inted acting private secretary on Gordon's resignation.

General Gordon's memorandum read as follows:--

"Yacoob was accused of concealing letters from the Russian
Government, and of entering into an alliance with the Rajah of
Cashmere to form a Triple Alliance. Where are these letters or
proof of this intention? They do not exist.

"Yacoob came out to Roberts of his own free will. He was
imprisoned. It was nothing remarkable that he was visited by an
Afghan leader, although it was deemed evidence of a treacherous
intention. Roberts and Cavagnari made the Treaty of Gandamak. It
is absurd to say Yacoob wanted an European Resident. It is
against all reason to say he did. He was coerced into taking
one. He was imprisoned, and a Court of Enquiry was held on him,
composed of the President Macgregor, who was chief of the staff
to the man who made the Treaty, by which Cavagnari went to Cabul,
and who had imprisoned Yacoob. This Court of Enquiry asked for
evidence concerning a man in prison, which is in eyes of Asiatics
equivalent to being already condemned. This Court accumulated
evidence, utterly worthless in any court of justice, as will be
seen if ever published. This Court of _Enquiry_ found him guilty
and sentenced him to exile. Was that their function? If the
secret papers are published, it would be seen that the despatches
from the Cabulese chiefs were couched in fair terms. They did not
want to fight the English. They wanted their Ameer. Yacoob's
defence is splendid. He says in it: 'If I had been guilty, would
I not have escaped to Herat, whereas I put myself in your hands?'
The following questions arise from this Court of Enquiry. Who
fired first shot from the Residency? Was the conduct of Cavagnari
and his people discreet in a fanatical city? Were not those who
forced Cavagnari on Yacoob against his protest equally
responsible with him? Yacoob was weak and timid in a critical
moment, and he failed, but he did not incite this revolt. It was
altogether against his interests to do so. What was the
consequence of his unjust exile? Why, all the trouble which
happened since that date. Afghanistan was quiet till we took her
ruler away. It was an united Afghanistan. This mistake has cost
L10,000,000, all from efforts to go on with an injustice. The