Page:The Earl of Auckland.djvu/42

 CHAPTER IV

Russophobia 'in Excelsis'

Among the princes, Indian and other, who had sent letters of congratulation to Lord Auckland as the new Governor-General, was the Amír of Kábul, Dost Muhammad Khán, re-founder of the Bárakzái dynasty which still rules over Afghánistán. Dost Muhammad was just then smarting under the failure of his attempt to recover Pesháwar, which Ranjít Singh had wrested from his brother's keeping in 1834, while the Amír himself was fighting his old enemy Sháh Shujá outside Kandahár. Referring in his letter to 'the conduct of reckless and misguided Sikhs, and their breach of treaty,' the Amír begs Lord Auckland to communicate to him 'whatever may suggest itself to your wisdom for the settlement of the affairs of this country, that it may serve as a rule for my guidance.' And he ends with a hope, which was ere long to be literally fulfilled, that 'your Lordship will consider me and my country as your own.'

Lord Auckland's reply was friendly but not encouraging. He avowed his desire that the Afgháns should be 'a flourishing and united nation.' But