[Footnote 9:  Bastard florican.]

[Footnote 10:  This officer arrived in India as a Cornet in the 24th Light Dragoons in the year 1810, and although, when he reached Peshawar with his regiment—­the 22nd Foot—­in 1853, he had been forty-three years in the army, and was sixty-one years of age, he had not even succeeded to the command of a battalion.  He was an officer of unusual energy and activity, a fine rider, a pattern drill, and a thorough soldier all round.  He was not fortunate enough to see much active service, but it must have been a source of consolation to him to feel, when ending his days as Governor of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, that it was in a great measure owing to his foresight and decision that there was no serious disturbance at Peshawar during the eventful summer of 1857.]

[Footnote 11:  Instructor in Oriental languages.]

* * * * *

CHAPTER V. 1856-1857

Lord Dalhousie’s Afghan policy—­Treaty with Dost Mahomed —­War with Persia—­The advantage of the Amir’s friendship —­John Nicholson—­’A pillar of strength on the frontier’

Towards the close of the year 1856, a rumour reached us that the Amir, Dost Mahomed Khan, was shortly expected to arrive at Peshawar to meet the Chief Commissioner, Sir John Lawrence, who had recently been made a K.C.B.

Before describing the Amir’s visit and its results, it seems desirable that I should briefly explain how and why the visit was brought about, and then endeavour to show what an important bearing its results had on the great crisis which occurred so unexpectedly a few months later.

It will be remembered that the murdered Mackeson was succeeded as Commissioner of Peshawar by Herbert Edwardes, one of the most remarkable men that the Indian army has ever produced, and who, as I have already mentioned, entirely concurred in my father’s expressed opinion as to the great advantage it would be for the Government of India to enter into more friendly relations with the Ruler of Kabul.  They both held that the constant troubles all along our frontier were in a great measure due to the Amir’s hostility, and that such troubles would increase rather than diminish unless we could succeed in establishing an entente cordiale with Dost Mahomed.

In 1854 Edwardes had a correspondence with the Governor-General on the subject, and on one occasion expressed himself as follows:  ’My own feeling is, that we have much injured Dost Mahomed, and may very well afford to let by-gones be by-gones.  It would contribute much to the security of this frontier if open relations of goodwill were established at Kabul.  There is a sullenness in our present relations, as if both parties were brooding over the past, and expecting an opportunity in the future.  This keeps up excitement and unrest, and prevents our influence and institutions taking root.  I should be very glad to see a new account opened on the basis of an open treaty of friendship and alliance.’