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Rh month, he said that 'we have laid it down as a rule of our conduct that we would do all in our power to rescue our detachments wherever they may be encompassed by danger; but that, if the position of command and influence, which we have held in the capital of Afghánistán should once be absolutely and entirely lost, we would make no more sacrifices of the very serious and extensive nature which could alone be effectual, except under positive instructions from England, for the re-establishment of our supremacy throughout the country.' Even if worse things were to happen at Kábul, his present purpose of abandoning the country would remain unaltered. With this end in view he had instructed Nott and Rawlinson to prepare at their own time for leaving Kandahár: and had ordered a few regiments to march towards Pesháwar in support of Sale, and ultimately perhaps of Elphinstone.

At that time Lord Auckland's fears for the Kábul garrison were balanced by his trust in the power of 'bravery and discipline,' aided by decent generalship and the timely influences of frost and snow. When the sad reality burst upon him, he issued on the 31st of January, 1842, a General Order, which spoke of the great disaster as 'a partial reverse,' and 'a new occasion for displaying the stability and vigour of the British power, and the admirable spirit and valour of the British-Indian army.' He and his colleagues were resolved to act with prompt and steadfast vigour