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 Captain Ferris had fought his way to the frontier from a small fort, and had brought his wife and children safe. There is not much in this, but at all events no shocking catastrophe.

Friday, 10th. There were accounts three days later from Jellalabad to-day, with a letter from ——, imploring General Sale to march to their relief. This was dated the 14th, the same date as we had heard before, but it gave rather a heightened picture to their state, in order to make General Sale advance. He cannot possibly attempt it, but, with his wife and daughter at Cabul, it must have been a painful thing to feel it a duty to refuse to go to their relief. There are bad bits in life certainly, and this is not a good month.

My chief amusement has been packing. All my curiosities——ivory, china, &c.——are all packed. I thought at first I was going carefully to pack them myself, but, after one day’s work, I found it out of the question, and have left it to the servants. People say that the natives are very apt to steal small things on these occasions, but I have never lost anything yet, and mean to trust them.