Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/515

Rh chiefs to attempt its recovery, he did so with the assistance of Runjeet Singh; but, after advancing as far as Candahar, he was there defeated by Dost Mahommed, and driven back to his old retreat at Loodiana.

About this time the intrigues of Russia against our Eastern possessions became so apparent, not only with Persia, but amongst the semi-barbarous tribes to the westward of the Indus, as to excite the jealous fears of our statesmen; and in order to counteract the insidious policy of the Autocrat, Captain Burnes, an officer of the Bombay army, who was an Oriental linguist, and had evinced some diplomatic talent, was despatched in September, 1837, by Lord Auckland, then Governor-General, to the Court of Dost Mahommed, at Cabul. The latter received our Envoy well, in the first instance; but, finding that the British were not prepared to support him in all his schemes of aggrandisement, he was induced to prefer the boastful promises of Russian and Persian envoys, who had also arrived at Cabul; and Captain Burnes returned to India, in April, 1838, bearing with him abundant professions of personal friendship from Dost Mahommed, and a very ambiguous letter from that chief to Lord Auckland.

This situation of affairs was considered by the Governor-General to call for the most serious consideration; there being every prospect of the whole of Western Asia being united in one vast confederacy under the influence of Russia, which would thereby be able to disturb at will the repose of India, many of whose princes were doubtless eager to shake off their dependance on Great Britain. Under these circumstances, the system of non-intervention, hitherto pursued, was thought no longer practicable, nor even safe. Shah Sujah had a legitimate claim to the throne of Cabul, and he had a strong party in his favour. He had also formed an intimate alliance with Runjeet Singh, who was then engaged in hostilities with the ruler of Cabul. It appeared, therefore, that Britain, by an union with these two powers, could easily replace the