The late Sir Charles MacGregor, K.C.B.]

[Footnote 7: Now Major-General Combe, C.B.]

[Footnote 8: This promising young officer greatly distinguished
himself at Kabul, and died a few years afterwards of cholera.]

[Footnote 9: Now Sir Mortimer Durand, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., British
Minister at Teheran.]

[Footnote 10: TELEGRAM DATED 6TH SEPTEMBER, 1879.

_From_ CAPTAIN CONOLLY, ALIKHEL.

_To_ FOREIGN SECRETARY, SIMLA.

'_Clear the Line._--Sirkai Khan, bearer of the Amir's first
letter, confirms previous reports of disaster, and describes how
Badshah Khan visited the spot, and saw the dead bodies of the
Envoy, staff, and escort. Of the latter, some nine sowars are said
to have been out getting grass that day, and were not killed with
the rest; defence was very stubborn, and the loss of the Kabulis
heavy, put down at one hundred, or more. Finding they could not
storm the place, the mutineers set fire to the doorway below,
and, when that gave way, swarmed in and up to the upper story,
overwhelmed the defenders, and sacked the place.

'The second letter was brought by another messenger, servant of
the Embassy _Mehmandar_, whose story in all but a few unimportant
details is the same as that first received.

'If an advance on Kabul is decided on to revenge massacre of
Embassy, and also to quiet surrounding tribes, whom any (?) action
would tempt to break out, it appears to me all-important to
secure safe passage of the Shutargardan, and with this object to
subsidize Badshah Khan handsomely.

'I have detained the Kabul messengers pending receipt of
instructions as to the line of policy to follow, and what to
communicate to the Amir or Badshah Khan. The former invokes our
aid; the latter expresses himself, through his messenger, anxious
to serve us. Once in Logar valley, where they have had a bumper
harvest, we could live on the country.']

[Footnote 11: TRANSLATION OF A LETTER FROM THE AMIR OF KABUL TO
GENERAL ROBERTS, DATED KABUL, 8 A.M., THE 3RD SEPTEMBER, 1879.

(After compliments.) The troops who had assembled for pay at the
Bala Hissar suddenly broke out and stoned their officers, and then
all rushed to the Residency and stoned it, receiving in return a
hail of bullets. Confusion and disturbance reached such a height
that it was impossible to quiet it. People from Sherpur and
country