could possibly offer. That each is strong enough there can
be no doubt.

I understand that there is no one at Kelat-i-Ghilzai or Ghazni to
stop the progress of the troops _en route_ from Kandahar. There is
no reason, therefore, why they should not reach Kabul in a very
short time.

The Khyber tribes, having understood and appreciated the Treaty
of peace made by Your Highness with the British Government in May
last, have unanimously agreed to assist the troops from Peshawar
in every way, and are now eager to keep the road through the
Khyber safe, and to place all their transport animals at the
disposal of the British Commander, who will thus be enabled to
concentrate his force rapidly at Kabul. Through the kindness of
Your Highness I have experienced much less difficulty than I could
have expected, and I may now reasonably hope to be with Your
Highness at least as soon as either the Kandahar or Khyber column.
I look forward with great pleasure to the meeting with Your
Highness, and trust that you will continue your kind assistance to
obtain for me supplies and transport.

I have carefully considered Your Highness's proposal that you
yourself should be permitted to administer just punishment to the
mutinous troops and others who shared in the treacherous and cruel
attack on the British Envoy and his small escort, and thus save
Her Majesty's troops the trouble, hardship, and privation which
must necessarily be encountered by an advance on Kabul at this
season of the year. I thank Your Highness most cordially, on the
part of the Viceroy and Government of India, for this further
proof of Your Highness's friendly feelings. Under ordinary
circumstances such an offer would be gratefully and willingly
accepted, but after what has recently occurred, I feel sure that
the great British nation would not rest satisfied unless a British
army marched to Kabul and there assisted Your Highness to inflict
such punishments as so terrible and dastardly an act deserves.

I have forwarded Your Highness's letters in original to the
Viceroy; a copy of this, my reply, will be submitted by to-day's
post for His Excellency's consideration. Meanwhile I have
permitted Mustaufi Habibulla Khan and Wazir Shah Mahomed to take
their leave and rejoin Your Highness.

I delayed my own departure from Alikhe