dost, or, to give him his right name, Hyder Khan, was found in a large hole near the citadel, with about twenty followers; they had some work, however, in securing him.  About this time I saw the Shah, with the diplomatic people, Sir J. Keane, and Sir W. Cotton, enter the fort and proceed to the citadel.  The old Shah was mightily delighted, as well he might be, and expressed himself in raptures with the European soldiery.  I was back again to breakfast at mess by eight o’clock.  Several of our men were wounded by arrows.  One soldier swore “that a fellow had shot his ramrod into him.”  Stisted had an arrow through the calf of his leg, but his wound is not considered of any importance.