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126 policy by which Kábul and Kandahár may be united under a sovereign bound by every tie of interest as well as gratitude to become, and to remain, the faithful ally of Great Britain.

'17. Such a prince might, we are inclined to believe, be found in the person of Sháh Shujá, and we are disposed to concur in the opinion offered to your notice by your Political Agent at Ludhiána in his letter of January 1, 1838, addressed to the Secretary of your Government. The inference to be drawn from that letter seems to be that it would require but a comparatively insignificant effort to replace Sháh Shujá on the throne of Kábul and Kandahár, and that such a measure would afford the best chance of rescuing that important region from the arms of Persia and the arts of her ally.

'18. If, however, any effort so decisive is to be made, means should be adopted to prevent almost the possibility of failure. A considerable force, composed partly of British troops, should be assembled on your North-West frontier, and the Ruler of the Punjab and the Amírs of Sind invited to co-operate with you. The countenance which the Mahárájá and the Amírs of Sind have already given to the pretensions of Sháh Shujá, together with the advantages which you might fairly offer to them by that alliance, would induce Ranjít Singh and the Amírs to adopt your views; and the Afgháns themselves, although naturally jealous of the interference of the Sikhs in their internal concerns, would not feel towards them the same hostility if they appeared only as confederates of a British force.

'19. An army so composed, properly equipped and prepared for an advance into Afghánistán, might be assembled at any point most convenient, and, if you deemed it advisable to make one more attempt to conciliate and secure the alliance of the Chiefs of Kábul and Kandahár, you might dispatch an