As the conversations which were carried on at the meetings with the Afghan agents are interesting, and have an important bearing on the subsequent proceedings, I give in the Appendix* the notes taken at the time by my Political Secretary.

(Appendix V.)

I was anxious to keep one of the Amir’s representatives with me, but neither of them was willing to remain, so I felt bound to let them both depart, taking with them the following letter to the Amir: 

  TO HIS HIGHNESS THE AMIR OF KABUL.

    Camp, Alikhel, 25th September, 1879.

(After compliments.) I have received Your Highness’s two letters of the 19th and 20th September (1st and 2nd Shawal), delivered to me by the hands of Your Highness’s two confidential representatives, Mustaufi Habibulla Khan and Wazir Shah Mahomed.

I am much obliged to Your Highness for sending me two such well-known men, and of such character as the Mustaufi and the Wazir.  They have informed me of Your Highness’s wishes, and I quite understand all they have told me.  It is unfortunate that the season is so late, and that winter will soon be here; but there is yet time for a British army to reach Kabul before the great cold sets in.

The Viceroy of India is much concerned that there should have been any delay in promptly acceding to Your Highness’s request for advice and assistance, as conveyed in Your Highness’s letters of the 3rd and 4th instant.  It was His Excellency’s earnest wish that troops should march on Kabul at once, so as to ensure Your Highness’s personal safety and aid Your Highness in restoring peace and order at your capital.

Unfortunately, the want of transport, and the necessity for collecting a certain amount of supplies, have caused a few weeks’ delay; it is, however, a source of gratification and happiness to the Viceroy to learn that Your Highness’s safety is not at present endangered, and His Excellency trusts Your Highness will be able to keep everything quiet in your kingdom, until such time as British troops may reach Kabul.

I am glad to be able to inform Your Highness that news reached me yesterday of the departure of a considerable force from Kandahar under the command of a brave and distinguished officer, and that a large body of troops, under command of General Bright, were advancing rapidly from Peshawar to Jalalabad and onwards via Gandamak to Kabul.  My own force will, I hope, be in a state to march before long.  As Your Highness is aware, the Shutargardan has been occupied for some days.  Meanwhile regiments of Cavalry and Infantry and batteries of Artillery have reached Kuram to replace those I am taking on with me, and to reinforce my own column should a necessity for more troops arise—­a contingency I do not in the least expect.

The Viceroy of India, in His Excellency’s