Page:Historyofpersiaf00watsrich.djvu/335

 BRITISH DEMANDS ACCEDED TO. 315 before Herat. Had we known that our coming here might risk the loss of its friendship, we certainly would not have come at ah 1 ." The Shah's words were this time followed by corresponding deeds. A letter was addressed from the Persian foreign office to Mr. McNeill, couched in terms similar to those which had been used by the Shah to Colonel Stoddart, and his Majesty ordered pre- parations to be made for the breaking up of the camp and the return to Persia. Colonel Stoddart offered his own services on the part of the British Minister as medi- ator between the Shah and Prince Kamran, but he firmly declared that the British Government would not consent to admit of any other foreign mediation between the contending parties. The counsels of Count Simonich had now in turn lost their weight with the Persian king ; and it is said that Monsieur Goutte, the interpreter of the Eussian Mission, who had been sent into Herat for the purpose of inducing the Yizeer to permit the departure from that place of a Prussian subject, was uncourteously desired to depart from the city forthwith. The Prussian subject was, however, sent over, after a few days, to the Persian camp. The Shah seems from this time to the conclusion of the siege to have acted with good faith, though still with some vacillation of purpose. He at first agreed to accept Colonel Stoddart's mediation for the conclusion of a treaty with the Affghan prince, and he desired his under- secretary for foreign affairs to ac- quaint that gentleman that he would not permit the interference of Russia in the conclusion of an arrange- ment with Herat. The preparations for the departure of the king were continued ; but it was necessary to wait for