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114 are looked on as questionable. There must be 'no chance of failure.' At the best, months would pass before Sháh Shujá, if left solely to his own resources, would be ready to move, and meanwhile Herát might fall, and Kandahár be occupied. On July 10 has been received a despatch of March 20 from the Secret Committee, saying that Lord Palmerston has authorized Mr. McNeill to leave Persia if redress is not afforded for an insult to his courier. In that event the Committee 'leave it discretional with you to adopt such measures as may seem to you expedient to meet the contingency of the cessation of our relations with the Court of Persia.' On July 12 Lord Auckland tells Sir John Hobhouse: —

'All that I am doing, or preparing to do, is well justified by the avowed policy of the Persian Court and by the hostile proceeding of the Russian agents; and you may assume it for next to certain that I shall go onwards, with many a deep feeling of regret that I am not allowed to prosecute measures of peace and of peaceful improvement, but with a perfect conviction that it is only by a bold front, and by strong exertion, that the aggressions and the dangers with which we are threatened can be warded off. I can decide absolutely on nothing until Macnaghten's return, and I think that I shall then be able to see my way clearly to all that is to be done, and with no fear of the result, though I shall be sorry for the money which it will cost.'

On the 14th, Mr. Colvin, writing to Mr. Prinsep, says, 'We expect him (Macnaghten) at Simla with Burnes in three or four days.' On the 19th he has returned.